Potty Training Without Pressure: What Actually Helped Us
🌱 How Our Potty Training Journey Started
Before becoming a mom, I had worked with kids as an au pair and babysitter — but I had never potty trained a child myself. So when it was time with my own son, it felt like a whole new world. Most of what I knew came from the internet or advice from friends and family, but in the end, I chose to follow a path that felt right for us.
From early on, I made potty time feel normal and visible. I showed him the potty and even let him see what I was doing in the bathroom (yes… he was very interested 😅). I think that helped spark his curiosity, because around age one he was already very aware of the toilet.
He also had a little friend who was potty training at the time, and seeing him use the potty helped a lot. That’s when I bought the toddler potty I share below. At first, he mostly played with the flushing sound and sat on it with clothes on. It took days - maybe weeks - before he was ready to sit without a diaper, and I never pushed him. I trusted he’d do it when he felt ready.
During the summer, I let him go naked at home to help him notice his body cues. That did mean some pee and poop on the floor… and sometimes a surprise in the middle of the living room 😂 But I stayed calm. No shame, no scolding. I’d gently guide him to the potty (which lived in our living room for a while) and show him where it belonged. The books I share below helped so much during this stage and made everything feel normal and fun to him.
Eventually, he started sitting on the potty to pee, and we celebrated BIG. He was so proud, and that encouragement helped him keep trying. I also had him use our regular toilet sometimes so he’d get comfortable with different setups - and now he can use almost any toilet.
Poop has been a different story. We’ve had some successes, but also many accidents. Around 1½ years old he was already communicating well, so he could tell me he wanted a diaper to poop, and not the potty. I noticed he often goes while moving - walking, squatting, even lying down - so sitting still on the potty feels harder for him.
Even now at two years old, he still asks for a diaper for number two. I tried encouraging the toilet many many times, but it still is a very clear no for him, so I stopped. I can see he’s just not ready yet, and that’s okay. We always talk about it, and he still prefers to poop in his diaper…
If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that every child is different. Potty training isn’t one-size-fits-all. I already know my second baby on the way might be a completely different experience!
So my biggest advice?
Respect your child’s timing. Keep it light. Keep it positive. And please don’t compare your child’s process to anyone else’s 🤍
Here are the items that made our process smoother, less stressful, and honestly more fun for both of us:
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Toddlers LOVE imitation, and this potty makes them feel like they’re using a real toilet. The flush sound made it exciting instead of scary, and there’s also a wipe compartment on the back but I've honestly never used it, I just kept wipes everywhere around the house - and still do! It’s very easy to clean, and it’s light if you need to carry it around the house in the beginning.
This is one of my top potty training must-haves. We keep it in the car at all times. Great for parks, road trips, public restrooms or emergency potty stops along the way. And these liners actually work!! No leaks, no mess, and easy cleanup. They fit perfectly in the travel potty and make potty breaks outside the house way less stressful.
This cover gave me so much peace of mind during our outings! It protects the seat from accidents without being uncomfortable, and it’s easy to remove and wash. Such an stress-reducer when you’re in the “learning” phase. I got the pack of 2, so I always keep an extra clean one in the car. Now accidents rarely happen but I'll use it forever to keep the car seat cleaner after eventual car snacks, and even with baby number 2 to protect it from blowouts!
These were a game changer between diapers and regular underwear. They feel like “big kid” underwear, which helps with independence, but have extra absorbent padding for small accidents. Perfect for helping toddlers feel when they’re wet without creating huge messes. And my son was really excited to be wearing underwear like daddy <3
📚 Books that made introducing potty training more natural & fun!
Reading about potty helped my toddler understand what was happening and what to expect without pressure. He loved it and always wanted to copy the characters on the book, which made things a lot easier!
I have these 3 books at home, but there are tons of options out there:
📖 Diapers Are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick
A gentle, realistic introduction to using the potty and saying goodbye to diapers. VIEW ON AMAZON
📖 Potty by Leslie Patricelli
My son’s favorite by far, we’ve read this probably a thousand times! Simple, funny, and toddler-friendly. Great for starting the conversation. VIEW ON AMAZON
📖 The Potty Book for Boys by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Helped normalize the process in a way that felt relatable and encouraging. VIEW ON AMAZON
🎶 Potty Training Songs & Videos That Can Be Helpful Too:
I haven’t used any songs or videos just because the books worked really well, but here are some resources I've heard from friends and students that can help a lot too:
Daniel Tiger Potty Song Compilation → Familiar Daniel Tiger characters sing potty-related songs that gently teach steps and routines.
“Sitting on the Potty” – Super Simple Songs → A slow, easy sing-along that breaks potty time down into a friendly routine your toddler can mimic.
CoComelon Potty Training Song → I don’t really like CoComelon, but some people love it and the potty song is fairly good.
“Time to Go Potty” by LiaChaCha → Fun lyrics about stopping play and heading to the potty with encouragement.
🌼 Our approach: No pressure, No shame.
Potty training is a learning process, not a race. The biggest thing that helped us was:
Following our son’s cues
Never forcing him to sit
Staying calm during accidents
Celebrating effort, not just success
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping them feel safe, confident, and in control of their own body.
💡 Gentle potty training tips
Offer potty breaks, don’t demand them
Keep a small potty in the main play area at first - my son would sit on it all the time to play, and then eventually I moved it to the bathroom once I noticed he was telling me he needed to go without having any accidents
Use books and pretend play to make it familiar
Expect regressions! They’re normal and we still have them sometimes
Stay neutral about accidents (no shame, no big reactions)
And something that worked for us because we were comfortable doing that: let your kid be part of your potty time, show them what you just did -I know… LOL- and normalize it in your home from a young age!
REMEMBER: You’re not behind. Your child is learning a brand-new HUGE skill 💛
Thank You for Being Here!
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found something here that makes your potty training journey feel a little easier and less stressful.
Motherhood is full of learning curves, and we’re all figuring it out as we go. You’re doing an amazing job, and your little one is lucky to have you guiding them with patience and love.
If this post helped you, feel free to share it with another mama who might be in this stage too!
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Together, we’re learning, growing, and doing our best… Because Together, We Are UNO 🤍
