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How We Potty Trained Before 2.5 + The Essentials That Actually Helped
- 17 hours ago
- 7 min read
I was lowkey intimidated by potty training.
Not because I didn’t think we could do it, but because everybody makes it sound like this huge, dramatic life event where you need a perfect 3-day plan, a reward chart, a sticker system, a toddler who is magically ready, and nerves of steel.
And honestly? That was not our experience.
We successfully potty trained before 2.5, but we did not wake up one weekend and magically decide, “Okay, we’re doing this today.” We eased into it. We paid attention. We repeated the same phrases over and over. We celebrated as he had just won an Olympic medal every time something clicked.
And yes, there were accidents. Yes, there were moments where I questioned everything. Yes, I definitely washed more tiny underwear than I care to remember.
But looking back, I really do think the reason potty training worked for us is that we treated it like a rhythm, not a race.
I’m not a potty training expert. I’m just a mom who started introducing the toilet early, learned what worked for my child, and found a few products that made the whole process feel way less chaotic.
So if you are starting potty training soon, already in the middle of it, or just trying to figure out what you actually need before you spend money on everything Amazon recommends, here’s what helped us.
We Started Introducing the Toilet Around 18 Months
We started putting him on the toilet around 18 months, but I want to be clear: I did not start with pressure.
At that age, it was more about exposure.
I wanted the toilet to feel familiar, not scary. So we would sit him on the toilet when it made sense, talk about what was happening, and keep it very normal. No huge performance. No big stress. Just repetition and familiarity.
The biggest thing that helped us early on was starting with poop.
I know that might sound backward because a lot of people focus on pee first, but poop was actually easier for us to spot. I could tell when he was about to go. I could learn his rhythm. I could see the signs and start connecting the dots.
Once I started noticing his timing and cues, it became easier to say, “Okay, let’s go sit on the toilet.”
That early practice helped him understand what the toilet was for before we ever got serious about full potty training.
Poop Came First, Then Pee Came Later
For us, poop was the easier starting point because there was a clearer pattern.
Pee was different.
Pee required more communication, more awareness, and more words. Once he became more verbal and could better understand what I was saying, that’s when pee training started to click more.
That’s also when repetition became everything.
One of the phrases I used all the time was: “Pee goes in the toilet, not in the underwear.”
I said it calmly. I said it after the accidents. I said it before bathroom trips. I said it so much that I’m sure I heard it in my sleep.
But toddlers need that. They need the same simple message over and over until it connects.
Not a lecture. Not a long explanation. Just a simple, repeatable phrase they can understand.
And eventually, it started to click.
What Actually Worked for Us
The biggest thing I learned is that potty training is not just about the potty.
It’s about consistency, timing, communication, and making your child feel proud instead of ashamed.
Here’s what actually helped us:
Starting before we were officially “potty training”
Introducing the toilet early made it feel normal. By the time we were really ready to focus on potty training, the toilet was not some brand-new mysterious thing.
Learning his rhythm
This was huge, especially with poop. Once I understood when he usually needed to go, I could guide him to the toilet before it became a whole situation.
Using the same words every time
Simple repetition helped so much. “Pee goes in the toilet, not in the underwear” became one of our go-to phrases because it was clear and easy to understand.
Staying calm during accidents
Accidents happened. That’s part of it. I tried really hard not to make accidents feel like failure because I did not want shame attached to the process.
Celebrating progress loudly
Stickers and treats did not work for us. I know they work for some kids, and that’s great. But my child was not moved by a sticker chart. What worked for us was cheering, dancing, clapping, and making him feel like he had just done something amazing.
Because he had.
Sometimes the best reward is simply making them feel proud.
Potty Training Essentials That Actually Helped
Now let’s get into the potty training essentials, because this is where I feel like potty training can get overwhelming.
There are so many potty training products out there, and it’s easy to feel like you need everything. You don’t.
But there are a few things that made our life easier, especially once we moved from “practicing at home” to actually trying to function in real life while potty training.
Potty liners are one of those things you don’t think about until you need them.
If you use a travel potty, potty liners make cleanup so much easier. Especially when you are out somewhere, in the car, at a park, on a road trip, or anywhere that does not have a clean and convenient bathroom situation.
Potty training already comes with enough cleanup. I am not trying to make it harder than it needs to be. Potty liners were especially helpful for on-the-go moments when I needed a quick, clean solution.
