16 Potty Training Essentials You Need For Success

When thinking about beginning potty training your child, you might have a mix of emotions. On the one hand, you probably feel excited! I mean, nobody wants to pay the high price of diapers, plus your child gets a little more independence.

On the other hand, starting the potty training process might feel daunting. You never know how your child will handle the change until you start, which can make some parents feel apprehensive. 

The good news is that when you prepare yourself with potty training essentials, you are setting yourself up for success. These potty training products for toddlers are everything you need to get started on the right track.

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Potty Training Essentials For Everyday Use

1. Potty Chair

First on this list of potty training essentials is, you guessed it, a potty chair. I’m sure you already knew that you’d need a potty chair, but keep in mind that not all potty chairs are created equal!

When purchasing a potty chair, steer away from chairs with all the bells and whistles. For example, you don’t need a potty chair that plays music or makes flushing noises. You simply need a potty chair that does its job.

We have this potty chair, and I highly recommend it! First, it’s a budget-friendly option (available in multiple colors) that is still a high-quality product.

Second, it has a splash guard, which means it’s a perfect chair for potty training girls and boys. And lastly, it has a non-skid bottom that prevents it from slipping away as your toddler tries to sit on it.

2. Potty Seat

The next potty training essential you’ll need is a potty seat. Now, I’m sure you might be wondering why you would need a potty seat and a potty chair. I wondered this exact thing in the beginning, too!

It’s nice to have a potty seat in addition to a potty chair because they are both quite different products. A potty seat will sit on top of your toilet, which is ultimately where you want your little one to go every time.

Also, depending on your toddler’s age and size, you will typically have to help them get on and off the potty seat the majority of the time. 

On the other hand, a potty chair is a perfect size for your child. After getting the hang of potty training, your toddler will be able to sit and use their potty chair mostly independently. 

Keep in mind that if you have more than one bathroom, it can be easiest to get a seat for each bathroom. When it comes to potty seats, we have these ones, which are excellent. These potty seats fit most toilets, have a non-skid bottom and a splash guard. Not to mention, they are inexpensive!

3. Undies

With your child transitioning away from diapers, you’ll need to get some underwear for them! Even if you are using a naked potty training method, it’s best to have underwear washed and ready to go.

One way to avoid any underwear apprehension with your child is to buy undies with their favorite cartoon characters on them. Seeing their favorite TV buddies on their undies can help them get excited about this significant change. 

Also, make sure you get plenty of underwear to ensure you’re prepared for the inevitable accidents. I bought two 7-packs when my son started potty training (these ones are cute for girls!), which was more than enough for us. 

4. Oh Crap! Potty Training Book

As a first-time mom, I had no previous experience with potty training. Once my husband and I felt that our son was ready to start potty training, I wanted to educate myself and ensure that we had a plan of action. 

So, I hopped onto Amazon and searched for potty training books. That’s how I found Oh Crap! Potty Training. It is one of the most highly rated potty training books on Amazon, so I figured it would be the best starting point. 

It turns out that I was right. I cannot stress enough how fantastic this book is! It is packed with information and answers to pretty much any question that you may have. 

After reading Oh Crap! Potty Training, I felt confident in my ability to potty train my son. By using the steps and information in the book, my son was successfully potty trained at about 22-months-old! 

5. Potty Training Books For Children

In addition to buying myself a potty training book, I got my son a few books of his own to read. Reading books about potty training helped my son understand this new process and get excited about it! 

Here are our top five potty training books for toddlers:

• Potty
• Daniel Tiger’s Potty Time
• Let’s Go To The Potty!
• Everyone Poops
• The Potty Book For Boys OR The Potty Book For Girls

Also, it can be helpful to have a potty book or two that you keep in the bathroom. Having a book to read to your child can be a good distraction if your child doesn’t want to sit on the potty long enough to go. You can have them sit on the potty while you read the book, and it will help them calm down.

6. Easy-To-Remove Clothes

It’s a good idea to have your toddler learn how to get themselves dressed before potty training. Your kiddo will have a little more confidence when they can use the potty independently and not have to wait for you to help them with their pants. 

A crucial part of teaching your little one how to dress themself is making sure their clothes are easy to use. This means you will want to avoid any clothing, pants especially, that is hard for a toddler to get on. For example, avoid clothing with buttons, snaps, or hard-to-use zippers.

When choosing appropriate clothing for potty training, it’s best to stick with stretchy pants, shorts, or skirts. Any kind of bottom that has an elastic waistband is great!

Also, if you have a little girl who loves dresses, keep an eye on the length. Some girls can struggle with holding a long dress up to sit down.

Another clothing item to keep in mind is onesies. If you are potty training your toddler around the 18-month-old mark, you’ll need to make sure to remove onesies from your child’s closet. Onesies are simply too hard to take on and off to use the potty. 

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7. Step Stool

Step stools are one of the potty training essentials you’ll need in the bathroom. And, just like the potty seat, I recommend you have one in each bathroom that your child might use.

Step stools are a must-have for potty training because they help your child have a little more independence. With your hand to steady them, they can step up to and sit on the potty seat. Also, they can use the steps to climb up to the sink to wash their hands. 

We have two of these step stools, and they are very sturdy. They have non-slip surfaces on the top step and along the bottom of the stool to prevent slipping. Plus, because they are a two-step stool, my kiddo has never had a problem reaching the sink.

8. Faucet Extender

Depending on the type of sink and faucet you have in your bathroom, your toddler might have a bit of a hard time reaching the water from the tap. That’s where these faucet extenders come in!

