How We Potty Trained our Two-Year-Old

Oh potty training. What an adventure! Some may think that potty training right at two is too young, but it worked out great for us. We had two main motives in mind when potty training Jaxon:

1. We didn’t want two in diapers. With Baby #2 arriving in November, we really did not want to have multiple kiddos in diapers. I could vividly see my poorly packed diaper bag either having just one NB sized diaper for Jax or one size 4 diaper for a newborn. Just keeping a spare underwear and shorts in the bag will be much easier!

2. Preschool Requirements. Jaxon is currently in a Montessori Toddler program but will be attending a more formal preschool in January. One of the requirements is being potty trained and we really didn’t want to rush the process for him with a “deadline” looming over our heads.

Before you start potty training, I highly recommend having a chat with your pediatrician about signs of readiness! This was one of the main topics at Jaxon’s 2 year well visit and we all came to the conclusion that he was “ready” to explore the world of the potty. I am a pretty fact-based person, so here are some suggestions from the AAP on readiness:

“In order for a toddler to be successfully potty trained, he/she needs to be able to sense the urge to go, be able to understand what the feeling means, and then be able to verbalize that she needs your help to make it to the toilet and actually go”. To read more on their recs, check out the Toilet Training page on their website!

To us, this meant that Jaxon needed to be aware of his anatomy and body functions, understand what using the restroom feels like, and be able to tell us he needs to go. The verbal development and body awareness are crucial, in my opinion. Potty training would be significantly harder without them.

Here are our tips and tricks on potty training (I am in no way affiliated with or sponsored by links provided):

1. Introduce the toilet early. We purchased a Summer Infant My Size Potty and simply had it in the bathroom where we would be training. We purchased this when he was about 18 months old. He was intrigued by it and would sit on it while we used the restroom (even with clothes on). We also started having him sit on it when he would undress for a shower. We had no expectations but didn’t want him to be intimidated by the toilet.

2. Teach body parts. Around two years old, Jaxon was starting to get more and more interested in going potty. We wanted him to know exactly what his body was doing and what his body functions were. He was also taking an interest in body parts of his own and even ours. We were honest with him and made sure he knew what his penis was, what it does, and who can touch him there. Sounds young but never too young to teach boundaries and consent! We also always referred to it as a penis and he became curious as to who had penises in his life. Made for some fun moments of a toddler asking people if they had a penis or a vagina. Lol.

3. Establish an awards system. We tried stickers and a board at first (five stickers = prize), but honestly all of that went over his head. After a week or so, we decided to get him involved with his rewards. We ended up buying a bunch of used Thomas the train and Cars toys and would reward him with a new toy when he went. Check out Facebook Marketplace and Offer Up for these! People tend to sell them in lots. Once he started to go somewhat consistently, we switched to smaller treats. We took Jax to the Dollar Store where he picked out cheap candy! A box of Swedish fish and caramel M&Ms were what got us to the finish line.

If you’re not a fan of candy then shower your kiddo in praise! Seeing our excitement made him so happy and was probably a bigger motivator than anything else! He loves his privacy when he goes potty and will run out because he wants to show us what he just did. I’ve never seen someone so proud of taking a poop before. Haha!

4. Do not shame. I guess we lean towards “gentle parenting” in our house and really try our best not to yell at Jaxon. We wanted to incorporate this into potty training because making it a negative experience can hinder the child in training. A simple, “that’s okay, it happens! Can you help Mommy clean it up?” was all we did when he had an accident. Just last week he waited too long to go and actually peed as he was pulling down his pants. He was upset but helped me clean up and said, “it happens”! Totally warmed my heart. This is a HUGE developmental milestone. We wouldn’t shame a kid for saying a word wrong or for walking funny at first, so why shame with potty training?

5. Go all in. When we decided to train, we did it. We did not offer pull ups unless he was sleeping. We sent him to school in underwear. He either went to the bathroom on the toilet or had an accident. Those were the two options! He wasn’t grasping the concept of accidents in pull ups because of their absorption but would feel his accident right away in underwear.

6. Be prepared. Keep things consistent for your child and be prepared for any potty situations. We bought a Folding Travel Potty Seat from Jool and absolutely LOVE it! Jax feared going potty on big toilets and having this seat was a lifesaver. It suctions on to any toilet seat making the opening smaller and perfect for little toddler bums. We carry a pack of Clorox wipes to keep things nice and clean for him. Always have a change of clothes on you so your child doesn’t need to feel embarrassed with accidents. Sometimes he doesn’t even have a full accident but will get a little too much pee on his shirts or shorts for my liking. Always a good idea to have a change of clothes!

I know there are loads of different ways to potty train but patience, consistency, and M&M’s had our two year old potty trained in about two weeks! The relief of knowing he is confident and trained is enormous. It has been lovely to not change a diaper for the past month!

Best of luck parents! Your kid WILL eventually be potty trained!!

What are your tips and tricks for potty training? Comment below!