This post is sponsored by Pampers but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
"You’ve worked tirelessly for (days, weeks, months, an eternity?) an overwhelming amount of time to potty train your little one. They’re finally making it to the toilet with minimal accidents, and your cortisol levels are no longer peaking dangerously high. Which means you’ve arrived at the finish line, right? Right?!
Well, yes and no. I “finished” potty training my son over a year ago, but the post-training phase came with a plethora of new questions and challenges. When do we tackle nights? What happens if he has a regression? And—what parents dread the most—how do I teach him to wipe on his own?! I’ve had a year to learn how to handle most of these scenarios by pure trial and error (and a lot of frantic Googling). Now that we’re (mostly) on the other side of potty training, I can share my nuggets of wisdom with you. Here’s what to expect after you’re done potty training:
Handling nighttime potty training
Although most toddlers are typically ready to potty train during the daytime between ages 2 and 3, nighttime potty training actually comes a bit (sometimes a lot) later. Just like toileting during the day, kids are ready for nighttime toileting at different ages. Some kids may be ready around 4, while others aren’t able to stay dry at night until 5 or 6. And that’s completely normal. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering nighttime potty training:
- Bladder control: This heavily depends on their bodies’ physiological development, and bladders are typically mature enough to send signals to the brain by age 6. This is why nighttime bedwetting is fairly common for 5 and 6-year-olds.
- Bowel control: Most kids grow out of experiencing bowel movements at night by the time they master bowel control during the day.
- Waking up: It’s recommended to let your child develop the ability to wake up at night by themselves when they need to pee rather than waking them up yourself.
My 4-year-old is starting to wake himself up when he feels the urge to pee in the early morning hours, but he hasn’t been consistently dry enough to move to undies quite yet. He’s been using training pants at night since starting daytime potty training so we could make a clean break from diapers. This also helped him differentiate the shift from “baby” to “big kid.” We’ve tried a few different brands, but Pampers Easy Ups is by far our favorite.
Easy Ups have dual leak-guard barriers with up to 100 percent leakproof protection, so he’s never had a bedwetting incident while using them. My son is also picky about certain fabrics, and these training pants feel like cotton undies rather than diapers, making them very comfortable to sleep in. They’re also dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic, which is ideal for his sensitive skin. He never has issues independently pushing them down and pulling them back up when he does wake up to use the bathroom at night, which means Mom and Dad get to stay in bed while he handles his business. Easy Ups are a must while waiting to start nighttime potty training—find them in-store at most major retailers or shop online now.
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Practicing bathroom hygiene
Bathroom hygiene goes hand-in-hand with potty training, and it’s important to encourage good hygiene from the start. Even if they didn’t successfully use the potty or you’re the one who wiped, instill the habit of handwashing as soon as they’re done sitting. Singing a song they know, like “Happy Birthday” or the “ABCs,” will help them wash for the appropriate amount of time (and be more fun for them). Make your sinks toddler-friendly by placing a stool in each bathroom (trust me, it’ll get annoying moving one stool all over the house). You can also add faucet extenders to help them reach the water better, especially if your sink is on the taller side. Overall, keeping everything in your bathroom within easy reach (towels, soap dispensers, toilet paper rolls, etc.) will encourage independence as they grow older.
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Transitioning to the adult toilet
If you started potty training on portable mini potties, I’m sure you’re more than ready for your kid to transition to the big potty. Constantly cleaning out plastic toilet bowls is no one’s favorite pastime. My son used a combination of mini potties and travel toilet seats that we attached to our big toilets, but even moving those travel toilet seats around became annoying after a while. Once he became consistent with his toileting, experienced no accidents, and held his bladder for longer periods, we directed him to the adult toilet instead of the mini potty. We also installed a new toilet seat that came with a toddler seat so we wouldn’t have to use the travel one anymore. We were done with the mini potty within a few months—a welcomed goodbye.
Teaching them how to wipe themselves
Ah, the million-dollar question: “When will I finally stop wiping this kid’s butt?!” You’ve rid yourself of diapers only to learn that the butt-wiping isn’t going anyway anytime soon. This may be a top-of-mind concern for you if your kid starts preschool or kindergarten soon since most schools (especially public schools) require kids to know how to self-wipe before their first day. And since my own mom is a public school teacher, I feel obligated to stress that this requirement is purely a legal one. Teachers are not legally allowed to help children wipe, so teaching this skill before school starts is essential.
There are several things to consider when teaching kids how to wipe, like whether they can reach, if they’re coordinated enough to get a good clean, and if they’re mature enough to handle the task. For many kids, these goals are achievable after age 3 and can take until age 5 to fully master. Here are a few tips for teaching independent wiping:
- Explain why wiping is important. Yes, you can keep it simple, but don’t be afraid to use up-front language with your child. I tell my son that wiping well ensures his favorite character undies don’t get dirty (and subsequently thrown away) and that his private areas don’t become itchy. That’s more than enough reason for him.
- Practice toilet paper pulling and folding. This is an essential pre-independent-wiping skill. Toddlers can start practicing this early on, especially since they’re prone to unraveling toilet paper rolls while no one’s watching. Show them what’s too little, what’s too much, and what’s just right. Then show them what folding methods cover the most surface.
- Narrate what you’re doing while you wipe them. Explain what direction you’re wiping in (front to back and explain why), that you’re checking to make sure the toilet paper is clean before stopping, and that you’re refolding the paper to wipe from a clean spot.
- Wipe together. You may be doing most of the work, but they can at least feel what’s happening and how you’re doing it. Gradually give them more control as you keep practicing together.
- Supervise and spot-check. Once you feel confident they’ve got it down, step back and provide encouragement and support. I still recommend doing a spot-check wipe before truly letting them fly solo to confirm that they’ve mastered the skill. If your spot-checks aren’t consistently clean, then restart your joint wipes so they can get more practice.
Addressing potty regressions
Regressions are a very normal aspect of the potty training process, especially if your child is experiencing a new change or a period of stress. It’s important to stay calm and avoid showing frustration or disappointment, as that may make them feel shame and won’t actually help the situation. If there could be an underlying reason, address that first. When accidents do happen, we try not to say “accidents are OK” since kids are very literal and could interpret that as permission to keep skipping the potty. Instead, we acknowledge them more factually, like, “You had an accident. Let’s clean that up and try again next time.” We then involve him in the clean-up so he understands the natural consequence of having an accident.
If accidents start becoming more regular, go back to potty training methods that worked in the past, like providing positive reinforcements after using the potty. Regressions are temporary and typically only last a few days or weeks, so stay patient and rest assured your efforts are not completely lost. If you’re concerned about a long-lasting regression or worrisome potty habits, always speak to your child’s pediatrician for support.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Steph Alleva Cornell, Branded Content Editor
Since becoming a young mama in 2020, Steph has found joy in creating beautiful yet relatable content surrounding the raw realities of motherhood. She believes showcasing both the wonders and struggles of being a parent helps other mothers understand that they are not alone in their journey.
This post is sponsored by Pampers but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.