As a mom myself and 14 years of experience helping parents navigate potty training, I understand the mix of emotions that come with this milestone, from excitement to confusion.

Instead of spending hours on Google and surveying moms in your favorite Facebook group, let’s simplify your first day of potty training with practical tips that will help you and your little one start this process with confidence.

Start Day 1 of Potty Training with a Normal Morning Routine

Good morning! It’s the big day! But, wait, don’t start just yet. Keep things as normal as possible first thing in the morning.

Let your little one wake up in their usual way, and stick to your regular breakfast routine. Offer a balanced meal with foods and drinks they enjoy to set a positive tone for the day. A happy tummy can lead to a happy child! Oh, and don’t forget to eat breakfast, too. You have a busy day ahead of you!

Time to Ditch the Diaper

The time has come! After breakfast and your morning routine, say goodbye to the diaper. This can feel daunting, but it’s a very helpful step if you are committed to a quick approach to potty training.

Make it a fun and enjoyable experience for your child. You can keep it simple with a quick “Bye-bye, diaper.” Or, you can get silly with a song and dance about having no more diapers. You can even get creative with a “diaper fairy” who takes the old diapers to a baby and leaves a little surprise in return.

Clear Your Schedule for Potty Training

Technically, this tip should be done before day one, but make sure to clear your calendar. This first day is all about focusing on potty training. Communicate with other caregivers so everyone is on the same page regarding responsibilities. The less you have to worry about, the better!

Keep Meals Simple During Potty Training

Speaking of less to worry about, prepare easy and quick meals and snacks. You can do this the morning of potty training, the day before, request another caregiver to help with meal prep, or recruit trusty Uber Eats to deliver the goods.

The focus should be on peeing and pooping in the potty, so let’s keep everything else uncomplicated.

Be Prepared for Potty Accidents

Accidents will happen—it's part of the process!

Knowing you’re prepared will help you stay calm.

A few ways to prepare for potty accidents:

Know what you are going to do and say when an accident happens.
Close doors or casually block off areas that you want to keep off limits.
Have cleaning supplies readily available so you can tackle any messes without stress.
Cover any surfaces you want to keep protected with towels and/or waterproof sheets.

Check out some of my favorite potty accidents supplies here!

(This is a product affiliate link through Amazon. Tinkle & Toot may receive a commission if you click on one of these links and/or complete a purchase.)

Set Up Fun Activities

Make this experience enjoyable by incorporating fun activities for your child—and for you! Whether it’s crafts, car & trucks, or reading together, choose activities that you both enjoy. This not only makes potty training less stressful but also makes the experience feel more like bonding time with your little one!

Another way to keep potty training fun is to create a Potty Bin filled with toys, books, or fidgets. This Potty Bin can be placed near the potty to help motivate them to give pottying a try.

Encourage Extra Fluids for Extra Potty Opportunities

To create more opportunities for practice using the potty, offer your child extra fluids throughout the day. This will naturally lead to more urine output and more chances for success.

Make it fun by using silly straws or special cups. You can offer a new drink that gets your child excited to drink. A water-drinking race can also be fun to incorporate here and there.

*If you have any concerns regarding increasing fluid intake, please consult with your child’s doctor.

Go Bottomless for Day One of Potty Training

Start your child’s potty training journey bottomless. This helps them learn to recognize their body’s signals. If you or your child isn’t comfortable with the bottomless approach, you can keep bottoms on but just know that this might slow down progress.

You aren’t going to keep your little one bottomless forever. The idea is that you add bottoms back on fairly quickly after your child shows you that they are getting the hang of peeing in the potty.

It’s all about gradual steps to build on your child’s independence & confidence!

WHAT’S HAPPENS AFTER DAY 1 OF POTTY TRAINING?!

Day one of potty training is, well, just day one!

It can sound super appealing to potty train in 3 days and be done with this big step. But, the truth is - it’s a BIG step.

While you can absolutely set a really solid foundation and see success in 3 days of potty training, your child is still little and is going to need some help to fully learn to use the potty.

For a step-by-step guide on how to handle the entire potty training process, check out The Potty Playbook.

DOWNLOAD THE POTTY PLAYBOOK NOW

Potty Training is a Journey

Potty training is a journey, and day one is just the beginning.

With a bit of preparation, a positive mindset, and these tips, you and your little one will set off on this exciting new chapter together.

Happy potty training! 🚽✨

Your Essential Guide to Day One of Potty Training