By Olivia DeLong, former senior health editor at BabyCenter and What to Expect.
As a mom to a toddler, I quickly realized that if my daughter didn’t like being in the bathroom, or if it didn’t feel at least a little fun, she simply wasn’t going to participate. How we set up our bathrooms ended up making a big difference during potty training.
So yes, I pulled out all the stops. Here’s how we set up our potty training “station” and what helped most:
Finding the right potty training potty
First things first: you’ll need a potty your toddler is actually willing to sit on.
We tried several over a few months: some were instant hits, others were immediate nos. Finding one she felt comfortable (and even excited) to use made a noticeable difference.
The features that ended up being winners in our book: those with a stable base, something that’s simple to clean, and (if your child likes this sort of thing) a fun color or built-in wipe holder.
Lalo’s 3-In-1 Potty grows with your little one which I love. First off, it’s your traditional floor-based toddler potty with a wipe holder built in. Then, when your little one is ready to upgrade to the regular potty, it becomes a potty seat (fits most toilers) and step stool combo, helping your little one transition from one stage to the next super seamlessly. What’s not to love?
Plennnnty of wipes and toilet paper
This is a given, of course, but making sure you are stocked up on wipes and toilet paper is key. We kept them right by our portable potties, and if you have the Lalo 3-In-1 Potty, there’s even a wipe holder built in: easy peasy! We buy both wipes and toilet paper in bulk from Costco so we never run out (we just have to remember to do the re-stocks!).
Distractions, distractions, distractions
Hate to break it to you, but potty training requires everyone to spend a lot of time in the bathroom. Having things to do (both for myself and for my daughter) kept us entertained. Bonus: if they are a little distracted, they might end up actually getting some pee in the potty after all. We made sure to stock our bathroom with her Tonies box, Yoto Box, and books, so that she had something to do while we inevitably sat there for, well, you know, a very long time, each day.
And yes, I brought my Kindle in for moral support, too.
Bonus? Throw all of those potty-themed books you bought over the last few months in there to remind them those characters had to potty train too. They can do it!
A fun handwashing station
Ok, this one isn’t totally necessary, but there'll be a lot of hand washing in your future, so why not make it fun? We let our daughter pick out any hand soap she wanted (cue the pink princess soap), plus a new hand towel for her bathroom (Elsa of course) when we started on the potty training fun. She actually wanted to wash her hands, which meant she wanted to go potty (well, sometimes, at least). A sturdy stepstool is key too, so it’s easy for your little one to reach the sink when they’re done pottying. Fun fact? If you get the Lalo 3-In-1 Potty, it can become a stepstool for the regular potty or counter.
Rewards
If you’re opting to utilize something like a sticker chart, a snack treat, or other reward system while potty training, I highly recommend keeping a jar of said treat or hanging up the sticker chart right there in the bathroom so there’s a visual for your little one each and every time they’re in the bathroom. Giving positive reinforcement right then and there worked wonders for us.
At the end of the day, your potty training “station” doesn’t have to look Pinterest-perfect. It just has to work for your child. You know them best, and a setup that feels approachable (and maybe even a little fun) can make the process smoother for everyone.
You’ve got this.
About the writer:
Olivia DeLong is the former senior health editor at BabyCenter and What to Expect. She’s been an editor, writer, and content strategist for over 15 years, holding staff positions at WomansDay.com and Sharecare prior to her role at pregnancy and parenting brands. After a traumatic fertility journey, she’s now a mom to her 6-year-old miracle girl, and lives with her family in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves digging into parenting, women’s health, and wellness trends with experts, and believes that speaking up about just about anything is so important for moms to feel seen.
