Is it about that time? Potty training time? Set your fears aside and check out these easy Potty Training Tips and Tricks that actually work!
Could you really use some Potty Training Tips and Tricks about now??
I received the following question from frugal friend Rebecca… “I am looking for some tips on potty training. I’ve got a 2 1/2 year old boy, and would love any advice! Got any tips for me??”
I shared this question right here and on The Frugal Girls Facebook Page, and here are just a few of the great ideas that were shared…
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Potty Training Tips
Laurie said: “Potty training tips? You probably don’t want to hear this… but with my boys I used to let them go outside and ‘water’ my flowers. They were so impressed with their ‘job’ that it worked really well. Except at Grandma’s! After they got the hang of it, we’d pick a dandelion flower and let them aim for it in the toilet.”
Jan said: “We used to live out on a farm. My son was potty trained in a day because he liked peeing on a rock. Only problem those first couple of weeks was when we would go into town.”
Anne said: “For my son I kept a bowl of Cheerios on the back of the toilet. We made a game out of it. He would throw 3-4 Cheerios in and I sat him on the toilet backwards. Then, he tried “shooting” them and sinking them, and he LOVED it. He would get a couple of pennies for pee pee and a quarter for pooping. He was potty trained within a month and a half. I bought Pull-Ups for night and I would hear him “shooting’ the Cheerios.”
Kristen said: “My little boy is now 5, but when we were potty training, this is what we did. We would put 3 Cheerios in the potty and make a game out of having him aim at the cheerios 🙂 Also, when he did go potty we had a bunch of little toys from the dollar store that we used as a reward. :)”
Mary said: “We also used cheerios, and they worked wonders. We also used blue food coloring and when he peed, it would turn green… magic pee!”
Tina said: “We used the Cheerios method as well! Worked like a charm! Our reward method was “high-5′s”… lol! He seemed more excited to high-5 us, than when he would get a toy.”
Judy said: “With my little guy I had tried almost everything and nothing worked, so one day I said no more diapers. I put him in underwear and would have him go to the potty every hour. He HATED to be wet so he learned after a few accidents that its just easier to use the potty 
”
Malisa said: “I recently bought my son the WetStop3 bedwetting alarm. It has been working wonders. He sleeps so hard that he just doesn’t wake up but this does the trick and he has been waking up to pee at night.”
Brooke said: “We started Monday with my daughter (2.5 yrs). She threw away her diapers after we went on an underwear shopping trip. We sat her on the toilet every hour. The first day with no success. Second day she was 50/50. Day three she even pooped in the potty, with only one accident. TIP: Stretch pants… pee runs down legs and makes more uncomfortable AND doesn’t get on carpets!!”
Jenn said: “I went cold turkey with my third child, a boy at 23 months. I told him that it was time to use the potty. PeePee and Poo needed to go in HERE (pointing at the potty). If he used the potty, he would get THESE (raisins, M&M’s, or Skittles)! No more diapers, because mommy got THESE (tighty whiteys, save the cute character ones for AFTER he is trained. Tighty Whiteys are easy to clean and bleach! 😉 And let’s get started! Jax got 3 raisins, M&M’s or Skittles with every peepee and 5 for every poo after washing his hands. He was potty trained within the week. I stopped liquids by 7:30 for a 9pm bedtime. It was great! By far the easiest! If you are nervous about bedtime wetting, I would use the diapers at night, but I will NEVER waste money on Pull-Ups again!”
Jamie said: “We used a kitchen timer. We would have our son help us set it for an hour and when the bell went off, it was time to go. He’d jump up from whatever he was doing and run into the bathroom (before he’d fight us the whole way). After that worked for a few days we started putting him in underwear, emphasizing that he needed to “keep Diego dry!” (He had his favorite character, Diego, on his undies.) We had a few accidents, but in less than a week he was telling us when he needed to go. He’s been basically dry during the day for a couple weeks now.”
Dana said: “For my son I created a poster with columns of the days, and we got a goody bag with cheap items. For each day he did not have an accident, he got something out of the goody bag. If he made it one week with no accidents, we went to Walmart and bought him a toy. It worked VERY well – he was potty trained in about 3 weeks!! We had tried everything else.”
