Elimination Training for the Potty Training Parents
We’ve started potty training…. Well, elimination training our daughter at just 8 months old. She’s still a baby, so it’s not like she tells us when she has to go. We don’t know her cues yet. What we do is take her to the potty after every feeding and when she wakes up.
A lot of the time, she’ll actually hold it until she’s on the potty. That’s been amazing to see. It reminds me that babies can do more than we think if we give them the chance.
It’s not perfect. There are accidents. Sometimes, I get frustrated because it feels like we’re moving backward. But then I look at her and realize—she’s only 8 months. This is all brand new. She’s learning, and so are we.
One of the funniest parts is when she blows raspberries while sitting on the potty. It makes me laugh every time. It’s like she’s telling us, “I got this.”
If you’re thinking about early potty training, here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Be consistent. We take her every time after a feeding and after she wakes up.
Don’t expect perfection. Accidents happen, and that’s part of it.
Celebrate the little wins. Even one successful potty trip is progress.
Be patient—with your baby and with yourself.
Parenthood is messy, but these small victories feel huge. Watching our baby grow through this, even at such a young age, makes me a proud dad. And it reminds me that we’re in it together—me learning patience, her learning her body.