My Honest Potty Training Tips (From a Mom Who Dreaded It)

francesca lochirco
Jul 26
5 min read

Hi! I'm Francesca, a mom of two little girls, and if you're getting ready to potty train your toddler... welcome 😅

I'm sharing everything that worked for us after learning a lot (and making plenty of mistakes) with my first daughter... with lots of reality sprinkled in.

You can find all of my favorite potty training essentials linked here!

If you're getting ready to potty train your toddler, the first thing I want to say is this...

Take a deep breath. We've got this. 🤍 Everyone always asks, "Is your child ready?"

But can we talk about the real question for a second... Are YOU ready? 😂

Even though both of my girls showed all the signs they were ready, I kept putting it off. And honestly... I totally get why. Potty training isn't exactly something most parents look forward to. Why do we dread it so much? Because it's intimidating. It takes a lot of patience, flexibility, and just... going with the flow. Which is funny because I'm about as Type A as they come. I love routines. I love schedules. I love a clean, organized house. Potty training basically laughs in the face of all three.

But that's also one of the beautiful things about motherhood. Our kids constantly push us outside of our comfort zones. Now that I've potty trained both of my girls, one thing has become really clear... Every child learns at their own pace.

These are simply the tips that worked well for our family. Every child is different, so take what works for you and leave the rest.

1. Say Goodbye to the Diapers

A few days before we officially started potty training, I made it feel like a really exciting milestone. I let both of my girls pick out their own underwear (my youngest, of course, chose everything Frozen 😂). Even though they were excited, both of my girls also felt a little nervous. My youngest even told me she was "scared." Honestly? That's completely normal. It's something brand new, and kids are allowed to feel nervous about new things.

Then the day finally arrived...Potty training day 😅 I always dread this day. We walked around the house saying "bye-bye" to the diapers before pretending to throw them away together. It sounds silly, but making it playful helped turn something that felt scary into something exciting.

Once we started, I stayed consistent. Other than naps and bedtime, we didn't go back to diapers. I truly think consistency was one of the biggest reasons potty training clicked for both of my girls. It helped them understand that using the potty was simply our new routine.

2. Stay Home for the First Three Days

This was honestly one of the hardest parts. For the first three days, we stayed home as much as possible so potty training could be our only focus. Running errands, going to the park, or trying to squeeze in activities only added extra stress for both of us.

Giving ourselves a few dedicated days at home took so much pressure off and gave my girls the chance to learn without constant interruptions.

Here's How I Set Us Up

Fresh basket of underwear right outside the bathroom.
Laundry basket nearby for wet clothes.
Books next to the toilet (this was huge for both of my girls because reading helped them relax enough to actually go!).
We mainly used the regular toilet since I wanted them to become comfortable using public bathrooms too. With my second, using a small potty only made me have to retrain her to feel comfortable on a big potty. So this time, we went straight to a big potty.
a water bottle to keep full.. the more they drink the more chances they have to practice
And for mom... lots of caffeine (if that's your thing 😂). If you don't drink coffee, grab your favorite snacks because you're going to deserve them after talking about pee for three straight days.

One funny thing I learned... Sometimes my daughter just needed a big hug before she could relax enough to pee. Who knew potty training also required emotional support? 🤍

3. Expect Accidents (They're Actually Part of Learning!)

This one is so important... Accidents are not failures. They're actually one of the biggest ways our kids learn. Some parents prefer letting their toddlers run around without clothes during potty training. Personally, I kept both of my girls in underwear. They still experienced that uncomfortable wet feeling, which helped them start recognizing when they needed to use the potty.

Whenever an accident happened, I stayed calm. Instead of getting upset, I simply said:

"Pee pee goes in the potty, not in your underwear." Then we'd clean it up together and move on. No yelling. No punishment. No shame.

Potty training is a learning process, and I never wanted my girls to feel embarrassed while learning something completely new. The calmer I stayed, the calmer they stayed.

4. Set Gentle Reminders

Especially in the beginning, toddlers get so busy playing that they don't even realize they have to go. I set a timer for every 30 minutes as a gentle reminder to ask if they wanted to try using the potty. The important part? I never forced them. Plenty of times my girls would tell me, "No!" 😂 When that happened, I'd usually sweeten the deal by offering to read one of their favorite potty books. If they still said no, I let it go.

At that point... it's basically a gamble. 😅 Will they tell me they have to go? Or will there be another accident?

Honestly, both are part of the learning process. As hard as it can be, I tried my best to keep potty time positive and low-pressure. I didn't want them to feel like using the potty was stressful or something they could "fail" at. As they became more aware of their bodies and started recognizing the feeling of needing to go, I slowly stopped using the timers.

5. Find a Reward That Excites Them

Positive reinforcement made potty training so much more fun for both of my girls. The funny thing is... their biggest motivators weren't expensive toys or big prizes. They were obsessed with stickers and Band-Aids! 😂

Every successful potty trip earned a small reward, and they couldn't wait to pick one out.

The reward doesn't have to be anything elaborate. Sometimes getting to choose a special sticker is all the motivation they need. With my first daughter, I used Giggles candy as rewards. By about reward number ten... let's just say she was on a serious sugar high. 😂 This time around, I switched to non-food rewards, and honestly, they worked just as well. But absolutely no judgment if candy works for your family. We do what we've gotta do!

My Biggest Piece of Advice

Remember... Potty training is not a race. Some kids catch on in a couple of days.

Others need a little more time. Neither is wrong. Try not to let your mind spiral after a tough day. Just focus on the next potty break.

Before you know it, they'll be heading off to college... and I promise no one is going to ask, "So... when did you start peeing in the potty?" 😂

Celebrate the little wins. Stay consistent. Give yourself lots of grace. And try your best to respond with patience, even on the messy days. Your toddler isn't trying to make your life harder. They're learning an entirely new skill, and they're looking to you for encouragement along the way.

One day you'll look back and realize all of the accidents, timers, tiny underwear, and endless reminders were just a short season. You've got this. 🤍