Never get too comfy
The toddler potty-training phase has a funny way of showing up right when life finally feels steady. You’re back at your full-time job, dinners are going well again, and you’re answering emails like a real adult again.
Then, boom, a pool of pee, you walk right in it. Here comes potty training.
A quick reminder that every child is different and all come with custom programming.
Here at Bajadad, we lead with love and grace, and everything else in toilet training will fall into place.
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These toddler potty training hacks for toilet training are loosely sorted by setting, routine, motivation, mess cleanup, and on-the-go life, but feel free to use any tip that satisfies the sweet spot the most independently.
1. The naked-bottom method (guardrails included)
Giving them a short unsupervised time without a diaper helps children to connect the feeling of needing to go with using the potty. Limit it to one room and choose floors that wipe up easily with flushable wipes, and have a potty on hand.
Make one clear rule and follow it every time. Something like, no diaper in the living room, but the diaper goes back on for the couch. Rules like this limit messes and teach the child what happens next.
2. Potty training on a potty timer
Prevent annoying questions. Instead of “Do you need to go?” set an interval of five minutes, let the potty timer do the heavy lifting.
“The potty timer says it is time to try the potty.” Keep a calm tone and don’t show frustration. For a more detailed potty training schedule idea, you can study the sample routines in this potty training schedule for busy parents.
3. Let them choose the potty
Choice builds buy-in. It gives them a sense of ownership that promotes wanting to use it more. Also, letting them choose between a small potty, a potty training seat, or a seat reducer that fits on the toilet. For potty training girls, sitting backwards on the seat reducer provides better stability on a standard toilet.
4. Sticker charts that end quickly
Long-running sticker charts lose their power really fast. Create a short sticker chart that lasts 3 to 5 days. Small victories keep the progressive hype and motivation high for toddler potty training.
Reward trying almost as much as success with effective potty training rewards. After each sit, they place a sticker. On a full chart, offer a small, non-food potty training reward, like a special park visit or choosing a bedtime story.
5. “Try, not force” rule
The more you push, the more kids may resist. Keep your connection strong by treating trying as the win through positive reinforcement. Even a 30 to 60-second sit counts as a success.
You can say, “All you have to do is sit. Your body will handle the rest.” That one sentence takes the pressure off. A little simple psychology can make toilet training feel a lot easier.
6. Model the routine, not the act
Children learn best from what they see you do daily. Let them watch the steps of bathroom use, and sometimes walk them through the steps.
“I pull down my pants, I sit, I wipe, I flush, hand washing.” No need for every detail. They only need a clear picture of the routine for them to copy.
7. Potty training books are only used in the bathroom
Create a special stack of potty training books that lives beside the potty. These books only come out when your child is sitting to try.
This is a major tip to keep the little ones still just a bit longer. Keep in mind, these books can turn into a little germ hotspot. Wipe the covers often, wash hands after potty time, and keep the stack in the bathroom only.
8. Loose-fitting pants only
Tight waistbands, tricky snaps, and overalls are bad news when easy access is the name of the game. In the early phase of toddler potty training, choose loose pants, training pants, and soft waistbands that they can push down themselves.
This small switch can turn those “too late” moments into quick wins. It also helps kids do more on their own, and that kind of independence is a big confidence boost.
9. High-fiber + hydration combo
Constipation is a sneaky roadblock during potty training that no one wants. When pooping is painful, that’s a direct connection to avoid going, leading to accidents or holding it in.
Proper hydration and a high-fiber diet rich with pears, oats, beans, and berries is a great start. If you are unsure about your child’s bowel habits, talk with your pediatrician for guidance that fits your child’s needs.
10. Practice pushing with bubbles
This may sound too simplistic to be true, but many kids do not know how to coordinate the muscles they need to poop. For potty training boys, blowing bubbles is a way to teach that feeling alongside fun like the cereal aim game.
Ask your little one to sit on the potty and blow bubbles slowly. The gentle pushing and relaxed belly are the same pattern they will use when they poop.
11. Potty training songs or countdowns
Does your child love songs or singing? Use that love to work as a helper to time them when sitting on the potty.