Michele said: “Someone gave me the idea of making a game board (it looked like a homemade version of candy land) on a poster board. Then I taped it to the side of the kitchen cabinet with a prize at the end. Every time my son used the potty he got a sticker until he filled in all of the squares to get to the prize. It really didn’t take long and we always said… he won’t go to kindergarten in diapers.”
Jacquelyn said: “Get a potty / potty seat combo, since you never know which he’ll prefer. I rarely gave my son candy, so he knew I meant business when I put a plastic jar of Hershey’s kisses on the bathroom counter. Whenever he produced anything, he got 1 kiss and he immediately understood the connection. We also focused on feeling when his undies were dry or wet to know the difference. As time went on and he got the hang of it, I kept upping the ante for him to get a treat (ie – he had to stay dry; then he had to stay dry and tell me when he had to go, etc.). We eventually worked our way away from treats. Also, little boys generally do not have the coordination to stand & pee at first, so start him sitting down. Good luck!”
Denelle said: “I bought the “cheer for me potty.” From that day forward my son has been so excited when he goes, because it sings to him. I couldn’t be happier. 6 weeks into potty training and we’ve only had two accidents. I also just started him out in undies, and I have not bought any Pull-Ups at all. He is great about telling me when he has to go and I even got him to go at a public place. Good Luck!”
Amy said: “I am potty training my 21 month old. I recently bought the potty watch and I have to say it has really helped. It reminds her (and forgetful mom as well) that we need to try to go. As a reward for going in the potty I gave crackers, raisins, and stickers. Hoping to have her potty trained before the new baby arrives!”
Chaundra said: “I have four children that are all potty trained. I waited until they were interested, and then a reward system worked. After my second child I was much less in a hurry for the “next step.” Some of them liked the little potty that plays music when you go, and some liked the big potty insert. Boys do like peeing on cheerios. I have heard that punishments or forcing it too early can cause potty problems, like bed wetting and/ or constipation.”
Amy said: “Buy the book Toilet Training in Less than A Day. Although the book is from the 70′s, I used it with both my kids. Neither one of them was completely trained in a day, but after day one they were both in undies full time during the day, and out of diapers at night pretty quickly.”
Tracey said: “I also have the Toilet Training in Less than A Day book and am almost finished reading it to teach my son (he’s not old enough yet). I think their method makes complete sense! I was very skeptical when I saw that it was an older method and would teach a child in just one day, but after reading it I find it to be a method that is respectful of the child, and their skills and abilities. It teaches them to do it all themselves so that I’m not having to constantly go and help (after the method has been taught). Isn’t that the point of toilet training–to make them more independent in the matter?! I’m excited to try it out!”
Michele said: “I have seen a lot of “we potty trained in 1 day, 3 days, etc.” while I am sure that can be true, I found it so discouraging when I was potty training my daughter at 18m. {Yes, I know that was young, but she was up for it and more than capable to do it and DID do it more importantly.} My daughter did get it in 2-3 days, but I liken it to your baby taking off walking. Remember how they took a few steps and fell down, it probably took a few more weeks before they were really proficient at it and even longer to take off running.
While she “got it” in 2-3 days, it still took us several more weeks/months to fully get it and be 100% all day accident free. We probably had 1-3 accidents a week in the beginning. I just say that to encourage you to always just keep trying and preserving with your tot. There WILL most likely be regression, but it doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. Overall, this will be more work for you than them. HA!
Also, my daughter is 3 now and still not trained through the night. She is a heavy sleeper and I refuse to wake her to go potty that just seems counter-productive and not really training anyone but yourself”
Lynn said: “I loved the book “Diaper-Free Before Three” for more Potty Training Tips. I would sit my 18 month old on the potty at certain times of the day: bathtime, after meals, before going out, etc. With my son, we started at 22 months. I made him go anytime I had to, which was a lot with a tiny pregnant bladder! We only used Pull-Ups at night, and thick gerber training pants during the day. We had tile floor, so I mopped some and he learned quickly! My son loved to pee on cereal and in a cup too. Then there was the time he dropped his pants in the shopping center parking lot, but I think all moms can tell those stories! Above all, don’t stress. Not too many 10 year olds wear diapers! : )”
Mary said: “I used to work @ Marian Center in Miami 30 years ago, a school for mentally challenged children. I’ve seen a 1-1/2 year old down syndrome child potty trained in a week, how? Simple, they took the child to the potty every 15 minutes, and the parents had to do the same at home. In a week the child was potty trained. It was a lot of sacrifice, but it worked with no bribes or rewards.”
