Potty Training Doesn’t Get Easier… But It Can Get Creative
Four kids in, and I can confidently say… potty training does NOT get any easier.
I’ve tried a bunch of methods, and honestly, there is no one method that worked for all of my children. The one thing I can say is that it takes time , and if you’re like me, time is not something you always have a lot of.
When I was potty training my third daughter, she was by far my most strong-willed kiddo at the time. Between homeschooling, caring for the other two, working on a book launch, and everything else I had going on, trying to find time to potty train felt nearly impossible.
At one point — no joke — if her pull-up was full, I just handed her another one and told her to go change it.
(Horrible, I know… but I was stretched thin.)
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The Most Important Potty Training Tip
If I can give you one tip, it’s this:
Both you AND your child need to be ready.
**It’s not enough for your child to be ready, you have to be in the right headspace too.
So I made the decision: “We’ll start potty training in the summer when life slows down a bit.”
But… life had other plans.
Big Sister to the Rescue
Her big sister (who is 4 years older) confidently told me: “I can potty train her. No problem.”
I laughed… but I said, you know what? Let’s try it.
A step stool for independence – A simple step stool in the bathroom, so my kiddo could was her own hands without help, added to the independence and excitement about going to the potty.
Fun training underwear – This was a BIG win! They are thicker than regular underwear to help with accidents.
A small reward bin or prize box – We just had the one big prize at the end, but this is great for continued incentives.
Flushable wipes for easy cleanup – This is my favorite brand. It is always so handy to already have some wipes ready to go, in the bathroom, near the toilet.
How We Used the Potty Chart
The system was simple:
Big sister made sure she sat on the potty at least 3 times a day
Every time she successfully used the potty, she picked a sticker
She placed it on her chart
Because it was Paw Patrol themed (her favorite at the time), she was instantly more interested and engaged
The Motivation That Sealed the Deal
Once she filled the chart, she earned a trip to her favorite store…
The $1 Tree!
She was VERY motivated.
And wouldn’t you know it…
It actually worked.
It was a little bumpy at first, but within about 2–3 weeks, she was consistently using the potty.
A Proud Mom Moment
I was so proud, not just of my daughter, but of my oldest as well.
Seeing her take initiative and care for her younger sister like that truly filled my heart.
Why I’m Sharing This
Because as moms, we tend to stress ourselves out over timelines.
We wonder:
“Am I doing this wrong?”
“Why isn’t this working?”
But the truth is:
Every child is different.
Even though I waited longer than I planned, the process ended up being smoother than with my other kids.
Sometimes it just takes:
A little creativity
A different approach
And finding what your child responds to
Download Your Free Paw Patrol Potty Chart
If you want to try what worked for us, you can download the chart below:
Print it out, grab some fun stickers, and let your little one take the lead.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, potty training doesn’t have to be perfect.
Sometimes it just takes finding that one thing that clicks.