They sometimes hop off the potty before their body has time to work. A short song or countdown gives structure without that extra pressure.
12. Use underwear with characters they love
My kids loved the Avengers that was the first thing they chose. In this case, psychology dictates that big kid underwear with their favorite characters helps motivate them. For potty training boys, it pairs well with the cereal aim game. Then use that connection respectfully.
You might say, “Let us keep Spider-Man dry today,” or “Unicorns like to stay clean.” Just a creative way to keep them on top of their game.
13. Nighttime training comes later
Nighttime potty training usually comes down to brain and bladder maturity, not trying harder. Lots of kids who are solid with a daytime toilet schedule still wear pull-ups at night for a while.
Enjoy your sleep when you can. Focus on daytime first, then talk with your doctor about nighttime success advice.
14. Praise effort, not results
It is a morale booster for children, knowing that trying also counts. Phrase your praise around effort almost as much as results with positive reinforcement.
Say, “I saw you stop playing to go try the potty. That was your responsibility. Keep up the good work.”
15. Let accidents be boring
Big reactions, even the sweet and supportive kind, can slow potty-training progress. Some kids may have more accidents just to get a big response, or they may feel embarrassed and start trying to hide it. Use flushable wipes for quick, low-key cleanup to keep things boring.
If you want more examples of how other parents respond, stories from real moms’ potty training tips can give extra perspective.
16. Use a step stool for stability
When small feet dangle and fall asleep while on the potty, it’s a no-no. A simple step stool under the toilet provides stability and better posture.
Posture matters. Feet should be planted, and knees higher than the hips make for an easier pushing position. Small changes sometimes make for better chances of success in toilet training.
17. Create a simple bathroom routine chart
A lot of little kids follow pictures better than words. Print or draw a simple chart with 4 to 5 steps, like pants down, sit, wipe, flush, wash hands.
Place the chart at your child’s eye level in the bathroom so they can see it easily. As you do the routine together, tap each picture and name the step. Eventually, each step will be as natural as breathing.
18. Avoid starting during big life changes
If your family is in the middle of a move, welcoming a new baby, or switching daycare, it’s usually best to hold off on active potty training. Little kids can only manage a few big changes at a time.
If you already started and life changes fast, it’s fine to take a break. Leave the potty where they can see it, follow their cues, and start again when things at home feel calmer.
19. Potty training bootcamp weekends
When nothing else works, a focused reset is helpful. Choose a 2 to 3-day stretch with very few plans and stay close to home, packing a portable potty to practice for public restrooms.
During this time, use loose clothing or underwear, increase potty trips, and keep cleaning supplies handy. Combine these efforts with ideas in Mom Hacks 101’s potty training tips, and tailor them to your child’s pace in toddler potty training.
20. Language consistency across caregivers
Kids pick it up quicker when all caregivers use the same simple words and prompts with consistency. As a group, choose a few go-to phrases such as “time to try the potty,” “wet,” “dry,” “pee,” and “poop,” and stick with them.
Find the best way to keep all parents, caregivers, grannies, and others in the loop to have a consistent flow throughout toilet training.
Handling Regression like a Boss
Even with the best plans, potty training regression can occur. Illness, travel, stress, or a growth spurt can cause it. If a major regression occurs, check for signs of readiness. When you plan for a few setbacks, you can stay calm even when accidents happen and skip the panic.
Potty training goes smoother when you stop chasing a hard deadline and stick to simple, repeatable routines. These 20 potty-training hacks offer quick, real-life tips that respect your time and energy while building your child’s independence, one small win at a time.
You do not need to use every idea at once. Choose two or three that fit. Pick two or three tips that fit your life right now. Stick with them for a full week, then tweak the plan or add another step based on how your child does. Share the same simple plan with grandparents, babysitters, and daycare for consistency, so your child hears one calm, clear message everywhere they go.
Most of all, keep this in perspective: toilet training is just a short season. Kids reach this toilet training milestone on their own timeline, and nobody gets a prize for finishing first. Stay patient, stay kind, and stick to a simple potty-training plan; you and your child will get through this stage and into the next one together.
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