Maggie said: “After potty training my 4 boys, I have learned the only valuable lesson: RELAX. Let them set the pace, because there will be setbacks. They will not make it to the potty every time… no worries. Take the stress and flush it. Your child WILL go on the potty, but don’t compare your child to your neighbors. Potty training is as different as the personalities the children. Good luck, and praise often!”
Sheila said: “The key to successful potty training is to wait til your child is ready, not when you are ready. I had a boy and a girl and they were both trained at 2 yrs 7 months. They were both trained quickly, within a few days and neither one had nighttime accidents. I think starting too young trains the parent, not the child. Good luck!”
Melissa said: “The best general advice for potty training tips I can give is that if you’re having a hard time or they seem to be really struggling with it, go back to diapers and wait a couple of months and then try again. My niece was almost 4 before she was truly ready, and it wasn’t anywhere near as frustrating as when we tried to train her when she was younger.”
{oh… the memories ~ good times, good times!} 😉
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So do you have any favorite Potty Training Tips or Tricks?
Or… what worked to motivate your little ones to get the ol’ job done??
Leave a comment and share your Potty Training Tips below…
Jennifer baker says
I tried and tired with my oldest but she wanted nothing to do with it and if you force it before they already you could end up with bigger problems… Two weeks before her third birthday she came to me and said mommy I need to go potty and has not had an accident since… My two year old has started showing an interest it put her on the potty before bath and right before bed… Most days she ask to go potty but I’m not forcing it, especially since we are on vacation right now
Holly Robinson says
Did a combination of things. First bought and ready a potty book frequently starting right around 28 months for my only child, little girl. That is when she started to seem interested. We did not push- Buf, certainly encouraged. We then bought a potty for the living room. My father watched her at home for us 3 days a week. So, it was helpful for her to see the potty and begin the visual trigger. We then made a big ordeal to purchase special panties, pink- polka dots- cartoon characters- and set either my phone timer letting her know when she her the duck quack it was time to go potty and also for my dad the kitchen timer. She knew when the bell rang in intements of every 30-45 minutes it was time to go. She is fully potty trained since 30 months if age at school 2 days a week. No timers needed. We also keep a portable potty seat instead of a diaper bag on hand for shopping and restaurants and also a potty in our vehicle. Small bladder does require frequent trips to the potty and face it, your potty is better than a public one.
Debbie says
I bought my son underwear that looked like his Daddy’s. It made him feel all grown up. Plus it helped for me to watch the time during the day, and send him to the bathroom every couple of hours.
Mef says
We tried everything with my last child. Aiming at Cheerios, treats, taking him every 30 mins. to an hour and nothing worked. He was so stubborn. Finally a pediatrician mentioned trying a “cold” shower. Everytime he went in his pants he had to undress himself, put it in the dirty clothes hamper and would get a cool shower (just cool enough to be uncomfortable and get his attention). He was potty abd pooped trained in 2 days. It took only 2 cold showers for him to catch on.
Ashley says
My son is almost 4 yrs old and has no interest in going on the toilet. I’ve tried the Cheerios that didn’t work and now we’re making it into a game. But still won’t go. My daughter will be two and has gone more then my son. I know girls learn faster and every situation is different but it’s a little frustrating that he won’t go. He cries, he will sit there and find something to play with. He can sit there for hours and still not go. I don’t know what else to do. Any suggestions?
Heather Bleacher says
I don’t have any suggestions just that my son is 4 1/2 and still won’t go consistently. He still wears pullups. Have tried tons of praise and bribes (we give him M&Ms and he even said he had had enough and didn’t want anymore-he only had 3 that day) and punishment. We even had to switch brands of pullups because the store brand kind was sold out and he told us he would poop and pee in them on purpose so that he could use the ones he didn’t like up quicker. So don’t worry you are not alone out there.
