Ahh, potty training – the bane of many parents’ existence. No matter how prepared you might think you are, there’s a good chance you might fail miserably. What happens when you do? You turn to the experts and find some potty training books you can trust.
Take my family, for example.
When our oldest daughter reached what I believed was a suitable potty training age, I watched the videos, read the articles, and listened to the expert opinions on how to streamline the process.
I haughtily told my husband, “Give me three days – that’s all it’s going to take to get this kid out of diapers.”
Reader, I was very wrong.
So many tears were shed that horrendous weekend, and that was just from me. What I assumed would be a pain-free experience turned into a stressful mess that left me wanting to pull my hair out.
Despite my claims that I didn’t care if she showed up to her high school graduation rocking Depends, I knew there had to be another method.
So, I did what I do best – read books.
There are many excellent potty training books for toddlers and parents on the market. Whether you’re trying to learn the proper ways to help your little one learn how to use the bathroom, or you want to incite natural excitement about going potty like a big girl or boy, you’re bound to find a book to help.
Not sure which book to buy?
No worries! We’ve researched for you and have found a collection of the best books about toilet training on the market.
If you want to eliminate your potty training problems, these books are a great place to start.
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Why Are Books About Potty Training So Important?
Even if you’re the most patient parent in the world, toilet training isn’t usually the easiest chapter in your child-rearing journey.
In fact, if you’re anything like me, the process could even incite a little bit of that parenting anxiety many of us experience on reg.
For me, I sometimes felt lost while trying to teach my kid how to use the bathroom. That’s why finding the right types of books about potty training is vital to the process. They provide words of wisdom, tips and tricks, and encouragement when you’re ready to give up. And that’s just books for parents!
Children also benefit from potty training books geared toward them. It’s helpful for them to see characters similar to themselves successfully using the potty.
In a nutshell: parents learn efficient ways to get through the experience without pulling their hair out and turning into a total “crazy mom or dad,” and little ones get to read books about new experiences.
Not every book will provide the same things, though. It’s essential to figure out what you’re looking for and pick content that fits your family’s wants and needs.
How Should You Be Using Potty Training Books?
First things first, before you start filling your Amazon cart with every potty training book ever published, there’s something important you need to ask yourself:
Is your child READY to start potty training?
And by “is your child ready,” I don’t mean are you sick of changing diapers and ready to get them onto the toilet. Before you even consider a leap into toilet training, it’s crucial to look for signs your child is ready.
Are you wondering if your little one shows the most common signs your child is ready to start potty training? Ask yourself these questions:
- Does their diaper stay dry for 2-hour periods and/or after naps?
- Are they showing signs that they recognize when they have to go potty? My daughter, for instance, used to try and hide when she needed to poop.
- Are they trying to copy your toilet behavior?
- Can they follow simple instructions?
- Do they have specific motor skills required for going potty, i.e., can they walk, get themselves dressed, climb up and down from the toilet?
- And most importantly – are they showing an interest in going potty?
If you can answer “yes” to the majority of these questions, there’s a good chance your child is ready to start their toilet training journey.
So now, how can you include books about potty training in the process?
For parents, research is key. Find books that discuss various potty training methods and tips for a successful experience. You can use the information gathered in these toilet training books to help make the transition for you and your child.
Using potty training books for toddlers is a great way to get your little one used to the idea before you start trying to train. These books might pique their interest and make them more willing to wave their diapers bye-bye.
The Most Popular Potty Training Books for Toddlers
Potty training books for toddlers are an incredible tool for any parent. They also make great gifts for 2 year olds! If you’re looking for the most helpful (and entertaining!) options, we’re big fans of the following choices.
1. Let’s Go to the Potty
When it comes to “full-service” books about toilet training for kids, “Let’s Go to the Potty” by Allison Jandu is one of the best options on the market.
One of the things I love about this book is the fact that it offers a step-by-step guide to using the potty for littles. It takes them from listening to their bodies for signs they need to go through asking mom and dad for help with washing hands.
And just a note, this is actually one of the only potty training books for toddlers that discusses those “urges” you feel when you have to go.
2. P is for Potty!
Let’s face it; most toddlers have a soft spot for Elmo. If this sounds like your child, then “P is for Potty” by Naomi Kleinberg is sure to be a hit! Its bright colors and lift-the-flap design are sure to capture their attention and are perfect for distracting them while they sit on the potty trying to go.
This book is also a great accompaniment to the Elmo’s Potty Time movie, which was a huge hit in my house!
3. Potty Superhero
Is your little man a fan of superheroes? If the answer is yes, then “Potty Superhero” by Paragon Books might be a great option! This board book is sturdy and fun to read, making it the ideal choice for “on-the-potty” enjoyment. Many reviewers talk about how their kids wanted to read this book about potty training over and over.
Plus, they mention that it helped spike interest in giving up diapers.
4. Princess Potty
I can’t write this article without mentioning “Princess Potty” by Samantha Berger. As mentioned previously, my eldest put up a wall when it came to potty training. I randomly picked this book up while on vacation, and it helped us turn things around!
