Starting school for the first time is a huge milestone in your child’s life, and excitement and anxiety are often part of the deal for mums and preschoolers alike.  Throw in potty training into the mix, and one is more than overwhelmed.

I’m all too familiar with the questions that run through your head as the first day of school inches closer: 

Will my child miss me? 

Will she like her teacher? 

Is she going to have trouble making new friends?

Will both of us be able to get through drop-off without any tears?

As emotional as it might be to think about waving goodbye on that first day, an even bigger concern keeps a lot of mums up at night as the start of school approaches: ensuring your little one is potty trained and able to get through the day without any accidents!

I know you’ve got a lot on your mind as the first day gets closer, so here are some potty training tips you can use wherever you are in the process – from the early stages right up to when school starts – so you can scratch one school-related worry off your list for good!

The earlier you start, the less stressful it is on both of you. Baby steps will get you there in time for Kindergarten intake in February!

Learn to love the bathroom

Your bathroom might be the room in your house where you spend the least amount of time, but you want to get your child more comfortable going in there to encourage good potty habits. 

In the early stages of potty training, consider changing her diapers in the bathroom of your home that she’ll be using herself rather than a diaper changing table. If she dirties her diaper, bring her with you the bathroom and let her watch you flush the contents down the toilet. 

Show her how grown-ups do it

Toddlers are visual learners and they love to mimic adult behaviours – hence the popularity of play kitchens and toy steering wheels – so use this to your advantage and show your child how it’s done when you have to use the toilet. 

If you’re not comfortable doing that, you can at least go through the motions or demonstrate with a doll to provide a clearer idea of what to do in the bathroom.

Try the bare approach

If you know there will be a couple days in a row when you don’t need to leave the house or go out for long, this can be a good time to start potty training. 

Many parents find success by letting their toddler run around the house with their bottom half unclothed. Without a diaper or underpants there to catch their urine, they may be more willing – and able – to act on their body’s signals. 

Motivate your little one

Sometimes, a small reward can be enough incentive to get your toddler to head for the toilet when the urge strikes. This is one of the most common potty training tips for a good reason!

It may be something as simple as a sticker on a chart, a new page in a colouring book, or a small praise like clapping or dancing. My son liked playing a toy flute that was normally off-limits for a few minutes every time he successfully used the toilet! 

Alternatively, you could start adding marbles or dried beans to an empty jar (keeping it out of their reach, of course) every time they use the toilet, with the promise of a bigger reward once the jar is filled. You know your child best, so find the right motivation! 

Here’s a link to a video about how I used a reward chart as a picking eating strategy; you could very easily use the same concept and adapt it to potty training!

Take them shopping

Both of my kids LOVED this! Take your child shopping to buy grown up panties, a stepstool, potty, reducer, toilet paper, reward charts – whatever you can think of! Give them two or three good options to choose from and let them decide. Letting your child make decisions will make him or her feel in control and more apt to move ahead. Let them get excited!

Dress your child with the bathroom in mind

Those overalls with the heart-shaped buttons might be adorable, but you need to dress your child for success to avoid frustrations early on. When dressing your child while you’re potty training at home or for those first few times you venture bravely outside of the house, ask yourself how easy it will be to use the toilet with the clothes you have in mind. 

Invest in some trousers that are easy to pull up and down without any fiddly closures – kids often wait until the last minute to go to the bathroom, so you’ll want to make sure there won’t be any obstacles!

When it’s time to start school, consider buying underpants for your child that are a size larger than necessary as they will be easier to pull up and down.

Practice handling accidents

There’s a good chance your school has a policy stating that teachers can’t change children’s clothes if they don’t make it to the toilet in time. Make sure your child knows how to change her clothes unassisted – accidents during potty training at home provide the perfect opportunity for a “dress rehearsal”. 

Find a change of clothes she can put on easily, and have her practice doing so at home a few times until you’re confident she’ll be able do it herself. Be sure to use the uniform or change of clothes you’ll be sending to school with her. Place it inside a waterproof bag, and show her how to put her soiled clothes back inside and close it up so she’ll be fully prepared.

Potty training can sound quite daunting, but some children handle it surprisingly well. Don’t wait until the last minute. If you start now with these potty training tips, it will all be second nature by the time school begins!

You can do this mama!

Love,

Nakita xxx

PS: I’m indulging in some well-deserved self-care and prioritising relationships these two weekends – therefore I will not be home and able to do my lives. Curious what I’m up to? Follow me on my Instagram stories!
I’ll be back with a BANG Friday 8th November, 4:30pm!