Potty Training

Potty training can be a challenge and seem like it will never happen, especially if you have a stubborn child. I have had four kids and am in the process of potty training my last, child number 4. So far it is going slow, but I know it will get there because I have seen it happen with each of my other three children. Each child was different with how we potty trained them and what incentives we used for each of them.


My oldest just needed me to start the training and for some reason was trained in a week, my second one was a little more stubborn and needed little incentives such as $1 toys and the potty seat in the living room, my third took forever and was a pain, especially for #2. We had to constantly stay on top of him to go to the potty and used a fun reward chart and “Star Wars” treats (Starbursts) to help him learn. Even then it took forever for #2 to happen. We washed a lot of underwear potty training him. Everyone told me boys are harder to potty train than girls; not sure why? But after potty training two girls then a boy, I can say they were right! Now we are training child #4 and so far so good. She is pretty smart and wants to potty train (she always takes off her diaper and pants refusing to put them back on). She will also go sit on the potty seat if we tell her to, but it’s being consistent with her that will get her trained. We are also using stickers instead of treats. She would rather have a puppy sticker than a treat.

Remember each kid is different and might need different incentives or techniques to get them trained. Also, not every child will potty train at the same age – so be patient! Patience is the key! Also, be patient as you potty train boys, sometimes you have to go through a lot of accidents and underwear before they are trained.
Here are some tips and tricks I have read about or used. See which one works for you!

Before “actual” training – Before you begin training have your child come to the bathroom with you when you go “potty”. Tell the child, “I’m going pee, pee or poo, poo”. This helps the child know, “this is where I go potty and what happens in the bathroom”. Also, when you see your child hiding in their special spot to go number two, let them know what they are doing. You can say, “You’re going poo poo, or Are you pooping in your pants?” This helps the child recognize their bodily functions and what is going on when they do this. Once you have done this for a few weeks or a few months, try to potty train. Notice the word try. If they are not interested, don’t push it. Come back to it later when they’re ready.

Training – Go Bare Bottom: Let your child run around the house bare bottom. This allows them to notice when they go pee or #2 and what it’s all about. It also allows you to better catch when they need to go.
- Have lots of juice boxes and popsicles to push the fluids. This will reassure that your child will need to go more and actually go on the potty. Take them to the potty 15-20 minutes after they drink something.

Helpful Hint for #2 – My daughter’s Urologist told me that most people feel the need to go #2 15-20 minutes after eating. Watch your child after eating a meal to see if this is true, and especially watch for their special hiding place. Most kids have a special place they like to hide to go #2.

Bribes – small treats such as skittles or m&m’s work well because they are small enough to give an incentive but no so big that your child is high on sugar from potty training.

Sticker charts or just stickers – create a chart with squares on it. Let your child put a sticker on a square every time they go potty. You can even divide the chart to have a row for pee pee, poo poo, and wiping. This way you and the child can see their progress. You can also put extra special treats in various boxes for an extra reward if they go so far. Chart template coming soon!

Reward chart – have a path for the child such as a race track to the finish line or road to the palace. Then place a paper figure (race car, carriage…) at the starting line. Have rewards on different squares of the path. When the child goes potty let him/her move their figure 1 space for pee and 2 for poo poo. When they reach a square with a reward then they get the reward. When they reach the finish have a BIGGER reward waiting for them (build a bear workshop, ice cream store, toy from a store, go to a movie…whatever floats their boat or gives them something to work towards).

Potty party – Have a potty party. Invite a few of your child’s friends over who are potty trained and are training. Have treats and lots of juice boxes and popsicles (this ensures the children will need to go more often – catching more opportunities for “actually” peeing in the potty). Play games, laugh, sing songs, and read books. You could even watch a fun potty training video.

Potty Training Boys
I’ve always heard from other parents that boys are harder to potty train than girls. After potty training two girls and then a boy, I can say that is true. Not all boys will be as stubborn as my little boy was, but for the most part it is true. Here are some helpful hints for making potty training a boy easier and more fun:

Cheerios – You can put cheerios in the toilet for the boy to aim at. Not only does it help him learn how to aim straight into the toilet bowl, but allows a boy to have fun “target training”. Cheerios also dissolve real easily in the toilet

Target Trainers – There are a variety of fun, dissolveable targets you can put in your toilet to help little boys or little girls learn how to go potty. Again this allows for a fun way for your child to learn how to aim and go in the potty. Here is a great website with a variety of target trainers at reasonable prices - http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/CTGY/Toilet-Targets.html

Food Coloring in the Toilet – I read about this idea in a parenting magazine. The idea is to put a color of food coloring in the toilet (red, blue, or green) and let the child see the color change as he/she goes potty. I thought this was a fun way to get any child excited about potty training.