Wendy Booth says
Does anyone have advice for potty training a non verbal child?
Anna says
You can use pictures! Take a picture of the potty or a diaper and have it laminated or protected somehow in a 2 inch by 2 inch square or so. Put velcro on the picture and have a velcro strip somewhere in reach so that the child can get the picture of the potty to indicate they need to go. It should be relatively close to the potty to eliminate additional accident time!
Heath Ashli says
As soon as they are old enough to walk, let them run around pantless & diaperless all day, every day esp. when outside. Both my boys were potty-trained this way by 18 months. We had 2 potty chairs, one in the bathroom & one that moved around the house w/ them as they played. We never pressured them or got mad at them. We were pretty relaxed & matter of fact about it all, including letting the boys see us go potty (open door policy). They had plenty of accidents, but it was the accidents that made them more aware of their bodily functions. Waking up to go to the bathroom takes longer (physiologically), so they still had to wear pull-ups to bed & in the carseat in case they fell asleep. I have never felt comfortable w/ the idea of trying to trick my kids or lying to them to get what I want. I like to stick to the facts & do what comes natural.
Michele says
Someone gave me the idea of making a game board (it looked like a homemade version of candy land) on a poster board. Then I taped it to the side of the kitchen cabinet with a prize at the end. Every time my son used the potty he got a sticker until he filled in all of the squares to get to the prize. We made the first one easy so he would understand the concept and earn the little reward easily. The next board I made had more squares and a prize he really wanted. It really didn’t take long and we always said….he won’t go to kindergarten in diapers.
Lisa says
I tried many of the above tips with my oldest son who is now 9. He was capable of going pee pee at age 2 but it ended up being a control battle with him. He didn’t end up potty trained until 4. (I don’t consider them trained until they aren’t having accidents anymore) So with my second, I decided not to potty train. He decided he wanted big boy undies a few months before he turned 3. I told him he has to have a dry diaper first. He never had an accident! EVER! I never had to clean up pee down his legs or wash poopie unders. My third son is now 2 1/2 and I am letting him lead the potty training once again. He loves to go and doesn’t need any other reward. He goes. He flushes. He celebrates. When he learns to go regularly and stays dry, he can wear his underwear…
Bajan_Queen says
I have a 2 year old girl who just loves to think that she’s a big girl. She stopped using a high chair at 1 year, stopped using a sippy cup by 18 months, and when we started potty training she refused to use a “baby potty” or potty seat. However, she wouldn’t tell us when she needed to go to the bathroom. Then it occurred to me to simply let her wear big girl panties. Worked like a charm, she was fully potty trained shortly after.
Julie says
My son was really great about potty training at 22 months. I went early with him because I knew he could handle it and although we hit a few setbacks, I don’t think it was more than my friends who waited. I think it worked well for us because he never liked being in a wet or poopy diaper so I didn’t want to wait too long to teach him to go in the toilet for fear he’d accept the diapers and stop hating it somehow. Anyway, when it came time to teach him to stand up (he saw daddy doing it and had to do it too), we had some aim issues. My solution to that is here: http://www.buildsewreap.com/2010/12/x-marks-spot.html
Judy R says
With my little guy I had tried almost everything and nothing worked so one day I said no more diapers. I put him in underwear and would have him go to the potty every hour. He HATED to be wet so he learned after a few accidents that its just easier to use the potty 🙂
Ashley Bolin says
We have the pee down and have for about 3 months now, but as my older son did, he goes and hides when he needs to poop. It is driving me crazy. How do we get past the hiding to know when he poops. Sidenote: he is not consistent with pooping at a certain time. He usually only has one a day but today, three. Never know what to expect!
Melissa says
Our niece lived with us when she went through potty training and she started hiding when she needed to poop too, so we made a kind of game out of it. Whenever my husband or I needed to poop, we would always announce it, and made up a silly little song that we would sing while we were pooping so that she knew it was okay and not a big deal. Something else that helped with her is that she seemed fascinated with watching us poop, which kind of freaked me out at first, but once I got over it and let her talk to me and be in the room with me while I was in the bathroom, she started to see it as a normal part of our daily routine.