Shop our favorite potty liners here
A car seat cover or potty-training car seat protector is one of those products that gives you peace of mind.
Because once you start leaving the house during potty training, the car can feel stressful.
You’re thinking, “What if we just went before we left, but he still had an accident?”
A car seat cover does not prevent accidents, but it helps protect the car seat and makes cleanup feel way less dramatic.
This is especially helpful for errands, school pickup, longer drives, road trips, or anytime you know your toddler might fall asleep in the car.
Shop our favorite car seat covers here
Training underwear helped bridge the gap between diapers and regular underwear.
I liked that it still felt like “big kid” underwear, but it gave us a little extra support during the learning phase.
For us, underwear was also part of the process of helping him understand what was happening. Diapers are designed to pull moisture away, so sometimes toddlers do not really feel the accident the same way.
Training underwear helped him connect the dots a little more.
This is where the repetition came in again: “Pee goes in the toilet, not in the underwear.”
Not in a harsh way. Just a calm reminder every time.
Shop our favorite training underwear here
Reusable pee pads are so underrated.
You can use them on the couch, bed, floor, car seat, stroller, or anywhere you need a little extra protection.
When you are potty training, it helps to have layers of protection in the places where accidents would stress you out the most.
For me, reusable pee pads helped me relax a little. Instead of hovering and worrying about every single surface, I could set him up so we both had room to practice.
And honestly, anything that reduces stress during potty training is worth considering.
Shop our favorite car seat covers here
A travel potty is a must-have if you plan to leave the house while potty training.
And unless you plan to live inside your house until potty training is over, you probably need some kind of travel option.
Public bathrooms are not always toddler-friendly. Sometimes they are too loud, too dirty, too far away, or just too overwhelming. A foldable travel potty gives you a backup plan.
I loved having something that made bathroom breaks feel less stressful when we were out.
It’s one of those products that makes you feel more prepared, especially in those early potty training days when timing feels like everything.
Shop our favorite travel potty here
Toilet seat covers are simple, but they are helpful. Especially for public restrooms.
Toddlers touch everything. They want to hold the sides. They lean. They wiggle. They are not worried about germs the way we are.
Toilet seat covers gave me a cleaner setup when we had to use a public bathroom, especially on errands or while traveling.
This is definitely one of those “keep it in the bag” items.
Shop our favorite toilet seat covers here
A potty training seat helped make the regular toilet feel less intimidating.
Some kids do well with a standalone potty. Some do better using the actual toilet with a toddler seat. For us, having the right seat helped with comfort, balance, and confidence.
The goal is to make sitting on the toilet feel safe and manageable.
If your toddler feels like they are going to fall in, they probably won't relax enough to actually go. A good potty training seat can make a big difference.
Shop our favorite potty training seat here
What I Would Tell Another Parent Starting Potty Training
First, pay attention to your child.
Not just their age. Not just what someone else’s toddler is doing. Not just what the internet says should happen in three days.
Pay attention to their rhythm, their language, their personality, and what motivates them.
For us, that looked like starting early with exposure, using poop as the first focus because it was easier to spot, waiting until he was more verbal to really connect the pee piece, and repeating the same simple language until it started making sense.
Second, don’t assume the typical reward system is the only way.
Stickers and treats did not work for us. Cheering, dancing, clapping, and making the moment feel exciting worked way better.
Some kids want a prize. Some kids want attention. Some kids want to feel proud. Learn about your child.
Third, prepare your environment.
Potty training feels less overwhelming when you have what you need. Not everything. Just the right things.
For us, that meant having training underwear, reusable pads, a travel potty, liners, and a few items that made accidents and public bathrooms less stressful.
Final Thoughts
Potty training was not perfect, but it also was not as scary as I thought it would be.
Starting early helped. Repetition helped. Celebrating helped. Having the right essentials helped.
But more than anything, staying consistent without making it a pressure-filled experience helped the most.
If you are in this season right now, take a deep breath. You do not have to do it perfectly. You do not have to follow every potty training method exactly. You just need a system that works for your child and your real life.
And if you are building your potty training setup, start with the things that make cleanup, travel, and consistency easier.
Because potty training is already enough work. We are not making it harder than it has to be.
XO,
Kiera Laeka
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