This is a sponsored post from Acorn Influencers. Although I was compensated for this post, all opinions expressed are my own. 

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Toddlers.

They’re fun, aren’t they? Toddlers are sticky, destructive, whiny and completely impossible to reason with. They don’t want to eat the meals you lovingly prepare (they would rather eat questionable objects off the floor, of course). They don’t want to nap, because heaven forbid they might miss something. Oh, and of course they must be directly in the middle of everything you do… including what used to be the privacy of your bathroom.

It’s a good thing my daughter is cute. 😉

All of those challenges aside, perhaps the most difficult aspect of toddlerhood is looming large over our family these days. We’re getting closer to the age where we might actually have to tackle… POTTY TRAINING. Eek! Can’t we just keep buying our trusty Pampers until she’s in college?

I have exactly zero experience in potty training anything… like, not even a dog. So, although Dorothy isn’t quite ready to begin yet, this momma has already created a loose plan for when the time comes. Because who am I without some sort of plan!? This plan is based on the culmination of obsessive research I have put in to the topic. I am not an expert, plain and simple, but if we have to start somewhere… well, this is it.

The primary goal? Get my toddler potty trained. The secondary goal? Make it as quick and as painless as possible for all parties involved.

The Pre-Potty Training Plan

1. Potty Exposure

Like I mentioned, my daughter is not quite ready for potty training… yet. However, I have already purchased a potty chair. Exposing Dorothy to her personal toilet, showing her how to sit on it, and teaching her that it’s not a toy are all important steps when it comes to initiating training. She is comfortable with it, and has an understanding of why it’s there. Hopefully this effort keeps her from dragging said potty chair into the living room as a toy… like everything else in our home.

I went with the Joovy Loo Potty Chair for the ergonomic design and the raving reviews. My daughter has already sat on it voluntarily after I caught her doing her business and suggested that she sit on her potty. I call that a pre-potty training win!

 

2. Naked Weekend

Once Dorothy is ready (and I mean really ready), we’re going to employ the Naked Weekend. We’re going to shut in to our house for 3-7 days, let those cute little butt cheeks free, and see what happens.

Obviously there is more to the plan than that – including rewards, strategies and positive reinforcement – but you can check out the three day potty training method on your own here and here.

 

3. Big Girl Panties

What little potty training I remember from my sister (who is now 19, in college and probably going to hate me for this), revolves around big girl panties. She was always so proud to show you which character she was sporting on her underwear that day. “Look! I’m wearing my dalmatians today!”

Just a hunch, but I think my daughter is probably going to have the same reaction considering she already calls her Pampers “Elmo’s.” Stocking up on some big girl panties of her choosing – most likely involving Elsa, Sofia and Rapunzel – seems like the perfect incentive. Keep Elsa dry, and you get to wear your Frozen undies all day!

 

4. Conquering Bed Wetting

I realize that even after Dorothy is deemed “potty trained,” we will still need to work on staying dry all night and bed wetting. Insert Pampers Underjams. The Cotten family has been loyal to the Pampers brand for nearly two years now, so it just makes sense to continue using their products throughout potty training. We’ve never been disappointed before!

The Pampers Underjams are cloth-like, like regular big kid underwear, but provide night wear leakage protection. They’re perfect for kids who are potty trained, but struggle with enuresis (the fancy word for bed wetting). Hopefully we won’t need this step, but seeing how 15 percent of five year olds still wet the bed, it’s nice to know that we can pick up a box of Underjams at our local Walmart at any time.

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As I mentioned, I’m definitely not an expert. Seeing how this is my first rodeo, I can only try to make a plan that might work for our family.

So, let’s hear it potty training veterans who survived to tell the tale! What is your best potty training advice? What tips do you have for parents dealing with bed wetting? Use #ConquerBedWetting to share your advice on social media!