Our Guide to a Successful Potty Training

We started by reading, asking other parents, and listening to our daycare teachers. In the end, we built our own roadmap — one that made sense for our son. Every child is different, so your plan might look a little different too. What really helped was including him early on: picking out a potty book, choosing underwear, and talking about what was coming as something fun and positive. The goal was to make him feel part of the plan from the beginning.

→ Read more in our blog: Preparing together for potty training

We began over a long weekend — no plans, no distractions, just patience and time. We said goodbye to diapers together (literally waving them off!) and introduced the potty routine. For a few days, our son was diaper-free, and we helped him build the habit through repetition and gentle reminders. There were celebrations for every success and calm words for every accident. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress — and that mattered most.

→ Read more in our blog: How We Started Potty Training

The first few days at daycare after our “big weekend” were tough. Accidents happened, routines slipped, and we worried if we were pushing too early. Our biggest challenge was helping him feel comfortable with number two. Talking to teachers helped a lot — they reassured us that this was normal, and that consistency and calm encouragement were key. So we stayed the course, even when progress felt slow.

→ Read more in our blog: The Weeks After the First Weekend

Each week brought little victories. Dry nap diapers, self-initiated trips to the potty, fewer accidents, and eventually full independence. It wasn’t one big breakthrough — it was many small, quiet ones that added up over time. By week six, we realized we hadn’t had an accident in days, and that meant we were finally there — no more diapers, and a much prouder, more confident toddler.

→ Read more in our blog: Potty Training Progress

We quickly learned that you don’t need every product out there — just a few thoughtful tools make a big difference. For us, that included the Everywhere Potty Chair for home and travel, the EcoEarth Potty Seat for building independence, the Travel Folding Potty Seat for outings, and the Magic Potty Stickers for celebrating progress. These made the process smoother, calmer, and even a little fun.

→ Read more in our blog: The Potty Training Essentials That Made Our Lives Easier

1. Check readiness. Common cues:
   • Shows interest in the bathroom/underwear
   • Stays dry ~1–2 hours; has predictable times
   • Understands simple instructions & imitates you
   • Can sit and get up with minimal help
   • Signals discomfort with a wet/dirty diaper
   • Sometimes notices pee/poop is coming
   Trust your gut. If you try and it feels too early, pause and try again later — that’s okay.
2. Gather essentials. Everywhere Potty Chair · EcoEarth Potty Seat · Travel Folding Potty Seat · Magic Potty Stickers · plus a personal prep tool (book/song/drawing/game).
3. Block time. If possible, plan a long weekend (3 days) with minimal plans — or tag-team with a partner/grandparent to create a consistent window.
4. Include your child in the build-up. Pick underwear together, read a potty book, and explain the plan in simple, positive language.
5. Set your prompting rhythm. Try every 15–30 minutes and at natural times (after waking, after meals, before bath/bed). Use a calm script like “Time to try the potty.”
6. Decide your reward approach. Stickers or only verbal praise — either is fine. Keep it simple, brief, and focused on effort.
7. Celebrate wins (big and small). Sitting to try, telling you they need to go, dry stretches — all count!
8. Expect accidents — prepare a calm script. Pack extra clothes, wipes, and bags. Respond with, “Oops — let’s clean up and try again next time.”
9. Day-one ritual. Say goodbye to diapers together, go bare-bottom or use easy-on/off clothes, keep the potty nearby, and log successes/accidents to spot patterns.
10. Align with caregivers/daycare. Share your cues, language, and plan. Send extra clothes and the Travel Seat if appropriate.
11. Have a “poop plan.” Feet support, belly breathing, privacy, and a regular “after-meals” sit help a lot. Poop often takes longer — stay patient.
12. Sleep strategy. Keep diapers for naps/nights at first. Consider dropping naps after ~2 weeks of dry diapers; night training can come later when consistently dry.
13. Travel/outings plan. Bring the Travel Seat, wipes, and spare clothes. Choose easy bathroom stops and keep your rhythm.
14. Build independence. Transition to the EcoEarth Seat with a step stool; encourage self-initiated trips and simple handwashing steps.
15. Review weekly & adjust. If progress stalls (or emotions run high), take a breather, reset the routine, or pause and try again later.