Potty Training 101: Day Two and beyond

Day One advice and suggestions were posted here.

Well if you make it to day two, then buckle down. This has typically been the most difficult day.

It is filled with accidents, just like day one. Though your child might experience some success by the end of this day. They might pee on the potty at least once or twice.

But I warn you that your frustration level AND their frustration level might run high. If you can plan day two on a weekend, then a spouse can pitch in or at least provide some support!

Just keep at it. Lots of liquid. Potty sitting every 30-45 minutes. M-M's to get them to stay on the potty.

Goal: Get them used to the feeling of "peeing in the air" while on the potty as best you can!

Our stories

I hardly remember much about K's second day. I do know that I was ready to rip my hair out and she was upset about the accidents.

I know that my husband stayed home with T on Day Two while K and I went out to breakfast. He is more patient and it worked out well. She experienced success after he kept her on the potty for about 1.5 hours. CRAZY. But she was so excited and things went uphill from there!

D was my only child to have success on Day One, so Day Two was pretty good! He had some accidents, but he really began to "get it". He would start to pee in his underwear, but then he learned to hold it and get to the potty! It was GREAT!

Day Three

Typically this is the day that success kicks in. It is rewarding for everyone involved. Something seems to "click" and your child will begin to use the potty!

The goal: At this point the goal is peeing on the potty!

Now, some children will be able to use the potty on command. Others will be successful when they "feel" the need to go. There are advantages both ways and disadvantages as well. Go with what your child needs.

Stay home
Stay off the phone and computer
Stay focused.

This is the day that things will start to kick in.

Day Four and Beyond

You marked off two weeks on that calendar. Don't be tempted to go out somewhere. You need the full two weeks of a potty on hand to make sure your child really gets it! That is often hard for me. D "got it" so quickly that I was ready to go do things. DON'T. Let it sink it and let other things progress.

As your child progresses, work on walking slowly to the potty in order to help them learn to hold it. Eventually the potty can go in the bathroom and you can take your time to get there.

You'll probably be able to play outside in your yard at some point. I think I took a potty outside with me for awhile.

Keep a potty close by!!!!

The next goal will be to get rid of the little potty. We begin to use the regular potty by the end of week three so they'll be able to handle the potty elsewhere without having to have a little one. I have a great fold out seat that I can take with me to public restrooms that makes the hole "smaller" for awhile. Work toward the end of the little potty!
*Obviously, this is personal preference. If you like the little potty at home, then keep it around. You'll just want to make sure they can use the big one for when you are out. Because after two weeks, it is time to go out!

Eventually you will make it to friends houses and other places with IMMEDIATE access to a potty. With D, we even made it to gymnastics class every Thursday because there was a bathroom right there in the waiting room.

Keep potty use in the forefront of your mind. Remind your child to use the potty at frequent intervals throughout the day. After 2 weeks when you are ready to leave the house, always take the to the potty first!

Final Thoughts

Poop.ie on the potty is a whole different ball game. It comes in its own time. I won't embarrass my kids with names...one of them got it in three days and never had another accident at night or nap or anytime again. The other two used their pull up at nap time for quite some time.

Nighttime is a different ball game in this house and it isn't something we push at all. At potty training time, we do switch over to regular cups after 4 PM to encourage less liquid. At some point we move our two year old to a big bed and that allows the freedom to use the potty as needed.

Maybe this method will work for someone out there and encourage you to hang in there! Feel free to email me on day two when you need someone to remind you to STICK WITH IT!