By: Sarah Kurtenbach (Founder of moveHER Money)
This article was printed in the January/February 2025 Issue of ‘hood Magazine. To see this article in print or to read the whole issue, check out the digital issue!
When you become a parent, milestones become a big deal. First steps? Milestone. First night in a big-kid bed? Milestone. Potty training? You guessed it—milestone!
I potty trained my son when he turned two and my daughter at 21 months. Both kids took about three days to potty train. While I’m no expert, imagine us chatting over coffee as I share some tips that made this daunting milestone smoother for us.
Tip #1: Make Sure Your Child Is Ready
Potty training before your child is ready can lead to frustration for both of you. Readiness varies; some kids are ready at 18 months, while others might wait until preschool. Before I started, I took a potty-training readiness quiz from Pull-Ups and checked Pampers’ readiness checklist.
Also, prepare your child in advance. Let them pick out fun underwear and build excitement by counting down to their “bye-bye diapers” day.
Tip #2: Clear Your Calendar and Use a Timer
For potty training to work, you’ll need uninterrupted time. This is tricky if you have older kids with activities, so try to schedule a long weekend or find support from your partner to manage other responsibilities.
During the three days, I kept my kids in underwear (no pants) and used a timer:
- Day 1: Timer set every 15 minutes.
- Day 2: Every 25 minutes.
- Day 3: Every 45 minutes.
When the timer went off, I encouraged them to sit on the potty, even if they didn’t feel the need to go. If nothing happened, I reset the timer for 10 minutes. I also made sure they stayed hydrated—more liquids meant more practice opportunities!
Tip #3: Motivate and Reward
Rewards make potty training fun! I created a prize jar filled with small treats like stickers or Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies. Every time they successfully used the potty, they got to pick a prize. If they didn’t, I stayed positive: “We’ll try again in 10 minutes—maybe you’ll get a prize then!”
The prize jar became the coolest thing in the house, and the excitement kept them motivated.
Good Luck!
Potty training isn’t easy, but picture the day you ditch the diaper bag and start saving on diapers. This transition is worth the effort, and you’ll be so proud of both your child and yourself for reaching this milestone!