If your child is into princesses and all things pink, this book will quickly become a favorite. It’s written in a cute sing-song fashion that makes it fun to read and listen to.
Bonus! This book also comes with a cute paper tiara and reward stickers you can use to encourage your little one further to use the potty.
5. Everybody Potties – Song to Help You Go!
While “Everybody Potties – Songs to Help You Go!” by Cottage Door Press isn’t as informational as some of the other books on this list, it’s certainly entertaining! It has everything a kid could want from a book they’re looking at while trying to go potty – buttons, music, and colorful pictures galore!
The author has set cute songs about going to the bathroom to the tune of classic songs like Bingo and Do Your Ears Hang Low.
6. It Hurts When I Poop
Does your little one have fears about going to the potty? Well, this book about toilet training is for them! This book by Howard J. Bennett talks about the common fears our little ones have about going number 2.
It breaks down the things that happen inside our bodies and ways to make it easier for kids to go poop if they’re having trouble.
Helpful Potty Training Books for Parents
Wouldn’t it be spectacular if babies came with an instruction manual? Sure, the basics are simple enough – feed the baby, change the baby, rock the baby…but what about everything else?
It’s no wonder becoming an overwhelmed mom can sometimes feel like the status quo.
While most parents realize they’ll have to potty train their little ones at some point, they don’t usually understand what that process entails. Add in the fact that there is more than one way to successfully toilet train, and things get even more complicated.
If you’re looking for advice on the best ways to teach your child to use the potty, these potty training books for parents are the ideal place to start.
1. Potty Training in 3 Days
When you think about toilet training, do you imagine a long, drawn-out process that will last for months on end? While this might be the case for some parents, the experience doesn’t have to work this way.
That’s where “Potty Training in 3 Days” by Brandi Brucks comes in!
With more than 10,000 reviews on Amazon, this book has become a bit of a bible for many parents preparing to start potty training.
Not only does it include proven tricks and methods that have worked for thousands of parents, but it also discusses ways to keep your cool when the going gets rough and information on what your child might be thinking and feeling throughout their potty training journey.
2. Oh Crap! Potty Training
While some potty training books for parents suggest letting your little one wear regular underwear so they’ll feel it when they have an accident, “Oh Crap! Potty Training” by Jamie Glowacki takes a different approach.
Jamie suggests utilizing a simple 6-step technique that includes letting your child run around commando. Since many kids have a deep love for running around naked, this could be the option you need.
Reviewers talk a lot about how this book about potty training helps answer tons of questions and has advice for overcoming issues you’re sure to face along the way.
3. Ready, Set, Potty!
“Ready, Set, Potty!” by Brenda Batts is a potty training book for parents of children who have Autism and other developmental disorders. When other potty training techniques aren’t working for your child, this book provides additional tips and suggestions to help them overcome hurdles they might be facing.
Many parents who’d tried unsuccessfully to potty training using other books rave about the methods in this one.
4. Toilet Awareness
Are you a parent who’s always looking for Montessori toys for toddlers and who appreciates the Montessori way of raising kids? If so, “Toilet Awareness” by Sarah Moudry should go straight into your Amazon cart. This book provides step-by-step guides on potty training and suggestions on the most efficient way to set up your bathroom.
Its focus remains on keeping your toilet training experience child-centered and stress-free.
Books for Kids During a Potty Training Regression
No matter how successful your initial potty training experience might be, slip-ups are not unusual. In fact, experts claim potty training regressions are not only common but often expected.
If you’re looking for potty training books for kids who are experiencing accidents and regressions, consider these.
1. Clayton Parker Really Really Really Has to Pee
After months of successfully using the bathroom, my daughter suddenly started having potty training problems. What was the issue, you might be wondering? She was so busy playing and having fun that she forgot (or ignored) the need to go potty.
In “Clayton Parker Really Really Really Has to Pee” by Gladys Jose, this topic is hilariously discussed.
Not only will your child love the story, but it’s also the perfect option as a potty training book for kids who get distracted and forget to go to the bathroom.
2. Raj’s Rule (for the Bathroom at School)
Using school bathrooms is a common fear among potty training-aged kids. Unfortunately, this fear can sometimes lead to bigger problems.
“Raj’s Rule (for the Bathroom at School)” by Lana Button is a great way for parents to open a dialogue about the situation and hopefully resolve it.
3. Time to Pee!
The Pigeon books are a favorite in our house, so I was thrilled to learn their author, Mo Willems, has also put together a helpful potty training book for kids! “Time to Pee!” is an excellent choice for kids just starting to toilet train or experiencing accidents.
It has lots of encouraging phrases, reminders, and clear instructions on what to do when it’s time to go to the bathroom.
Don’t Stress Over Going Potty! These Books About Toilet Training Are Sure to Help
No matter how much you research and prepare, teaching a little kid how to use the bathroom is exhausting. With the help of these books about toilet training, however, you can hopefully clear things up and simplify the process.
Whether you choose parenting advice books or fun-filled books for kids (preferably both, honestly!), you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in any of the books about potty training on this list.
Have you read any of these potty training books with your little one? Please share your favorites with us!
