I am happy to report that I successfully potty trained four children. Woohoo! But, I remember the days when doubts entered my mind.
Potty training is one of those parenting tasks that many dread. It is messy, frustrating, and is almost completely controlled by a child whose favorite word is “No!”
Looking back, I loved the beginning stages of potty training. My child and I spent quality time together reading books over and over again and I watched as the child’s vocabulary blossomed because of it. And, I loved the quality time that we had together. But also remember the accidents and frustration.
Praise Jesus…training got easier with each child as I learned secrets that made the process more successful.
Skip the Expensive Supplies
I was like everyone else and bought into the commercialism of potty training. I believed that if I purchasing the right supplies my child would quickly have success. I soon learned that it was more about the process and personality of the child than the supplies. But, there a few inexpensive items that I found important to our success.
Click to Read: Potty Training Supplies
Three Steps to Success
After the 1st-year birthday gifts were put away, I made the trip into the attic to pull out the potty seat. Now, this doesn’t mean that we began potty training immediately, but I used the seat to introduce the child to a potty. This was Step 1 of my three-step process.
Click to Read: Three-Step Process
FAQ: When Trainin’ Ain’t Happenin’
A few years ago I opened the doors for potty-training questions. Boy did the questions flood in! Here are a few.
- How to Know When Your Child is Ready to Potty Train
- My Child Doesn’t Want to Sit on the Potty
- My Child Can’t or Refuses to Poop in the Potty
- What about Accidents When You are Away from Home?
- When Backsliding Occurs
- Potty Training With Sensory Processing Disorder
Potty Training Success
Authors and inventors have made a fortune with promises of one-day potty training and automatic success. But in reality, success happens when the child’s mind and body are ready. It is the role of the adult to remove the pressure and battle, provide the opportunity, and encourage the child each step of the way.
I pray that this cheat-sheet blog post has been helpful!
