Notice, I put no time limit on the title of this post.  I also did not mention a fool proof method.  This is my first experience potty training, and although I’ve seen articles about training your child in a day or a week, to them I say “HA!  Overachievers!”  However, there are certain things that I learned with my daughter, that I will try to remember with my son.

Preparation:  In all honesty, it probably takes fewer items to have your child learn to go to the potty than to keep them in diapers, and you really don’t need much, but there are a few things I wouldn’t do without.

A potty – Yes, you can probably get by with teaching your child to go to the potty on a grown up toilet, but think about that for a second.  Have you ever not been paying attention and sat down on the rim of the toilet because someone left the seat up? Especially at night?  You thought you were going to die, didn’t you?  Do you really want your child to learn to go to the potty with that sensation every time??

(Apparently, this is the proper going potty pose.)

Treats – Don’t go crazy.  We had left over M and Ms, stickers and cookies, and she got a variety.

Rags and Cleaner – There will be messes.

Tile – If you have mostly carpet in your house, I strongly recommend redoing the floors.  In fact, if that’s not an option, you might consider buying a new house with easy clean flooring.  We have tile all through our house, and I have not regretted it for a moment.  It makes clean up of all kinds so much easier.  Carpet may be warm, but can you wipe up a potty mess from carpet in 4 minutes or less?  With a toddler “helping” you?  10 times a day?? Just get the tile.:)

Expectations:

Don’t expect too much.  I am a formula person.  I put her on the potty every 15 minutes, I ran water, I poured warm water down her front, but she just wouldn’t go in the potty.  She would hear the timer and yell “Potty!” and go sit down.  She’d stand back up, move 8 steps away, go all over floor, and be telling me the whole time “potty, potty.”  After 3 days of that, I didn’t know what to do.  She knew what she was doing, but she just wasn’t making the connection.  Don’t give up!  I think something about going potty sitting down, instead of squatting or standing was really throwing her off.

At the same time, you can expect a lot.   One day, we had a breakthrough, and we’ve never really looked back after that.  That day, we had a couple accidents, but the next day, we had none.  In the last 5 days, we haven’t had any accidents except for one, and that was my fault.  I waited too long.:)  She’s not even needing treats any more.  That was literally something she only needed for 2 days.  I truly didn’t expect it to be such a thorough learning when it came.  I thought it would be a lot more spotty.  In all fairness, we’re not talking about nights or naps, we’re only talking about days at home, but I’m more than satisfied, and I think she’s really enjoyed her “big girl undies” too.

Finally, don’t be discouraged.  My daughter is a very extremes kind of person.  She either thoroughly doesn’t get something, or she thoroughly does get it.  I’m a bit of an extremist too, and it’s super easy for me to be depressed.  Parenting is probably the most humbling experience ever.  You have all the answers in front of you, but they might not work for you.  Just keep trying.:)