I think the time is finally here….I have to start potty training my daughter! I have stocked up on some potty training must haves to help get us both ready. She is showing all the signs that she is ready, but it is still such a daunting task to undertake as a parent. I’ve gotten everything we will be needing and hopefully this will give you an idea of what you will need to get everything ready for your little one.
I’ve included some affiliate links below so that you can find the products easier. I’ve already bought most of these myself and I highly recommend them.
As a first time potty trainer, I feel like I don’t know what I am doing! I have done a lot of reading online but I love the fact that I discovered Becky Mansfield’s Potty Train in a Weekend. This book is full of great information and every potty training parent should read it!
I’m not sure I will do her method exactly as she has but I will take some ideas from it and see if it will work for us. It may take us longer than 3 days but every child is different. I just have to experiment with what will work for us.
A potty chair or seat is the absolute must have. We are personally using a potty seat to start out with. I just really don’t need something extra to clean up around here. She likes that the one we have has Minnie Mouse on it and she helped pick it out herself. There are so many potty seats available with different characters and colors. I like the ones with handles and a storage hook so that it doesn’t have to stay on the potty all the time.
Don’t forget that you won’t always be at home. Potty training can take weeks, even months. Don’t forget to take some kind of travel potty with you. I like the Mommy’s Helper Cushie Traveler because it is soft and can fold up to fit in your diaper bag. It’s perfect for using in public restrooms or for when you are going out of town.
If you are going to be using training pants, like I am , you will want to be stocked up on those. I have about 3 packages that I already bought on sale. I’m not sure how long it will take to get her fully potty trained but I think 3 packs are good to start off with. You can also get reusable training pants if you want to be more eco-friendly.
Make sure you have some kind of step stool that your child can use to easily get on the potty by themselves. This can also be used for the sink so they can reach to wash their hands. I have the BabyBjorn step stool. I like that it has grips on the bottom so it stays put and the top has little grips so she doesn’t slip off. Plus, the color looks great in my bathroom!
I like having a special book or two on hand that are just for potty time. There are so many potty books for kids that they will love. We like the Daniel Tiger book and the “Potty Time with Elmo” book. You will probably spend a lot of time sitting with them on the potty so you might as well get in some reading time. Kids love seeing their favorite characters doing what they do.
Good hygiene is a big part of potty training. I like keeping some fun hand soap, like Kandoo in the bathroom for her to use. It is a fun green color and it foams. She loves washing with the “bubbles” and actually asks to do it!
Another good thing to have in the bathroom are some flushable wipes. Make sure these are OK for your plumbing before you use them though. They just make it a lot easier to wipe instead of using just toilet paper. They also feel like a baby wipe which is something familiar to your child.
Nighttime potty training can take a lot longer than daytime potty training. It is good to have some nighttime underwear or training pants. They are more absorbent than the daytime ones so you won’t have to worry too much about leaks.
To go along with the nighttime underwear, make sure you have a waterproof mattress protector on your child’s bed. It is a lot easier to just take it off and throw it in the wash instead of trying to clean the actual mattress. You will also want to have some extra sheets on hand, just in case.
It is always a good idea to have some kind of wet bag with you, especially during potty training. You can even use a large Ziploc bag if you want. Just have something to keep any wet underwear or pants in. Also, keep an extra pair of underwear, pants, and socks in your diaper bag all the time. You never know when an accident might happen.
I don’t know about you, but I hate having to wash my daughter’s car seat cover. It is such a pain to get it on and off. I like using a car seat protector that will keep the mess and wetness off of the actual car seat. It is just a lot easier to clean and it won’t leave behind any smells.
The last potty training must have will probably be the most fun for your child. Their very own big kid underwear. I love the selection they have at Target, everything from Disney, Bubble Guppies, Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, etc. Your child will be so excited to pick out their own underwear and it will get them excited about potty training. I would buy at least two packs because you will probably be going through a lot of underwear the first few weeks.
I will keep you updated on your potty training adventure. Is there anything else that I should add to the list? Do you have any other potty training must haves?
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