Potty Time Prep -Letter 3: Full on Potty Practice Time

Dear Mommy, Daddy, and the Potty Training Team,

Guess what?  I’ve got some super-duper exciting news to share with you!  I’ve been thinking, and I’m ready for us to start the official potty training.  Yep, you read that right!  Get ready for some fun learning together!

First things first, remember how you said that potty training should feel like my own idea?  Well, I’ve got a plan. Here’s how it goes:

Step One: Let’s Get Comfortable Together

For the first week or two, I’m going to practice sitting on the potty with no bottoms on.  No pressure, no fuss.  I know you’re excited, but let’s take it slow. 

Step Two:  Full-On Potty Practice Time

Now it’s time to put things into action!  I feel like some scheduled bare bum sits would be good.  Around three times a day, I’ll sit on the potty without diapers or pants on.  We’ll make it our special routine.  You know when I usually need to go, right?  Those will be the times that I will sit, like after eating or waking up from a nap.  At first, during most of the sitting times nothing exciting will happen.  No biggie. If something happens while I’m on the potty, though, let’s celebrate.  

And here are some tricks to make it fun:  Let’s have some toys, books, and games nearby.  That way, potty time won’t be boring.  We can chat, read stories, or play games while I learn.  If you can pick me up some books and maybe videos about how everybody pees and poops, that will be great.  Here are some ideas:  Everyone Poops (Tara Gomi), Where’s the Poop (Julie Marks and Susan Kathleen Hartung), and Time to Pee (Mo Williams).

Oh, and once I’ve got the hang of it, let’s make sure I have on loose clothes so I can work on managing the on and off of them. Goodbye onesies! Let’s hang out on this step for a while. I might start telling you when I am peeing and pooping or when I want to use the potty. I don’t need reminders yet, though.  No pressure, right?  I’m pretty smart, so I’ll connect the dots.

Step Three:  Reminding and Practicing Together

Now, this is where you’ll need to pay attention because I’ll still be learning to use the potty when it’s not even one of the practice times.  Sometimes I’ll let you know when I need to go and we can head to the potty together and sometimes you can remind me if you notice signs and I forget.  But be careful, not too much reminding – I might get a bit stubborn!

Step Four: Goodbye Practice Runs

When I’m really getting the hang of things, we won’t need practice runs anymore.  Instead, you can encourage me with gentle reminders to go potty when I need to.  Like practice runs, just use reminders now and then. If you push too much, I may start to rebel. And remember, praise is super important.  Let’s celebrate every time I use the potty – cheers are awesome rewards! (some parents use stickers).

Extra Tips I’ve Thought Of:

• I am more likely to remember to use the potty if I can see it. Maybe we want to put my potty chairs in a couple locations and always where I can get to them.

• Let me work on mastering the ons and offs of my clothes.  Maybe say goodbye to those onesies and get me some loose pants that I can manage.

• Help me learn to wipe. I can make a go of it , but you will probably be doing most of it at first.

• Some parents like to switch to flushable wipes about now and sit them right near the potty.

• When I wet or poop my pants, change them as soon as possible and please be neutral about it, even if I am not. 

• We won’t say poop is yucky, so I won’t get scared of it and want to keep it in my body.

• Let’s make being dry and clean a habit. I will still be using the diaper some, especially when I am not home, but let’s change them right away so I get used to the idea that my bottom wants to be clean and dry all the time. Sometimes, I will probably let you know when I need a diaper change.

• Maybe let me wear some bottoms that are not as absorbent as diapers. Like thick cotton training underpants and plastic diaper covers for just my size. It will help me to know what happens when I am not using the potty yet.

• After I have taken the initiative and peed in the potty at least 10 times, think about introducing me to “big-kid underwear.”

• Once I start wearing underpants, let’s keep those diapers and pull-ups for sleeping and travel.

• Sometimes, like when we are not at home, I might need to use a big kid's toilet, but know that when my legs are left dangling, I will have more trouble controlling my pee and poop muscles. 

• When I’m ready, you can show me how to do the clean up steps like flushing and cleaning. Please go ahead and take care of that and show me once I’m interested.  

• Remember, I am going to set the pace.  If I’m not interested or if I react negatively, please pull back and wait.  There is no schedule or timeline for us to follow.  

Ideas for Avoiding problems:

• Let’s not start potty training when I am constipated.  If I am constipated often, please help me manage that beforehand. Constipation increases a my risk for developing potty training problems.

• Let’s prepare for using a toilet when we are not at home. Please decide for us how I will use public toilets. Then let’s practice at home before we are in that situation.  Some mommys and daddys bring child-sized portable toilet seats that fit over a toilet when we visit relatives.

• Please don’t force me to sit, or restrain me when I want to get up. 

• Don’t let me get bored or feel lonely during potty sitting.

• Don’t punish or scold me for ‘accidents’.  Please be neutral about it.

 So Mommy and Daddy, Thanks for joining me on our potty training team. I’m so excited for us to work together to make this a low pressure adventure.

Big Hugs and High Fives,

Your favorite toddler