Potty Training Our 18-Month-Old: Everything That's Actually Working (And What We'd Do Differently)

3 days ago
4 min read

Potty training can feel overwhelming, especially when your little one is still so young. We started introducing potty training around 18 months, and while every child develops at their own pace, we found that having the right tools made the process much smoother.

Instead of buying every gadget on the market, we focused on products that encouraged independence, kept accidents manageable, and made potty time feel exciting instead of stressful.

If you're wondering what to buy before you begin, here's everything we actually used—and would happily purchase again.

How We Knew She Was Ready

Every toddler is different, but around 18 months we started noticing signs that our daughter was becoming interested in using the potty. We weren't expecting perfection—we simply wanted to follow her lead and make the experience positive.

Here are some of the signs we noticed:

Staying dry for longer stretches
Showing curiosity when Mom or Dad used the bathroom
Following simple directions
Pulling at—and even taking off—her diaper after going
Wanting to do everything we were doing

Once we saw her repeatedly trying to remove her diaper, we decided it was the perfect time to gently introduce potty training.

Our goal wasn't to rush the process. We simply wanted to build healthy habits early while making potty time feel fun.

1. A Toddler Potty Chair

This has easily been our MVP.

We chose to start with a small toddler potty instead of the regular toilet because it felt less intimidating for an 18-month-old. She can climb onto it herself, which helps build independence and confidence.

One thing that has worked really well for us is keeping a consistent routine. We usually invite her to sit on the potty every 1 to 1½ hours, as well as after waking up and before leaving the house.

Consistency has made a huge difference.

Our Potty Chair Recommendations:

2. Millie Moon Training Pants

Instead of switching straight to regular underwear, we've been using Millie Moon Training Pants, and they've been a great fit for this stage.

They help her recognize when she's had an accident while still giving us a little peace of mind during the learning process.

They're soft, comfortable, easy for toddlers to pull up and down, and much less bulky than diapers.

If you're just starting potty training, we highly recommend having several pairs on hand!

3. Toilet Seat Adapter (Coming Soon!)

We actually haven't introduced a b6 cx 526s `1c yet, and that's intentional.

Right now we're focusing on helping her become comfortable using her toddler potty first. Once she's consistently using it—especially for bowel movements—we plan to transition her to a toilet seat adapter on the regular toilet.

Every child moves at their own pace, and we've found that taking things one step at a time keeps the experience positive instead of overwhelming.

We'll definitely update this post once we've made that transition!

4. Celebrate Every Win

One of the biggest things that's motivated our daughter has been celebrating every success.

We keep it simple.

When she goes potty, she gets:

Lots of clapping
Tons of excitement
Hugs
High-fives
A small organic chocolate chip treat

But honestly...

Her favorite reward isn't even the chocolate.

She does the cutest little happy dance after everyone cheers for her, and I think she loves all the praise more than anything! 😂

Toddlers thrive on positive attention, and we've found that celebrating every success—even just trying—has made potty time something she actually looks forward to.

5. Ms. Rachel + Toy Bean

Potty training doesn't only happen in the bathroom.

We've also been reinforcing the concept through shows and toys she already loves.

One unexpected helper has been Ms. Rachel, whose potty-themed songs and learning moments have made the whole process more familiar and exciting.

We've also incorporated her Toy Bean doll into pretend play. Watching her "help" her toy use the potty has encouraged imitation, which is one of the biggest ways toddlers learn at this age.

Sometimes play is the best teacher.

A Little Transparency...

We also want to keep this real.

Our daughter doesn't use the potty every single time, and honestly...that's okay.

The last few weeks have been packed with summer vacations, family outings, events, and busy schedules. Because of that, we haven't always been as consistent as we'd like with taking her every hour or so.

Could we be doing better?

Absolutely.

But despite the interruptions, she's doing incredibly well for being only 18 months old.

We've learned that potty training isn't about being perfect. It's about creating opportunities, celebrating progress, and staying patient.

Every little success counts.

Mama's Thought 💌

If there's one thing we've learned, it's this:

You don't have to wait until your toddler is "perfectly ready" or compare your journey to anyone else's.

Some days she'll use the potty several times.

Some days she'll have accidents.

Some days she isn't interested at all.

And that's completely normal.

For us, potty training has become less about reaching a finish line and more about helping her build confidence one small success at a time.

We're excited to keep sharing our journey—and we'll continue updating this post as she grows, starts using the toilet seat adapter, and reaches new milestones.