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The Busy Moms Guide to Potty Training a Toddler

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….

potty training time toddler tips

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!

 

Start Potty Training Today

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.}

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Potty Training Tips: Keeping It Going & Making it Fun

Potty Training: Phase 2, Keeping it Going… So, last month I told you guys about our start to this new adventure in Potty Training. And, while we haven’t seen as much success so far as I’d hoped – I have to remind myself, it’s only been about a month. SHE is ready. And I AM ready too. It’s just that potty training a toddler isn’t as simple as you both being ready – you also need a plan, the right gear and info, and some cool resources to make the whole process a little bit more fun.

Munchkin Potty Chair

The right gear for potty training a toddler

Part of having a good plan for potty training is to get the right gear. I totally advise having your little one help you pick out a potty chair, since that makes them more excited about using it. We LOVE ours from Munchkin – {disclaimer: We got this one free, since Abby was a member of the Munchkin Bunch.} It has a spot for flushable wipes, a deodorizer tablet that pops right in the lid, and will also work as a step stool once Abby moves to the big potty. Another great product to check out is Tidy Tots – this makes clean up when potty training amazingly simple, seriously. You can use the Potty Timer on the Pull-Ups site that I told you about last time to schedule in your plan – and it will give you a fun alert when it’s time to head to the potty again. Very helpful when you’re a busy mom trying to remember a million things each day! {For more potty training tips, see the infographic at the bottom of the post too.}

Disney Character Call makes Potty Training Fun!

I’d heard that having a “Character Call” from the Pull-Ups site was super helpful in keeping kids excited and motivated for potty training, so we scheduled one for ourselves. You have the choice to pick Cinderella, or Mater, from Cars. Since our DVD player still isn’t working, and Abby doesn’t know one of my favorite princesses, but she watches Cars all the time with her cousins – I chose to have Mater call her. And as you can see… She was super super surprised! She never gets to talk on the phone {we use Skype to keep in touch with our far away family} – so at first she was kind of confused as to why we were handing her the phone, lol. It cracks me up how worried she is for a minute… Then at the end, she realizes who it is, but she calls all of the cars on that show “McQueen.” She listened intently to the rest of the message, and finally got a smile. Then when it was over she was upset and wanted to call him again! She told us all night – “McQueen? Phone? Potty time?” We’ll have to try this again so she can hear the whole message – you can hear it yourself on the Pull-Ups Potty Break site – it gives kids a “Keep up the good work!” type of encouraging call to keep them excited about their progress. This is definitely a tool we’ll keep using!

Schedule your own Potty Break call with Cinderella or Mater today!

Start Potty Training Today

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Tell me, what are YOUR best potty training tips?

{Disclaimer: 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. All video, opinions, and experiences shared here are 100% my own.}

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It’s Potty Time! Tips for Getting Started with Potty Training

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 & Tools for Toddlers

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.

Potty Timer

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.}

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How to Start Potty Training Today – #infographic

How to Start Potty Training Today – We’ve just recently started potty training with Abby… She’ll be 2 at the end of July, but she’s been showing signs that she’s ready for a couple of months now. So – if you’re in the same boat, and looking for a few helpfulPotty Training Tips for Toddlers too, check out this super smart infographic to help you start potty training today –

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Join Us for the #PullUpsBigKid Twitter Party!

Join me and Mom Central for the #PullUpsBigKid Twitter Party from 3-4 PM EST, on Wednesday, June 20, 2012 – to chat about Pull-Ups Potty Breaks and tools to make potty training easier!

PullUps Big Kids Twitter Party

Get the Details for the #PullUpsBigKid Twitter Party

Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Time: 3-4 PM ET
Moderator: @MomCentral
Assistant Moderators: @StacyDeBroff,@DadCentral & @MomCentralChat
Guest: @PullUpsBigKid & @JenSinger
Topic/Focus: Chat about Pull-Ups Potty Breaks and tools to make potty training easier
Hashtag: #PullUpsBigKid
Prizes: 2 pre-party winners will receive a $50 Visa gift card and Pull-Ups training pants, 6 party winners will receive will receive a $50 Visa gift card and Pull-Ups training pants
Questions? Email Jess at jhogan@momcentral.com, or leave a comment here on this post and I’ll get you some answers!
TweetGrid: http://bit.ly/MoCNgp

About the Party:

Many parents struggle to potty train their children. Whether it’s your first child or your fifth, every child is different and responds differently to potty training techniques. In efforts to make potty training easier, Pull-Ups has introduced the Potty Breaks Program, a call-and-response routine to help Moms and toddlers put a little fun into potty training this summer!

Kids can also receive personalized phone calls from Disney/Pixar CARS characters and Disney Princesses to motivate and excite them to start potty training, while introducing Potty Breaks into the tot’s daily routine. With new Disney designs like Princesses and Minnie Mouse for girls and Disney/Pixar CARS for boys, Pull-Ups has turned the dreaded potty training process into a fun adventure for parents and children!

Pre-Tweet to Win!

Anyone who tweets this from now until the #PullUpsBigKid Twitter Party will be eligible to win a $50 Visa gift card and Pull-Ups training pants! Super cool, right?

Hope to see you there! It’s not a party without you guys :)

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Mess-Free Potty Training Solution: Tidy Tots! #Mompact

Finally, a mess-free solution to potty training! Tidy Tots are a disposable plastic liner that you add right into almost any size or shape of potty chair, then place the included absorbent pad right into the liner. After your little one uses the potty successfully – you simply grab the bag, wrap it and tie it, and toss it out! Easy peasy mess-free potty training solution!
A mess-free solution to potty training!

Potty Liner for Mess-Free Potty Training

We are just getting started with potty training… Abby is ready, but I’ve been so busy, I haven’t been able to give this new challenge as much focus as I should. One of our favorite gifts as part of the Munchkin Bunch was a brand new super-cool potty chair a couple months ago, and Abby loves to sit on her chair while mommy gets ready for the day. I just recently started sitting her ON the potty every couple of hours, trying to get her to catch on to the idea of what it’s really for – no luck yet. But I can tell ya I was SUPER excited to learn about these Tidy Tots liners, and will definitely be giving them a try. Mommy’s favorite words are “no messes!”

Tidy Tots is a hot new must-have for busy moms!

As you can see, these mess-free potty liners are getting a lot of attention! And they deserve it, since they are another super smart solution, invented by a busy mom just like us. She saw a yucky challenge, and thought, “There must be a better way?” Luckily for us she figured out this simple solution, saving the rest of us lots of big messes to clean up! You can read more over on Mallery’s Deals – She shows the Tidy Tot in action, and shares some really helpful feedback that she got from the women in her mom group that will help you figure out if these are the right fit for you!

Learn More & Connect with the Brand

If you’d like to learn more about this smart idea, check them out on TidyTots.com, read some super helpful potty-training tips and tricks on their blog, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new products and promotions. And if you’d like to see more Potty Training tips and products, check out my board on Pinterest.

Reviewer's Retreat connecting brands and bloggers

Connect with Tidy Tots at Reviewer’s Retreat

And speaking of connecting – You can learn more about the Tidy Tots products from me, and Nicole, the mom-inventor behind the Buti-Bag – if you’ll be attending Reviewer’s Retreat this weekend! They are just one of the brands I’ll be helping to represent during the Sponsor Speedway portion of the events. I hope to see some of you there!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to partner with smart mom-invented brands like this, and working with some great bloggers on fun campaigns, you can learn more about how Mompact supports moms in business, and sign up to be part of the team at Question Moms.

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