No More Stress! Miss Rachel's Video Makes Potty Training Easy

What a time to be alive for parents teaching their children to use the potty!

Miss Rachel of the YouTube channel, Songs for Littles, has released a short video to help parents potty-train their toddlers easily and enthusiastically through play.

The five-minute video, uploaded on Facebook and Instagram, serves as an engaging and interactive guide for parents of young children.

The video is meant to be watched by the parent and child together. She starts with supportive words before introducing Bean Bear, a lovable stuffed toy that makes the process fun and relatable. 

Bean Bear and the entire potty training playset are available on Miss Rachel’s website.

Tips for starting potty training

1. Make potty training a positive experience.

Miss Rachel reminds parents never to shame or yell if their child makes mistakes. While most kids show potty training readiness signs between ages two and three, other children may need more time. If the process becomes stressful, take a deep breath and trust that your child will learn at their own pace.

Use words of affirmation like 'I'm proud of you!' and 'Let's try again!' to encourage even small improvements. Associating potty training with positive emotions will make the experience easier for both parent and child. However, if children link potty training to negative emotions, such as stress, yelling, or crying, it may slow their progress.

Check out the signs that your child isn't ready for potty training here.

2. Be your child's advocate.

"You know your child. Don't worry about what other people say or when their kids are potty trained. Do what's right for your family," Miss Rachel advises in the video. Every child has a unique timeline. Look for these signs so that you would know if your child is ready for potty:

• Staying dry for longer stretches (about two hours)
• Noticing when they are wet or dirty
• Showing interest in the toilet or potty and wanting to go

When introducing potty training, use age-appropriate words and relate the process to concepts they already understand. This helps children grasp the idea more efficiently. In the video, Miss Rachel even explained what pee and poop are, how they are made, and why we don't need them anymore.

Know the words that you should avoid while potty training here.

3. Reinforce positive behavior with the right rewards.

While it may be tempting to give big when your child successfully uses the potty for the first time, it's important to frame them as a reward, not a bribe. You give as recognition for a job well done, while a bribe implies that a parent will do something in exchange for a child's behavior.

Some children don’t need rewards at all, while others may be motivated by simple, intangible incentives such as: 

- A high five, fist bump, hug, or extra story time
- Small items like stickers or snacks
- New underwear, like what Miss Rachel gave Bean Bear

Experts recommend offering immediate rewards when your child uses the potty, rather than delaying them until the end of the week. A potty training chart can also help track progress and provide a visual reward system. Find out how this mom used stickers to successfully help her child potty train.

As your child gains confidence and independence (and they will!), you can gradually reduce rewards until potty training becomes a natural habit.

Miss Rachel has announced that a potty training special is in the works. In the meantime, you can watch the full video here.

Check out this popular toilet stool that might help your child in their potty training here.