Potty Training Tips I’m Trying With My Toddler (So Far… Still in the Trenches)

By Lexi

July 11, 2026

5 min read

So after a lot of procrastination, I’ve finally decided to take this potty training thing seriously. And whew! I am having a time with it 🥲. This is, for sure, one the most interesting parts of parenting a toddler, specifically a boy.

If you’re searching for potty training tips because you’re exhausted, frustrated, or wondering if your kid will ever use the toilet willingly, welcome. I’m right there I with you.

I’m currently learning myself, so I won’t pretend to have all the answers. We’re learning together, celebrating every little victory, and occasionally questioning all of our life choices before lunch. But along the way, we’ve found a few things that are actually helping, and I figured if they can help another exhausted parent, they’re worth sharing.

I Ignore the pressure

Don’t rush it. Every child develops at their own pace. Starting before they’re ready often creates frustration for everyone involved. Look for signs they’re interested in the potty, staying dry longer, or telling you after they’ve gone. For us, we just kind of wing it. My sons knows what the potty is, and what it’s for. So for the most part, I prompt him, but also watch and see what he’ll so on his own.

We Celebrate Every Victory

Right now, we celebrate everything. Even if it’s just the fact that he sat on the potty.

Kids respond to encouragement so much better than criticism. My son especially likes, High-fives, clapping, and dancing to celebrate him.

We Keep the Potty Visible

Out of sight is definitely out of mind. We keep our potty where my son can easily see it throughout the day, which is right in the living room, while I work. The more he sees it, the more likely he is to remember it exists before it’s too late. I also noticed that he’ll play with it a lot. Thats a good thing right?

We Go Diaper Free

Honestly, I let my son spends most of the day with no diaper on. Diaper-free time can be a surprisingly helpful part of potty training because it teaches toddlers to recognize what their bodies are trying to tell them. Since diapers are so absorbent, babies can pee without even noticing it happened. It’s basically a tiny magic trick. Without a diaper, they can actually feel the sensation of being wet and begin connecting the urge to go with the act itself. That growing body awareness is an important step toward using the potty instead of treating every room in the house like a bathroom.

Fair warning: it WILL get messy. Just today I went through a half roll of papers towels and had to mop 3 times, because we went to the bathroom as we stood right next to the potty 😑.

I Try To Make Bathroom Trips Part of the our Routine

I haven’t been too consistent, but my goal is to have him sit on the potty: after waking up, before leaving the house, after meals, and before bedtime.

Even if nothing happens, it’s building the habit that the bathroom is just part of the daily routine. And ultimately, that routine will eventually start to make him realize, “hey, it’s time to poop now” .

We Read Potty Books or Watch Potty Learning Videos

Toddlers love seeing other kids (or cartoon animals) learning to use the potty. And Reading potty books has made my son much more curious about trying it himself. Suddenly the potty isn’t scary, it’s just something “big kids” do.

Our favorite books so far:

I Don’t Make Accidents a Big Deal

This one has probably been the hardest for me. After cleaning up the third puddle of the day, it’s easy to get frustrated. But accidents are part of learning. So I put on my Ms. Rachel voice, “Uh oh! Oh nooo, pee goes in the potty!… and keep it moving 😂.

I’ll Start to buy Different Underwear

I underestimated how exciting underwear could be. Whether it’s dinosaurs, superheroes, or trucks, letting your child choose their “big kid underwear” gives them a little ownership over the process. And makes it all the more exciting for them.

Our favorite undies so far:

Truck print
Dinosaur/ variety pack
I also love these pull-ups, because they pull on like underwear, but have tabs like a diaper that makes them easier to close when you need to throw them away.

For the potty we use, click here. We love the size, the storage space for books in the back, and the realistic look & flushing sounds.

Some days it feels like we’re making amazing progress. The next day, it’s like we’ve never mentioned a toilet before. I’ve learned that consistency matters more than perfection. And although my consistency has lacked, I’ll be sure to continue offering reminders, sticking to our routine, and trying again tomorrow.

And if you feel discouraged through your journey, just think of me. While trying to teach my son to use the bathroom, l’m also still trying to figure out how to successfully wean him off of breastfeeding and stop him from using his potty to build things on top of his drum set. So, yea 🙃.