How to Potty Train a Girl

Potty training. Probably one of my least favorite things to do as a parent, especially with my stubborn 3 year old girl. With my son, it was almost like an instinct for him to potty train. I had made attempts with him and at the time he was just not interested until one magical day a little after the age of 2, I asked him if he wanted to use the potty and he said yes. Since that day, he never had an accident again. How to potty train a girl was an entirely new ballgame especially when she was so stubborn about it (and still is). For her, the waiting approach worked but I have compiled a list of tips to help you on how to potty train a girl (or boy for that matter) and be successful.

Plan

Make a plan on how you are going to start potty training. I had set aside some days to try and do the 3-day potty training method with Avery. This did not work for her. She was a little too stubborn to attempt to try and potty train in those 3 days. So even though I had made a plan, the plan changed on us. For you though, having those days may set aside may work out so try to formulate some type of plan prior to initiating potty training with the idea that the plan may need to be adapted and changed.

Thankfully our daycare is wonderful and helps out with potty training. The majority of the kids in Avery’s class use the potty so she goes with them and when it’s offered she goes.

Right tools

Having a potty chair on hand, books to read, as well as games or toys to entertain your child while they are sitting on the potty is a game changer. I also invested in Frozen underwear to motivate Avery to want to go on the potty and not pee on Elsa, her favorite Frozen character.

Go naked

One thing that helped Avery was going completely naked for the first couple days. It helped her recognize when she needed to go and was a lot easier to get her on the potty when she does have to go if there are no clothes in the way.

Ditch the diapers

Ditch those diapers and the pull ups as well. Just get rid of them for the time that you are potty training and when your child asks for one, which they will, stand firm and say no.

Expect accidents

There will be accidents, expect them and prepare for them. Avery peed on the floor a couple of times. The best thing to do when accidents happen is to remain calm, say it’s okay and clean it up. Getting upset when accidents happen will only further discourage your child from using the potty.

It is also common that children will not be fully potty trained at night for a while. For us, we encourage going before bed and immediately upon wakening in the morning. So far, she has minimal accidents in her pull up at night.

Give rewards

I am not above bribery especially when it comes to how to potty train a girl. Avery loves M&MS so I made sure to have plenty of those on hand to treat her every time she went. Every time she went on the potty we got super excited. Like it was the greatest accomplishment she ever has done.

Wait it out

When all else fails, as it did for us, just wait it out. Your child will eventually go (even though it may not feel like it) and sometimes waiting instead of forcing is the best approach. When Avery pushed back and screamed about going potty, we stopped and gave it extra time. Finally Avery decided on her own that she was going to go on her own and it went so much smoother.

Some children just aren’t ready to potty train when you want them to be and it is okay to wait if they show absolutely no signs of being interested in it. Just because your child doesn’t fully potty train before the age of 2 doesn’t mean you are a bad parent. Hang in there and remember your child will eventually do it when they are ready.