Hi there, today I am sharing how I potty trained my son at 19 months old. I am not a potty training expert, simply a mom who wanted her son out of diapers as soon as possible. Below I list my personal reasons for potty training early, along with several helpful tips on how you can do the same with your toddlers.
A History of Potty Training
As I began visiting playgrounds with my young son, it struck me so odd to find children over the age of four still running around in soggy wet diapers. Today, it is considered common to change the diaper of a child who can speak in full sentences. But that just doesn’t seem normal to me, despite it being common. And this post is not meant to shame any moms who waited to start potty training. It is simply meant to show that we don’t have to listen to the narrative that potty training around the age of 3 is the best course of action.
Back in 1954, 95% of children were potty trained by 18 months old. Teaching your children that poop goes in the potty was as basic as teaching them that food goes in your mouth. Most families used cloth diapers and most mothers stayed at home and taught their young children to use the potty despite a lack of potty training books, instagram accounts and youtube videos. So what happened? Did we suddenly loose our mothering instincts on how to teach our children to perform a very basic human function?
Not exactly, the disposable diaper industry came onto the scene. Once again, our good old marketing boys took a very basic human skill and figured out a way to make a profit. And once again, we fell for it, hook line and sinker. Disposable diapers changed the world for mothers. But today, our diaper dependance has gone too far. So long Pampers, its time show our children and mothers that they are capable of much more.
Why Start Potty Training Young?
After I noticed the older children running around the playground in diapers, I decided that was not going to be my child. But I also didn’t want to get wrapped up in a research rabbit whole. I am also a pretty crunchy mom, and I did not like the idea of putting my kid in plastic diapers, because those things are incredibly bad for them. So once I realized that almost every child used to be potty trained by 18 months, I decided my 19 month old was more than ready.
I also decided that I wasn’t going to follow any “method”, book or instagram account to learn how to do it. I was going to rely on the one thing that has stood the test of time. Mom instinct. I know my son better than anyone, and I know how to teach him. I taught him how to eat, how to sleep through the night, how to talk, etc. Therefore, I can teach him how to poop on the potty. And you can do the same for your little one.
Tips and Tricks for Potty Training
Here are some tips and tricks that I found helpful during our potty training, as well as a step by step overlook of what we did. But bear in mind that what worked for us, might not work for you. And instead of looking outward for more tips and tricks, try looking inward and think about how your specific child likes to learn. Experiment and don’t give up! My son is 2 and a half now and he has been using the potty for almost a year. This last year has been a breeze and I am so glad I stuck with it.
Step 1: Go All In
Throw out the diapers. Seriously, pick a day and just get rid of them. You don’t need a backup plan. If you have the safety net of diapers, you might not stick with the potty training. (Just keep in mind I am only talking about daytime potty training, my son is still in a pullup at night, so keep some diapers or pullups for nighttime use). Click here for a link to my favorite pullups.
Step 2: Take off the Clothes
Yep, get your child totally naked. I let my son be naked for 3 days. I also bought a little potty and put it right in the kitchen/living room, which is where we spend most of our time. Toddlers at this age have a very short window from when they get the urge to pee and when they can actually make it to the potty. I am talking seconds. So it helps to have a little potty like this one here. I did not plan any outings for the 3 days. We stayed at home and he learned within the 3 days that he now needed to go to his little potty when he had to pee.
Step 3: Embrace the Mess
Potty training is messy. Anyone who claims to have a “mess free method” is crazy. Just embrace the mess. My son started by pooping on the floor. It took about a week before he was able to consistently poop in the little potty, with accidents happening up to one month after. And there was pee everywhere during that first week. Invest in a good stain remover like this one here. And just keep going.
Step 4: Don’t Give Up!
It took my son 1 month to be accident free. One month of potty training, and he was out of diapers by 20 months. We have saved so much time and money, and all it took was one month of occasional messes and a little bit of learning. It is worth it in the end. You’ve got this!
Step 5: Travel Tips and Tricks
Traveling in the car is a whole different beast. Someone told me of an incredible trick for little boys in the car. And it involves a red solo cup. Bring a plastic cup with you in the car, and when your son indicates that he has to pee, pull over and simply let him go in the cup. They find it so fun and are completely willing to wait as long as they can so they can pee in the fun cup.
During that first month of potty training, I would put my son in a pullup if we were going on long rides in the car. I found this did not impede our progress at all. For short rides, I relied on the cup. My son has never once had to poop on the road, unless taking a 3+ hour drive. So I am lucky in that sense. But if your kiddo is not on a reliable poop schedule, it might help to bring your little potty in the car with you. Especially if you have a little girl. The red solo cup trick won’t work for them.
Step 6: Misc Tips
I bought this book here. It is the Elmo Potty Training book and it was a lifesaver. My son loved it, we read it every night and I truly believe it helped him understand. Especially when I used his elmo stuffed toy and pretended that he was using the little potty. That was such a fun game for my son. You can purchase the book by clicking here and the stuffed toy here. Another small tip is to tell your child to “push” their pants down. Not “pull”. This is much easier for them to understand. Lastly, never shame them for having an accident. But don’t tell them its ok either, calmly explain that they had an accident and that next time they need to use the potty.
Conclusion
Potty training is messy, but completely worth it. Remember, it is only going to get harder the longer you wait. Plus, think of all the money you will save! Pay attention to your child’s signs that he/she has to go. For my son he would whisper “pa pa” and do the sign language sign for potty. When I saw that, I would spring into action and get him to the closest bathroom. Today, at 2 years 5 months, he is able to walk to the bathroom, push over his stool, pull down his pants, flush and pull up his pants all by himself. If I am blessed with more children, I will be sure they are potty training at the same age. We’ve got this!
If you have successfully potty trained your young toddler, you may want to invest in this fantastic toddler stool. It is a great transition from little potty to big kid toilet. It also folds over to be used as a stool for the sink and easy storage. Click here for the link.
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