Potty-Training Toddlers: Day One

It's time to get started!

Author

TinaMarie C.
January 02, 2025

Welcome Back to Potty-Training Toddlers – Real Tips from Real Parents Group’s “Potty-Training in just 3-days newsletter! At this time, you should have read through the previous newsletter and decided whether you and your child are ready to start this journey.  

Are you and your child ready? Before you start, ensure your child shows signs of readiness and you're prepared for three intense days. Gather your supplies: potty chair, flushable wipes, and engaging bathroom activities. 

We suggest that if you are not prepared do not move forward with this potty-training method until you have everything that you will both need.  

As we continue, please remember we will go over nighttime training, help from daycare, traveling, and using public restrooms.  

Potty Training in 3 Days: A Parent's Guide 

Day One: The Big Switch 

  1. Ditch the Diapers: Replace diapers with underwear and celebrate this milestone. 

  1. Potty Time: Introduce the potty chair and explain its purpose. 

  1. Positive Reinforcement: Praise every success, no matter how small. 

  1. Watch for Cues: Learn to recognize your child's potty signals. 

Key Tips for Success: 

  • Patience is Key: Avoid punishment and negative reinforcement. 

  • Stay Positive: Offer constant encouragement and praise. 

  • Stay Hydrated: Encourage frequent water intake. 

  • Avoid Force: Let your child lead the process. 

Remember: Consistent positive reinforcement and patience are crucial. By following these steps, you can successfully potty train your child in just three days! 

 For a smooth start: 

  • Prepare the Bathroom Set up the bathroom with a potty chair, flushable wipes, and activities to keep your child entertained. 

  • Get Ready Together Start the day by getting yourself and your child ready. Dress your child in only a t-shirt and diaper to easily monitor accidents. 

DAY ONE: READY? SET? HERE WE GO.... CHOO CHOO! 

Replace the Diaper with Underwear Switch to big kid underwear and celebrate! Make a big deal about this milestone. Remind your child that they want to keep their underwear clean and dry. 

Say Goodbye to Diapers Let your child throw away a few diapers to visually symbolize the change. Make it fun and positive: "Bye-bye diapers, hello big kid!" 

If you find that your child is upset during the day and asking for a diaper, gently remind them that they are now a big kid and they no longer need them. “Diapers are for babies”. Immediately, change the conversation to asking them if they would like a drink or to play a game, etc.  

Fifteen minutes after the diaper farewell, take your child to the bathroom. Explain the purpose of the potty chair in simple terms. If your child becomes upset, gently remove them and try again later. 

Encourage Dryness and Communication Remind your child to keep their underwear dry. Check on them regularly and praise their successes. 

Use repetition to help them learn: “Tell me when you need to go potty.” You are going to say this a lot throughout the day. We are not going to ask if they need to poo or pee?  

Recognizing Potty Signals Initially, your child might not recognize the urge to go potty. This will change as they adjust to underwear. 

Praise and Encourage Offer constant praise and encouragement. Remind them to tell you when they need to go. 

Keep Them Hydrated Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Make it fun by adding ice or a silly straw to their drinks. Remember, a well-hydrated child is more likely to have regular bowel movements. 

Stay Close and Catch Accidents Spend quality time with your child through play, reading, and simple tasks. This allows you to monitor them closely and catch any accidents promptly. 

Handling Accidents If an accident happens, quickly take your child to the bathroom to finish. Gently remind them, “Yucky, your new underwear got wet”. Steer clear of words like “Oh, no” and “bad”. Remind them that when they must go to tell you. Keep it positive.  

Celebrate Successes If your child even goes the tiniest bit on the potty PRAISE & REWARD THEM! Make a big scene about how proud you are. Sign a potty song “{Name} pee pee’d on the potty!”. Celebrate and reward their efforts. Remember, accidents are a normal part of the learning process. Repeat this process with every accident that may happen.  

Other loved one's praise would be amazing at this time as well. Make a call or tell a sibling. Get someone else to praise your child for a job well done. Never miss an opportunity to build them up!!  

How long should my child be on the potty?  

Long sitting periods are not helpful during this process. During day one, go ahead and remove your child from the potty as soon as they are finished. No long wait times. Part of the process is letting the accident click in their mind.  

You don’t want to force your child to “try” to go because they don’t yet understand what that means. You definitely don’t want them to get sick of being in the bathroom.  

Are you recognizing the subtle signs of when your child needs to go?  

Notice when they stop playing or start to slow down when zooming around the house. They may do small grunting sounds, try to hide from you or if your child is like mine, they are going to stare directly into your soul when they begin to poo. 

That's all for now! In our next newsletter, we'll tackle the challenges of nighttime training and provide expert tips for smooth bowel movements. Get ready to conquer the next steps of potty training! 

Thank you,

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