I apologize that this final post in my tips for potty training series was so long in coming!
The following is my potty training secret weapon… It is especially helpful with younger potty learners.
Naked Potty Training
For the majority of potty training children there will be accidents. (Please note, I am referring to pee accidents. If your child is unable to control a bowel movement it might be a good idea to delay potty training.) Even after a child learns to recognize the need to go pee they will have to learn how to control their bodies so that they can make it to the toilet before they actually go pee. As I noted in my potty training tips, when a child is just learning this skill it is important that they not have anything on their bum that feels even remotely like a diaper. This includes underwear.
Hence, “naked potty training“. Leave a child completely naked from the waist down and it won’t take them long to learn the cause and effect relationship of urination. “Oh, so when my body feels like this it means if I don’t do something about this, then the floor will soon be wet.” Even if you decide not to let your little potty trainer run around “in the altogether”, letting them go commando will help speed the potty learning process. Your potty trainer will notice a little pee trickling down their leg beneath their pants much faster if they don’t have any underwear on to absorb the moisture.
When I’m at home I take it so far as to let my little potty trainer run around naked from the waist down (a pair of baby leg warmers can come in handy for this if you’re potty training during the winter). What about the pee, pee accidents, you ask? Don’t they get on the floor?
With naked potty training you can either A.) Shut you and your child in the kitchen or other room with easy to clean floors, or B.) You can simply follow your child around with an absorbent cloth for a few days (cloth diaper inserts work like magic for this). We did “A” with our first child and “B” with our second. I found that “B” was much less stressful for me.
The more you can stay with your child when they are naked potty training, the more successful your experience will be. If you have older children it can be easiest to start training on the weekend when your spouse can be home to help with the older children.
During potty training, whether you’re doing naked potty training or some other method, it is so important to remain calm. It is essential that this be a positive experience for your child. If your child begins to pee on the floor, calmly, but quickly tell them, “stop peeing” or “you are peeing”, and take them to the potty. Remember, there is no need to get upset when a child has an accident. If the child peed a little on the floor, but was able to finish up on the potty, give lots of praise for going on the potty. My youngest and I had a little potty repertiore he loved to recite, “Do we pee pee on the floor?” “No!” he’d yell. “Do we pee pee in our pants?” “No!” he’d yell again. “Where do we pee?” (said with much anticipation) “In the potty!” he’d yell proudly….it was cute.
It will likely take two or 3 days for your toddler to get the hang of controlling his or her bladder. Once they’ve caught on you’re on the right track, but you’re not home free yet. Most (younger) potty learners will take a little while to fully master control over their bladder. Let them go without underwear under their pants until you are confident that they recognize and can tell you that they need to go potty before they actually begin going. My older son went commando for about 2 months. My younger son was ready for underwear in just 3 and a half weeks.
For more in my Potty Training Series read:
How to know if your child is ready to potty train
5 Tips for Successful Potty Training
My review of Potty Time! an exciting DVD to help your toddler get excited about using the potty.
Class dismissed! Do you have any questions? Have you tried this with your kids, or what other methods have you found successful?

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