Did you know that every time you make a mistake, new pathways are created in your brain from the experience? It’s true! Without making mistakes, we wouldn’t know what NOT to do the next time we try to master a new skill! Thomas Edison once said, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to always try just one more time.” Accidents aren't an indicator that your child isn't learning properly - if anything, the accidents are helping them learn! It's important to remember that potty training is a PROCESS and it takes time to master this new skill. If your child ..read more

There is a great deal of incorrect information out there about potty training. In my years of experience working with over 6,500 families to help them successfully potty train their kiddos, I’ve learned exactly what to do and what NOT to do! I've compiled a list of myths that you can leave in 2022 so that you can start 2023 with a fresh perspective! Keep in mind, all children are different, and there truly is no perfect one-size-fits-all way to get the job done. However, there are several myths about potty training that are simply not true at all! Let's get into it! MYTH #1: You don’t need to ..read more

There is always a learning curve associated with introducing clothing back into the mix after a period of naked or bottomless time during potty training. (I recommend only 1-1 ½ days of bottomless time) As with everything, it's going to take some practice for your kiddo to adjust. Remember, they've spent their entire lives up to this point peeing and pooping in diapers, so when you put clothes back on at first, their automatic muscle memory could kick back in and trigger more accidents. This is normal!! As I’ve always promised, when I discover a new must-have product, I share it with YOU firs ..read more

One of the biggest struggles that parents have with potty training is all of the MESS that it adds to their life. Especially when it comes to nighttime potty training we not only have to worry about the mess but also lack of sleep! Doesn’t it feel like toddlers just started sleeping through the night, and now we are being woken up all over again?! I know sleep is valuable to us all and I always prioritize that above everything else. BUT be sure you give the nighttime portion a fair chance before throwing in the towel (or diaper). It can take a bit longer to achieve dry nights, but ultimately ..read more

When kiddos begin potty training, they have to learn how to read their body’s language and signals telling them that their bladder if full or that they need to go poop. There is actually a term for this: interoception! (Thank you to Andrea Dorn @mindfulstepsseries for collaborating on this post!) "What is interoception," you might ask? ,#Interoception is a more recently coined term that is used to describe our ability to perceive what is happening inside our bodies. It is considered our "8th sense" and it covers everything from noticing hunger and toileting needs, to noticing pain or emotiona ..read more

So potty training is going great, but now your question is how to phase out rewards? Are you wondering if you’ll have to hand out a stamp or m&m for the rest of their LIFE?! The answer is no!!! (Thank goodness!) After about two weeks of successful potty training and the routine of a reward after each pee/poop, it’ll be time to change the incentive you’ve been using and set longer-term goals instead of rewarding each individual success. (I often find that using an experience instead of a tangible reward can go further!) Example of new longer-term reward: “If you have a really good potty da ..read more

It’s the most wonderful time of year! Many parents choose the Winter months to begin potty training due to the extended time off from both work and school. If this isn’t your cup of tea that’s okay too! Potty training around the holidays might not be for everyone, BUT it absolutely offers lots of positives! Incorporating fun, festive aspects into the potty training process can help your kiddo be excited for this new milestone instead of stressed out about it. Thinking of potty training over the holidays or stressing over how your newly potty-trained kiddo will handle the hustle and bustle? He ..read more

Flashback to December 18, 2021: Our 5-year-old daughter, Layla, had been feeling pretty rough for the past few days - not much of an appetite, headaches, drinking a lot more fluids than normal, stomach pains, and waking up multiple times to pee each night. The last symptom was super unusual for her since she has been potty trained both night and day since she was about two years old. Being the Potty Training Consultant, I put all my typical techniques to work to help her stay dry through the night but nothing was helping, if anything it was only getting more and more frequent. Layla's dad, Ra ..read more

I have yet to hear of a toddler who hasn't pushed the limits, or thrown a tantrum when they didn't get their way. There's a great reason for this! Around the age of two, children begin to crave independence and autonomy. Children are born with zero coping skills which means when they do experiment with their independence and we step in and tell them, "no", those overwhelming feelings are often expressed with a meltdown. It's our job to maintain calm within these storms and offer every opportunity for a successful learning experience! All day long, toddlers constantly hear: "NO, Daddy needs p ..read more

I often get asked, “What should I do if my child’s daycare requires Pull-Ups until they are fully potty trained?” This, unfortunately, happens quite often because daycares (understandably) don’t want to be cleaning up potty messes and changing kiddos' clothes five times per day. So what CAN you do? The first option is to put a pair of underwear under the Pull-Up, which will help your kiddo to still feel their bodily functions and signals in a more clear way than simply wearing a Pull-Up. Second, you can buy Pull-Ups in one size too big, which will create a looser feel and in turn allow your ..read more