Potty training is a scary thought for most parents. The method in which you use is totally up to you but once you have that set it is time to execute the plan! The key to potty training/toilet learning is to create this bathroom independence in your child and the only way they can truly be independent in the bathroom is if everything is well within their reach. Here are my 5 steps to making a bathroom potty training friendly.
5 Steps for Prepping Your Bathroom for Potty Training
There is a big debate about using a child potty versus just using the regular toilet. So here is my piece. Use whichever one you use just make sure the child can reach this said toilet on their own, without your help. We use both essentially. Our daughter chooses which she’d like to use and it varies every time. For our little potty we use this Summer Infant one. This stays in the kid bathroom and it’s the one most used.
#1: Get a Potty
Washing hands is something that is so important in potty training and it’s a step that they most certainly should be able to do on their own. Make sure the step stool is the right size for your sink so your child doesn’t have to reach to far over. We use the KidKraft step stool and it’s perfect!
#2: Get a Stool
Sometimes (really most times) the step stool gets the children to the right height but then their little arms aren’t long enough to reach the handle or the water doesn’t spout out far enough to reach their hands. We use these two accessories, which have been game changers, and a total must have for a child’s bathroom (potty training or not!) The Aqueduck Facet Extender makes sure the water comes out instead of straight down so tiny hands can reach it and the Sink handle extender lets the children independently turn the faucet on/off.
#3: Make the Sink Accessible
We LOVE the Zoocchini training pants because they are a little thicker and more durable than others we have tried and they have such cute characters on them. For that reason alone it is not such an eye sore to keep them in the kid’s bathroom, which also acts as a guest bath when we have visitors. We use these a lot for longer trips even still. Although our daughter is considered fully potty trained accidents do happen and having her well equipped is key!
#4: Keep Underwear Nearby
Although (again) our daughter is fully potty trained part of this is allowing her her independence, which includes wiping on her own. To be on the safe side we keep wipes near her toilet so we can ensure she is cleaning up the best she can. Of course every so often I do my own spot check but this method has worked great. We use Parasol wipes because they are super durable and smell so good! We started using them on her baby sister but quickly became a family favorite! (If you have a younger one and want to try their subscription box you can use code OHHAPPYPLAY for 20% off!)
#5: Keep Wipes Nearby