Top 5 Potty Training Tips from Birth (and Helpful Resources)

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Pull-Ups and Linqia and 
I have been compensated. 
These views are my own and were not at all influenced by the party who gave me this 
opportunity.

It is never too early to start potty training. No, no, I don’t mean you should full-on potty train your infant, in fact, I encourage you to wait until your child is ready and that will be different for each child. In honor of High Five Friday, I wanted to share my Top 5 Potty Training Tips so here is what I mean: Overview:

• Keywords “wet”, “stinky”, “icky” during diaper changes
• Keywords “are you going potty” and “time for a diaper change” when your child makes “that” face
• Change diapers quickly so your child appreciates being clean and dry
• Let your child be your bathroom buddy
• Help your child know when pee happens by using Pull-Ups
• Bonus: sign up for more tips and tools from the Big Kids Academy

1. Tell it Like it Is-From birth on, you can start working towards potty training by familiarizing your child with what potty is and that it is gross. Start by pointing out things like “Eew, stinky potty” and “This diaper is icky” or “Your diaper is wet” when it is time for a diaper change. Saying key words like this during changes will help your child understand that wet and stinky diapers are not something we want to sit in and we don’t want our diaper to feel icky and smelly. You can even finish the diaper change by saying how much nicer that clean, dry diaper must feel! The sooner you start this, the sooner he/she will understand.

2. Know When Ya Go-When you see your child making faces or hiding–you know, the typical signs that a full diaper is in the near future–say things like “Are you going potty?” and “Are we going to have to change your diaper?” You can say #2 as well (ok, the other word–even as a mom I still can’t say it haha.) This will help your child recognize when potty happens and that the next step is to get clean. 

3. Keep it Clean-Right now with our youngest, we are at the point where he is starting to recognize when he goes and not want his diaper dirty. His signs are sitting in one place while crying and hitting something whereas he is usually always moving around and very happy. Each child will have a different “tell” whether it’s crying or grabbing at his diaper or going to the place where diaper changes happen. You can even teach your child sign language so he/she will be able to sign “potty” making it easier for you to know as well. I take this opportunity to get him clean right away so he does not get used to sitting in a gross diaper. I believe this is key! If your child is used to dirty pants, he won’t care as much if they are clean which can be a huge setback.  4. Be Bathroom Buddies-Let your little one visit the bathroom with you. Yes, I mean it. I know the bathroom is a private place of solitude for moms especially, but it is also somewhere you want your baby to become familiar with. Being in the atmosphere, seeing you on the toilet, hearing the tinkle, smelling the stink (bahaha sorry I can’t say all of this without laughing–the things we have to talk about as parents)…all of this will help with bathroom familiarity, being comfortable around the toilet, and knowing where to go potty and that even mommy and daddy go. 

5. You’re Unique-Helping your kid understand when he/she has to pee is a little more challenging because it happens a little more “effortlessly” than #2. When your child is ready, you can start using Huggies Pull-Ups (right now they come in adorable Doc McStuffins and Jake and the Neverland Pirates designs!) The characters fade when the training pants get wet so you can see when your child has just gone (and he can too) and you can explain that this is when it happens and we don’t want wet pants. Again, helping your child recognize when he goes to the bathroom then keeping his pants clean and dry and not letting him sit in a dirty diaper or training pants will make potty training a lot easier on both of you. Sign up HERE for the Pull-Ups Big Kid Academy for more potty training tips and tools.  <Potty training can be a challenge I know; we have already gone through it with our oldest. The best things you can do to start gearing up for potty training are to start familiarizing your child with what it is and when it happens early on and to have the right tools available. Keep in mind that each child is unique and will learn at a different pace and age. Don’t stress! It will happen eventually.

-Do you have any potty training tips of your own? Share them in the comments!