We just started potty training Rhys at 18 months, and I’ll be honest: he hasn’t figured it out. He thinks the potty is a toy. He wants to throw things in it and slam the lid, and he’ll only sit on it if mom or dad sits with him. It’s been an adventure, and we’re taking it one day at a time.

What we’re doing

1. First thing in the morning, we go to the bathroom. On my shift days, my parents take over and walk him in so he learns that’s where we go. On my days off, I do the same.
2. Solid poops go in the potty. Every day, no matter what, so he can see where they belong.
3. He comes in with me. If I’m in the bathroom, he’s in there too, so it stops being a strange room.

That’s it. No charts yet, no deadlines, and no pressure on him or on us.

Why I made a workbook

Somewhere in the middle of all this, I realized I wanted one gentle place to keep it all, and I couldn’t find one that didn’t make me feel behind. So I made it. Potty Training Without Losing Your Mind is a 50-page workbook for tired parents, written by a nurse and mom who is in the middle of it too. A “not yet” is a plan too.

• A readiness checklist
• Daily star charts, awards, and weekly trackers
• Say-this-not-that scripts and an accident plan
• Out-and-about, naps-and-nights, and setback pages
• A caregiver handoff page
• Real Days 1 to 3, from the toddler’s point of view

See the workbook on Amazon

Nurse note: Every child is ready at a different time. This is general information and encouragement, not medical advice. Talk with your child’s pediatrician about your child’s needs. See my medical disclaimer.