This post is for all those parents still swimming through the tar of toilet training. Here are 5 quick tips to help your hurdle the pitfalls of potty training.
1) Make toilet training as comfortable for your toddler as possible. Getting them their own potty chair can be a messy, scary experience for them. Try getting them started straight on the family toilet. This method makes it easy, efficient, and can start immediately. Also make sure you have a small stool so they can easily access the potty with independence.
2) Let your toddler select their own underwear. It’s the little things they often love the most, and picking underwear with a favorite character will help them look forward to the potty training experience. And if they’re looking forward to training, half your battle is already won.
3) Turn toilet training into an adventure. Let them bid a fond farewell to everything they flush. It may seem silly to you, but to them, saying “Bye-bye toilet paper,” can be exciting enough to call potty training fun.
4) Get your child to the potty immediately after an accident and change them while placing their waste into the potty. This will reinforce the purpose of the potty in your toddler’s mind.
5) Eliminate fear. Model casual behavior and your child will follow. You never want to force potty training on your toddler. If resistance is strong, pull back and try again in a few days.

However, be sure your child’s resistance has merit and they aren’t pitting their will against yours. If you back off too early, the second round is sure to be a lot harder than the first.
Sean Platt is always a dad, and an occasional potty training expert who also tweets.