Potty training toddler tips…. So, if you’ve been reading for awhile, you know that we’ve been working on potty training with Abby for a while now. She just turned two a few weeks ago, and we started potty training a few months before that. If you want to see where we started with potty training, and how to kep potty training fun, read the previous post full of our tips. And now, 3 months into potty training, I’ll share what we’ve learned along the way so far – what works, the tools and resources we found helpful, and the products that rock the most. We’re all busy moms, right? So hopefully you can learn from me, and save yourself the time and hassle of figuring it all out on your own….

Tips and tools for successful potty training

Potty training is a challenge – that’s for sure! And I think that the best tip I can offer for anyone who is just getting started is to make sure you wait until your child tells you it’s time… Abby started telling us when she was wet, or had, as she calls it, “Stinky pants.” She’d even bring us a diaper and say, “Change it?” I figured that meant she was ready to get her own big girl potty chair, right? Lol. We use the Arm & Hammer 3-In-1 Potty Seat, and I couldn’t be more happy with it – I love that it comes with baking soda freshener pouches, and can be used as a step stool when she transitions to the real potty. We’re also big fans of Tidy Tots to make cleaning the potty chair super simple. None of us have time to clean the potty chair all day, so these will help you a ton! Once you’ve got the right gear, here are a few more resources and tips to help you get started:

1. Potty Break: I absolutely LOVE the tools and tips on the Pull-Ups website – things like the Potty Break app, where you can schedule in your potty breaks for the day, and a little alarm will go off to remind you it’s time to take your toddler to the bathroom to sit on their seat. As busy moms, it can be tough to remember on your own sometimes on crazy days! Once we used this to get into a routine, Abby started being much more comfortable, and started to actually “go” when we went in there. Awesome.
2. Character Call: Another super fun idea on Pull-Ups.com is the character call – schedule your kiddo’s favorite Disney character to give them a call on your cell phone, and either Cinderella or Mater will call them with a message of encouragement! Super fun, and we’ve done these several times, whenever Abby hits a new milestone.
3. Stickers: We made a big chart for Abby to chart her progress – if she uses the potty successfully, she gets to put a sticker on her chart. This girl LOVES her stickers, so this is super exciting for her, and really works great at motivating her, and making her feel like she’s doing a good job at this new adventure in potty training.
4. Clothing: As kids learn to use the potty chair on their own, make sure they have clothes that are easy to get undone by themselves, so they can undo buttons or buckles quickly when it’s time to go. Find more tips like this on the Potty Training Checklist too.

And another big thing to remember – Be Patient! Every kiddo learns at their own pace. There is no right or wrong, so don’t let any other “judgy” moms get you down. As long as your child is making progress, and you’re both still smiling, then you’re doing it right. Pinky promise!

Where are we at now?

Right now, we’re doing pretty darn good. Abby knows when it’s time to go potty. She’ll tell me “Potty time momma!” and run into the bathroom. Sometimes I think that she just wants to go for fun, but most of the time she’s successful and gets that big ol’ grin when we get to put a sticker on her chart. We’re using the Pull-Ups diapers for her, the Pull-Up Training Pants most of the time. We just stated trying the Pull-Ups Training Pants with Cool Alert, and those seem like they’re really helping Abby learn when she’s gone in her diaper. And the Night-time Training Pants rock for bedtime. What I like most about Pull-Ups is that they’re kind of a hybrid – they can pull up and down just like big girl pants, but they still have tabs on the sides if I need them for big messes, or when she’s being super squirmy. Love ‘em.

Tell me – what are YOUR best potty training tips? Share ‘em in the comments! And be sure to check out my Potty Training Tips board on Pinterest too!

{Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Pull-Ups. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating. Photo Credit.}

It’s Potty Time! Tips for Getting Started with Potty Training… We’re in the very early stages of potty training right now. Abby is almost two, and is VERY ready to get rockin’ with this idea, but mommy has been a little reluctant, since I had NO idea how to even get started! But, thanks to the amazing peeps over at Pull-Ups, and their super fun Pull-Ups Potty Break site packed full of helpful tips, I’m ready for this new parenting adventure!

Potty Training Tips for Toddlers

I realized a couple months ago that it was time to start looking into potty training, when Abby started telling us when she was wet, bringing us a diaper when it was time for a change, and getting really interested in watching me go potty. So, we got her a brand new little potty chair of her own – and right away, she wanted to sit on it EVERY time I went to the bathroom too. I thought, “Shoot, this is going to be soooo easy.” But, like most new stages of parenting, it’s not been so simple. A few things that are working for us so far:

• Pull-Ups: These rock. I love that they pull up and down like big-girl pants, but that they also have the little pull-apart tabs on the sides, like diapers, to make it easy to change big messes too. Another thing that’s cool is that there are a couple different varieties to pick from – the Learning Designs, where the cute Disney princess design fades away when it gets wet, and the Cool Alert, to help kids learn to stay dry. Very cool features to help kids learn, right? {And they have overnight options too, so that kids can keep using their fun Pull-Ups that they love, but you can rest easy knowing you’re not going to wake up to a major mess.}
• Great Potty Chair: Let your little one help you pick out their own chair, so that they’re excited about using it. {And – I am now a HUGE fan of the Tidy Tots now that I’ve gotten a chance to try them. Totally rock!} Make sure that the new potty chair is in an easy to access spot too, for little ones to get to whenever they’re ready to give it a try.
• Big Kid Timer: I’m kind of lovin’ this tool on the Pull-Ups site – You can download it right to your PC or Mac, and use it to let kiddos know when it’s time to sit on the potty again. You know, Potty Time!! You get to pick either Lightning McQueen or Minnie Mouse – and it really is super helpful.

There are SO many other cool tools, resources, and tips on Pull-Ups.com too – and you can pick from the stage that you’re in right now – Getting Started, Keeping it Going, or The Big Finish. And I found SO much stuff there that’s been a big ol’ help for us already. Totally recommend checking it out.

Get your own Potty Timer too

Get the Big Kid Potty Break Timer for your own computer – to remind kids during the day when it’s time for another potty break. This is fun for them – but seriously helpful for you too. I know that I was always getting so busy and distracted all day, and would forget to take Abby in to try the potty again. So this is a perfect way to remind us both.

Make sure to check out a super helpful How to Start Potty Training infographic post too, for more easy to follow tips and tricks to help make potty training a success in your home.

So, stay tuned moms. Since we’re super early to all this stuff, I don’t have too much to share for tips or trouble shooting. But I’ll be blogging about our Potty Training Adventure here for the next few months, as a part of my new gig as a Pull-Ups Ambassador. You can see some of the other helpful posts I’ve been collecting on my Potty Training Tips board on Pinterest, and I’d love, love, LOVE to hear your best tips too….

What do you wish someone had told you when you first started potty training? Share some comment love!

{I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Pull-Ups. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.}