When my son was first learning how to wash his hands, he could barely reach the water. I had to kind of splash the water onto his hands, especially to rinse the soap off. After putting these faucet extenders on, he had no trouble reaching the water. 

Plus, the faucet extenders are so easy to put on and take off; it only takes a second!

9. Kid-Favorite Hand Soap

Toddlers can become picky at a moment’s notice. Add in a huge change, like ditching the diapers, and a simple task like washing hands can become unpleasant. 

That’s why it can be helpful to have some special soap that’s only for your toddler. The best soap for this job is foaming soap!

Kids love foaming soap because it automatically comes out as bubbles. Plus, the foam is a little easier for toddlers to spread around their hands, ensuring a more thorough wash.

10. Absorbent Towels

It’s no secret that potty training can be messy. Your child is bound to have accidents, so it’s best to be prepared ahead of time. Have plenty of absorbent towels ready to use from day one. 

If you think that you don’t want to wipe up accidents with your cloth towels and you’d instead use paper towels, just know that you will go through a ton of paper towels. It would be better to buy some designated clean-up towels like these ones instead.

You’ll also love: Simple Chores That Are Perfect For Toddlers

11. Disinfectant Wipes

Speaking of cleaning up accidents, you’ll want to have disinfectant wipes readily available. After you wipe the mess up with a towel, you can quickly wipe the floor with a disinfectant wipe, and you’re done!

12. Waterproof Mattress Protectors

Waterproof mattress protectors are essentials for children’s beds. They help keep the mattress clean from any spilled cups, drool, sweat, or potty training accidents. 

We use these mattress protectors on my son’s bed, and I like that they aren’t loud. Some mattress protectors sound crinkly and noisy when you move on them, but these ones are unnoticeable. 

Plus, the mattress protectors do their job! Nothing has ever soaked through them onto the mattress.

Another great thing to invest in is more fitted sheets (if you don’t already have some). If your child has an accident in the middle of the night, you will want to be able to throw another sheet on the bed and get your little one back to sleep quickly. 

Related Articles:

• The Best Mold-Free Bath Toys For Toddlers

13. Patience

Teaching your toddler how to use the potty is something that takes time. Potty training isn’t something that you can just tell your toddler how it works, and they magically stop using diapers. It takes persistence and also a whole lot of patience.

Your toddler will likely have accidents, and there’s always the possibility of regressions. Just make sure that you try to have as much patience as possible when potty training your child. Remember, they are learning a vast new skill!

And if you feel like things aren’t clicking or your child needs more time before potty training, don’t be hard on yourself! Potty training goes the smoothest when everyone involved is ready.

You’ll also love: How To (Effectively) Teach Your Toddler Discipline

Potty Training Essentials For On-The-Go

1. Portable Potty Seat

While having a portable potty seat isn’t 100% essential, it can make using the restroom in public much more manageable. 

I found this portable potty seat on Amazon, and while my son hasn’t had to use public restrooms too often, it makes going potty at his grandparent’s house effortless. I don’t have to remember to bring his potty chair because this seat is so compact, it can fit in his backpack.

Also, I like that the portable potty seat ensures that he always has a seat that’s the right size for him- no worrying about falling into a public toilet. Plus, the portable seat has suction cups so it won’t slide around and a storage bag to keep it in! 

2. Change Of Clothes

Next for on-the-go potty training essentials is a change of clothes. Always carrying a change of clothes with you will give you peace of mind in the chance that your child has an accident in public. 

Typically, I always keep an extra pair of undies and pants in his backpack, but you could keep a whole outfit ready, too. 

PRO MAMA TIP: Keep some of these bags in your bag or car. If your child has an accident while out of the house, you can throw their wet clothes into the bag. That way, you won’t have to worry about having dirty clothes in your car.

3. Baby Wipes

Even though you are moving away from using diapers, it’s still handy to carry baby wipes with you. It’s better to have them with you and not need them than need them and not have them!

Should you use rewards for potty training?

Potty training rewards can be a polarizing subject. Half of the parents seem to swear by them, while the other half doesn’t think they work. 

If you’re unfamiliar with potty training rewards, they are usually small, cheap toys or candies that you give your child after using the potty. These rewards give kids an incentive to use the potty and can help them stay interested in potty training. 

If this seems like something you would like to do, go for it! But, I will say that there are some things to think about before using rewards for potty training.

First, you can’t always reward your child for using the bathroom. Therefore, the rewards will have to stop at some point. If your child is sensitive to change, discontinuing rewards might bring on some meltdowns.

Plus, when your child starts to become uninterested in the rewards you have to offer, you can begin to have some power struggles.  

The best way to avoid using potty training rewards is to start when you think your child is ready. When you see signs in your child that they are ready and you commit to potty training, you are more likely to succeed.

Do boys and girls need different potty training products?

The short answer here is no. Boys and girls don’t need different potty training items.

If you have a boy, most potty training methods suggest that you teach your boy to use the potty sitting down first. This means that you don’t need to buy some special little urinal, and you can use a regular potty seat/chair instead. 

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When you prepare yourself and your home with potty training essentials, you will have peace of mind that you have everything you need.

There won’t be a time when you realize you forgot something or need something that you didn’t think of beforehand. And remember, you got this, mama!

Before you go, check out these related articles:

• Must-Have Outdoor Toys For Toddlers
• The Best Toys For 18-Month To 2-Year-Olds
• Simple And Fun Activities For 18-Month-Olds
• Art Supplies That Are Perfect For Toddlers
• Crucial Signs It’s Time To Stop Using a High Chair

What are your favorite potty training essentials? I would love to know in the comments below!

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