Potty Training Essentials: What We Actually Used

When we potty trained my son at 2½, I didn’t want to buy a million things we didn’t need. But there were a handful of potty training essentials that genuinely made the process easier.

We followed the three-day potty training method, and while every toddler is different, these are the products we actually used, what I liked about them, and what I’d buy again.

If a friend told me she was potty training this weekend, this is what I’d tell her to have ready.

1. The Big Little Feelings Potty Training Course

This is where I’d start.

We used the Big Little Feelings potty training course to guide us through the three-day method, and I loved having an actual plan to follow instead of piecing together advice from a million different places.

The course also recommended against using rewards, so we skipped sticker charts, candy, and prizes. That ended up working really well for us.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely.

2. A Toddler Potty

We bought a toddler potty that looks like a miniature toilet several months before we actually potty trained. We kept it in the bathroom so it was already familiar when we started, and later moved it into his bedroom for easy access.

The downside? You have to empty it yourself, and the fake flush can quickly become a toddler obsession.

But I’d absolutely buy it again.

3. A Step-Up Potty Seat

Once my son was potty trained, he started showing interest in using the regular toilet, so we introduced a step-up potty seat.

This made our lives so much easier because we no longer had to empty the little potty every time. He could also climb up himself, which gave him more independence.

Ours has a bear on it, which he thought was very exciting. Sometimes it's the little things.

4. A Step Stool

Definitely get a step stool.

Ours lets my son reach the sink and wash his hands himself, which helped make the whole bathroom routine more independent.

Potty. Flush. Wash hands.

The more he can do himself, the better.

5. Fun Toddler Underwear

A few weeks before we potty trained, we gave my son “big boy underwear” for Christmas.

We chose characters he loved, like Toy Story and Spidey, and he was genuinely excited to wear them.

The only downside is that he now has very strong opinions about which character he wants to wear each day.

Still worth it.

6. Pull-Ups for Sleep

We still use pull-ups for sleep.

When we started potty training, we tried calling them “nighttime underwear” to differentiate them from diapers. Sometimes that worked. Sometimes he couldn’t have cared less.

Either way, keeping nighttime separate from daytime potty training worked well for us.

7. A Travel Potty

This is one of my favorite potty training purchases.

Our travel potty folds small enough to fit in the diaper bag and comes with little bags so my son can pee or poop directly into it.

We’ve brought it in the car, on airplanes, and on trips, and he took to it immediately.

One of the intimidating parts of potty training is realizing that eventually you have to leave your house. Having a travel potty with us made that transition so much easier.

I would buy this before you start, even if you don’t think you’ll need it right away.

8. A Potty Book

We used an interactive Elmo potty book with buttons that make sounds, and my son loved it.

It didn’t teach him how to use the potty, but it made the whole concept familiar and fun. We had it before we officially started training, which was an easy, low-pressure way to introduce the idea.

What We Didn’t Use: Rewards

We didn’t use sticker charts, M&Ms, treats, or prizes because the three-day method we followed recommended against rewards.

We praised and encouraged him, but using the potty never became something he expected a prize for.

That worked well for our son, but every toddler and potty-training approach is different.

Potty Training Essentials I’d Buy Before Day 1

If a friend told me she was starting this weekend, I’d have these ready:

• Potty training course

• Toddler floor potty

• Step-up potty seat

• Step stool

• Fun underwear

• Pull-ups for sleep

• Travel potty

• Potty book

Do you need every single one of these things to potty train a toddler? Of course not.

But these are the things we actually used, and I’d rather have a few potty options ready than discover on Day 1 that my toddler refuses to use the one I bought.

And definitely get the travel potty. Being able to confidently leave the house again is worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you actually need for potty training?

For us, the essentials were a toddler potty, step stool, underwear, nighttime pull-ups, and the potty training course we followed. I’d also have a travel potty ready so leaving the house with a newly potty-trained toddler feels less intimidating.

Do you need both a toddler potty and a potty seat?

We liked having both. My son started with the little floor potty and eventually became interested in using the regular toilet with a step-up seat. Having both gave him options as he became more comfortable.

Is a travel potty worth it?

For us, absolutely. Ours fits in the diaper bag, and we’ve used it in the car, on airplanes, and while traveling. It’s one of the potty training products I’m happiest we bought.

Should you use rewards for potty training?

We didn’t. The three-day method we followed recommended against rewards, so we skipped sticker charts, candy, and prizes. That worked well for our son, but every toddler and potty-training approach is different.

More Potty Training Help

If you’re about to start, read How I Potty Trained My Toddler in 3 Days for exactly what we did, what worked, and what I’d do differently.

And if your toddler figured out peeing but poop has become a completely different story, read Toddler Holding in Poop? What We’ve Learned During Potty Training.

You can also find all of my Potty Training Tips & Products I Actually Used in one place.

This post contains products and resources we personally used during potty training. Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.