Raw Parenting Podcast Newsletter - Sept 2025
Subject: Potty Training: What We Learned (the Hard Way)
Dear Parents,
Potty training. Just hearing those words might make some parents shudder. For us, it’s been a journey—full of trial, error, and some surprising wins along the way. Today we’re sharing our story, not as experts, but as parents who learned by doing (and cleaning… a lot).
Why We Started Early
Our oldest daughter (“Peanut”) had just turned two when we began. With another baby on the way, we were determined to have only one kid in diapers. Plus, Peanut was showing interest—following us to the bathroom and asking questions. So we bought a little potty, set it out, and thought, this should be easy. Spoiler: it wasn’t.
What Didn’t Work
- Too much asking: Constantly asking, “Do you need to pee now?” just overwhelmed her. She didn’t yet understand the signals her body was giving.
- Potty books & bathroom stories: Cute, but not magic. They built awareness but didn’t trigger action.
- Training underwear: She soaked through them, even with a diaper backup. It was inconsistent and confusing.
- Changing too quickly: At first, we changed her immediately after accidents. She never got the chance to connect wet clothes with discomfort.
What Finally Helped
- Letting her feel uncomfortable: Briefly sitting in wet clothes (just a few minutes) helped her realize why the potty mattered.
- Dad taking the lead: A family friend suggested the “non-dominant” parent try. And it worked! Peanut peed in the toilet for Tom the very first time.
- Rewards (in moderation): We resisted at first, but small chocolate chips became her motivator. Nothing fancy—just enough to keep her excited.
- Staying home: We committed a full week to being home and fully focused on potty training. No diapers. No shortcuts. Just consistency.
- Privacy for #2: The big breakthrough for poop training? Asking if she wanted privacy. Just like when she used to sneak away with a diaper, she wanted the same for the potty. That changed everything.
The Timeline
It wasn’t fast. From start to finish, it took about three months for her to be fully trained. By 2½, she was confident and independent, even if there were still occasional accidents.
Our Takeaways
- Be intentional. Casual efforts didn’t work for us.
- Make time. Clearing your schedule for a few days (or a week) makes all the difference.
- Stay flexible. What works for one child may not work for another.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. One tip from a friend changed our entire approach.
Your Turn
We’ve got two more kids coming up for potty training (pray for us 🙃). If you have tips, tricks, or funny stories, reply to this email and share—we’d love to hear from you!
With love (and Lysol),
Tom & Malorie
The Raw Parenting Podcast
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P.S.: “Growing as parents through deep, real conversations to raise better kids.”
See you next month!
