Looking for some potty training tips? You might want to start with our super popular post, The 5 Biggest Potty Training Mistakes (and maybe also this potty training tip for some self-sustaining humor).
After that, head over to Amazon or your local library because as with almost all parenting challenges, it’s always helpful to have a book for both you and your kiddo to help tackle it!
Here’s our resident children’s librarian, Janssen, with her best picks on the topic…
Are there any words that strike fear into the heart of a parent like “potty training?” I’m inclined to think not.
We all want a potty-trained child, but the actual training can bring out the worst in all of us, from frustrated parents to tantruming toddlers who just want a diaper back on.
Fortunately, like on many subjects, there are books galore to help you and your child through this milestone. Some of these books are perfect for reading together to help broach the topic and help your child get familiar with the idea, and others are for parents, whether you’re just starting to entertain the idea or whether you are pulling your hair out.
Grab one or all of them from the library or bookstore, and remind yourself that you’ve never seen a fifth grader wearing a diaper.
7 Best Books About Potty Training
I Use the Potty: Big Kid Power by Maria van Lieshout
This brand-new series from one of my favorite author/illustrators is perfect for helping kids feel like superheroes as they learn to use the toilet or achieve other milestones like getting rid of a pacifier. They have a really fun tri-color design and illustrations reminiscent of superhero comic books. Plus, they’re the perfect size for little hands.
Potty by Leslie Patricelli
One thing I love about this book is that your child is probably already familiar with Leslie Patricelli and so this book will feel familiar even if the topic is new. With simple text and illustrations, a smiling baby investigates how the dog and cat use the bathroom and eventually decides to try out the toilet himself. Success and applause finishes off the book happily.
Where’s the Poop? by Julie Markes and Susan Kathleen Hartung
For your animal-loving child, this is a perfect book to introduce the idea of going to the bathroom. In this fun lift-the-flap volume, you can see where every animal in the wild goes the bathroom, whether it lives in the Australian Outback or in the rain forest. And, of course, a child has a place to go too.
The Princess and the Potty by Wendy Cheyette Lewison and Rick Brown
Even being royalty doesn’t get you out of having to be potty-trained, unfortunately. This stubborn little princess is displeased by every potty her royal parents choose for her, including musical and patterned potties. Finally, the desperate parents call for a wizard who assures them that the princess will, in due time, learn to use the toilet, and as promised, eventually the princess discovers a solution that appeals to her: the prettiest pair of pantalettes in the land.
Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right by Jamie Glowacki
If there is anything worse than potty-training once, it’s potty-training the same child multiple times. Get it right on the very first try with Glowacki’s 6-step process that’s worked for thousands of kids and parents. Plus, she’ll answer all your questions about how to know if your child is ready, how to deal with accidents, regressions, and night-time training. Basically, all the answers to questions you didn’t even know you had.
Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro by Teri Crane
If you’re the kind of parent who just wants to get this done as fast as possible, Teri’s the lady for you. Not only does she give you all the hands-on information you need to know about when to start and how to deal with resistance, accidents, and other common problems, but she also shares her secret weapon – potty parties. Your kids will be BEGGING to be potty-trained.
Keys to Toilet Training by Meg Zweiback
If you’re feeling totally overwhelmed, Meg, a registered pediatric nurse, is here to save the day. She starts at the very beginning, covering different approaches, common setbacks and and working with complications like constipation, bedwetting, and multiple caregivers. No matter the issues you’re struggling with or even if you just want a head start before you jump into training, this book has you and your child covered.
*Post contains affiliate links
More Potty Training Wisdom from MPMK:
Our Go-To Potty Training Tools:
- Our favorite potty
- Mattress Protection
- Wet Bags (these are so great for dealing with accidents on-the-go as well as clothes wet from the pool or whatever else. We still keep one with us always!)
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Janssen
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