How I Potty Trained My Toddlers in Just One Week

Are your kiddos ready to use the toilet? Follow my potty training tips!

Whether you’re wondering how or when to start potty training, you’ve come to the right place! As a seasoned mom who has trained three kiddos, here are all the potty training tips that could help you potty train your little one in just one week.

My top potty training tips:

1. Know it will happen when it happens.

Potty training for the wrong reasons will lead to frustration and discouragement. Don’t rush to get your kids potty trained so you don’t have to buy diapers anymore, or because you know a mom who potty trained their 15-month-old, and you don’t want your child “falling behind”.

Signs your child might be ready to potty train:

They’re hiding when they do their business. Whether behind a curtain, squatting in a corner, or leaving the room to be alone, this is a strong indicator that they’re embarrassed or need privacy.
They have a clear understanding. It’s important for your child to understand what the potty is for and the difference between wearing a diaper vs. underwear.
They’re waking up dry. If they’re waking up from naps and bedtime without a wet diaper, chances are they’re going to transition very well overnight and during naps.
They show an interest. Yes, all kids normally follow you to the bathroom (and it’s always when they need a snack or a drink most), but if they’re following you and express curiosity, this is a great time to talk to them about the potty.
They’re uncomfortable. If your child is telling you when they need to be changed, is getting their own diaper, or seems uncomfortable after they go, they’re more than likely at a good potty training age and ready for this big change.

Hip Tip: Your baby or toddler may be able to potty train earlier with the practice of elimination communication early in life.

2. Retire all the diapers.

When your child is ready, donate all your unused diapers to a local shelter. Don’t keep diapers to fall back on for convenience. That confuses the kids and may make potty training take much longer.

3. Be patient when potty training.

It’s so important for your little one to feel supported and have the self-confidence to do what may feel like a hard thing. That’s where the parents’ most important role comes into play.

Here are simple ways to support your little one and encourage positivity:

Know that accidents are normal & expected.
Don’t yell at your child when things aren’t going as planned.
Make them feel comfortable telling you when they do have to go, rather than being scared of having an accident.
Look for cues. Children will normally give cues before they have to go, and insisting that they spend time trying to go can be helpful.
When an accident does happen, talk to them and tell them it’s okay and that these things happen.
Use encouraging words. There’s nothing a little wash can’t fix.

4. Be homebodies for a while.

In the beginning, kids won’t give you much notice that they need the potty, so stay close, with a set, ongoing schedule. Consistency is key! In the colder months, it will be even easier to hunker down and stay home until they’ve mastered the potty.

5. Spend time on the potty.

Put them on the potty training toilet frequently to familiarize them with it. Knowing your child’s daily routine is also helpful, so you can catch them before they typically go in their diaper.

6. Ask them frequently if they need to go.

To stay focused, set a timer to remind yourself at regular, short intervals throughout the day to check if they need to go potty. Over time, your natural instincts will kick in (if they haven’t already), and you’ll start noticing subtle clues when they need to go.

7. Try the “over-under” trick (my fave hack!).

Put a diaper OVER their underwear. That way, when they have an accident, they still feel wet and uncomfortable, but you’ll rarely have a mess. I believe this is the hack that had all three of my kids potty trained within days because they did not like the feeling of wet/dirty underwear. Babies/toddlers who wear cloth diapers may have a similar experience and could potentially be potty-trained more quickly.

8. Don’t give liquids before bedtime.

Eliminate sleeping accidents by nixing fluids about 2-3 hours before bedtime. Once you’re confident your child can go all night without accidents, you can slowly introduce more fluids.

Hip Tip: Have them sit on the potty before bedtime. Even if they don’t go, they get into a routine to use the bathroom before they sleep.

9. Make potty training FUN!

Kids will thrive even more when they have an incentive to earn something! For us, it was a simple sticker chart, and it was fun for my toddlers to pick their own stickers.

Here are three more ways you can have more fun:

Create a potty training chart. This can be done using stickers or could be milestones they hit to do something fun.
Take them shopping for underwear. I loved letting each of my kids choose their own underwear. This gets them more excited to wear them and helps them express their personality.
Scoop up some new books. Bathroom books are a great way to introduce potty training to your child and keep the conversation going.