In my last post, I talked about checking yourself first before starting potty training. Please read it here. Now that you’ve done that and you’re sure you’re ready, let’s get practical. This is the no-fluff list of what you actually need. Potty training is a learning process it takes time, patience (a lot of patience, in fact), and the right tools to make it easier.
Start With Potty Training Books
I am a big believer in using books to introduce new things to kids. Storytime makes everything less scary and helps them connect the dots.
If you’ve been here for a while, you already know I love Lovevery books because the pictures are so realistic. Then someone on Instagram recommended Once upon a potty and it turned out to be perfect. They even have one for boys and one for girls.
If you are looking for books for kids’ everyday issues like going to the dentist, potty training, or pretty much anything at all you can grab my list
What Do You Need for Potty Training?
Ok, so different people will tell you different things, but here’s my own take from experience:
A Potty
A potty, Start with a simple potty chair. It’s light, easy to move, and not intimidating. Later, you can introduce a potty training seat with a ladder for the toilet, as well as a small seat insert. In our home, we actually use all three:
- The ladder one downstairs,(it come in different colors)
- The potty near the play area,
- and the seat insert upstairs.
At first I only had one, but it was a struggle running up and down the stairs. Adding more options made life easier.
Wipes
WaterWipes for cleaning his bum (used them for years, never had rashes, highly recommend).
Clorox wipes for the little spills here and there. Also helps with the smell.
Tissue
Do I even need to say more? You’ll go through way more than you think.
Pull-ups
Useful for naps, bedtime, long car rides, or days when you’re just too tired to keep up. Remember, potty training is a marathon, not a sprint. Give yourself grace on those tough days.
Car seat protector
I wish I had bought this. Once you’re comfortable, you may start taking your little one out more often, but accidents can still happen — maybe after daycare pickup when they fall asleep, or when there’s more traffic than you anticipated. This will be useful. On the flip side, I did not have this, so I washed my car seat covers often (which, honestly, is not a bad thing). So here’s my gentle reminder: wash your car seat whether you’re potty training or not. Thank you 😉
Potty training underwear – I got mine from Amazon. They were especially useful when we were potty trained but still having more accidents. These kept my son dry enough not to soak through, but still wet enough for him to understand that he needed to clean up. It gave him the message and cleaning up was a lot easier with these.
Potty Training Stickers, Charts, and Rewards
Now let’s talk motivation. Some kids need extra encouragement, and that’s where potty training stickers, charts, and rewards come in.
Some parents swear by sticker charts. Others use little treats like lollipops or M&M’s. I tried lollipops when my son was refusing to poop in the toilet, and to be honest, they did not work. He would outright tell me, “I don’t want the reward.” 😂 So yes, my child was not motivated by it, but I know parents who say sticker charts and small bribes worked like magic.
My advice: try a simple potty training chart with stickers. If it clicks, great! If not, do not stress. Sometimes the best potty training reward is just cheering, clapping, and making a big deal out of their progress.
One thing I did that actually worked was bedtime encouragement. Before we slept, I would say things like: “Oh, I want to tell you something… I am so proud of you today. You peed in the toilet” (or pooped if he did). I could see a real sense of accomplishment in him when I said that. Sometimes, our words are the most powerful reward. I think generally
And here’s something I’ve learned: if your child’s love language is words of affirmation, that may mean they respond more to encouragement than to gifts or rewards. And not just with potty training, but in all aspects of life. Don’t get me wrong, stickers and treats can still work, but if affirmations are their greater motivation, leaning into that will go a long way.
Potty Training Boys vs Girls
I have heard people say that potty training boys is more difficult than girls. I potty trained a boy, and let me tell you, it wasn’t the easiest, but hey, I did it, so you can too! And if you are a girl mama… hurray to you! 🙌🏽 OG mums in the house, is this true? Let me know in the comments.
Final Word
So yeah, that’s my no-fluff list of what you really need for potty training: books, a potty, wipes, tissue, pull-ups, a car seat protector, potty training underwear, and maybe a potty training chart with stickers if your child responds to it.
Potty training is not a one-day win. It’s a season. Give yourself grace, stay patient, and celebrate every small step. With the right setup and simple potty training tips, you and your child will get through it.
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