Parenting

girl sitting on training potty seat reading a potty training book
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15 Potty Training Books For Parents & Toddlers

Urine for a treat.

by Kinsey Gidick

If there was ever a topic a parent might need to read up on, it’s potty training. Thankfully, there are loads of potty training books, for parents and kids alike. And it’s best you start investing in them sooner than later. That’s because potty training, well, it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and it’s never too early to lay the foundation for a successful transition into continence really early on with colorful, supportive stories about using the toilet.

On the toddler end of the spectrum, look for board books and simple stories that show children how empowering using the potty can be when they are ready. There are lots of fun takes on the topic, but the best, included here, have playful illustrations or a silly angle kids will want to read long after they’ve mastered flushing the toilet.

And as for potty training books for adults, there are lots of options on the market, but the best serve as a straightforward guide with step-by-step instructions on how to move on from the diaper phase. These titles will also help parents understand how to encourage their children so they can come out of the potty training gauntlet in one piece, tear-free, and ready for action. So take a deep breath, be patient, and try not to be too hard on your child or yourself.

What to consider before buying

When shopping for potty training books for children, consider your child’s age. If they’re eager to test out the potty, but on the younger side, you might want to opt for illustration heavy potty training books. Older toddlers, say in the 3 to 3-and-a-half age range, might be reluctant to use the potty and could benefit from a book that has more of a story to it.

As for potty training manuals for parents, there are a variety of philosophies and strategies out there. What will work best for your child will depend on a number of factors, so you might want to consider buying more than one so you have options before you dive into potty training with your child.

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1The best potty training book for young children

Alona Frankel has written and illustrated 30 children’s books, so let’s just say, she knows her audience. That comes in handy here when the subject is potty training. In Frankel’s One Upon A Potty, kids can follow Prudence as she learns about her own potty. This book is designed for kids as young as 1, so you can use it as an introduction to the whole potty training experience.

2The best rhyming potty training book

Karen Katz’s A Potty For Me! flap book features all the requisite moments of potty training (accidents, parents sitting on the regular toilet next to a child sitting on a training potty, and more) told in sweet and straightforward rhymes. Tots will instantly recognize the scenes in this potty training book which make it a great tool to use as they explore independent trips to the bathroom.

3The best humorous potty training book

When it comes to books for very little kids, sometimes the illustrations are more important than the words. That’s the case with Potty, Leslie Patricelli’s potty training book. In it, kids get to see the main character not only find the potty, but make their own choice to try it. They’re introduced to underwear and how it might be a surprise to discover they have to poop instead of pee. It covers it all in fun illustrations.

4The best potty training book for Daniel Tiger fans

Do you have a Daniel Tiger fan in your house? Then you must buy Daniel Goes To The Potty. Just like the accompanying TV episode, here our favorite feline learns all about going to the bathroom and to make it even more entertaining, there’s a button to make a flush sound built into the book! Show your child that they can be like their favorite cartoon character with this potty training book.

5The best potty training book for taboo-busting

The go-to kid potty training book since 1977, there’s a reason Everyone Poops has had such a great run. That’s because it’s really a body science book disguised as a children’s book. In it, author Taro Gomi explains how every creature on earth makes some kind of bowel movement, from bunnies to elephants. As it turns out, that’s a very powerful concept that can actually help encourage kids to learn to go on their own.

6The best potty training book for cartoon lovers

Think of this Time to Pee! as both a kid-potty training story and a parental guide. Designed by cartoonist Mo Willems, it helps kids think about listening to their bodies — a critical skill in potty training — to understand them know when to go. Plus, the illustrations are super fun and designed in the classic Mo Willems fashion. The only complaint some parents had was that this book encourages males to stand and females to sit, which is not a hard and fast rule. Some may have better success sitting at first.

7The best potty training book for fashionistas

Need to give your child some incentive for using the potty? There’s the old M&M tactic or a sticker strategy option. But how about just telling your child about the fun of trading in diapers for all kinds of exciting underwear? That’s part of the approach in Big Girl Panties. It’s a whole new window into fashion that some kinds will find fascinating and might help put your little potty trainer reach full time flushing status.

8The best potty training book for Elmo fans

Let’s call Elmo what the muppet is: an influencer. If you want your kid to do something, having Elmo do it first is always a convincing step. So it’s only natural that Potty Time With Elmo potty training book might yield big results. Kids will love how Elmo is training his doll, Baby David, to use the potty. Even better? The book features seven fun buttons that make flushing and washing sounds, as well as words of encouragement, that go along with the story.

9The best potty training book for kids who love fairy tales

A brilliant fractured fairytale, in this story Goldilocks is on the hunt for a potty that’s “just right.” Will she find it? Using mixed-media illustrations, follow Goldi on her quest — perhaps like your own little one’s — to locate the potty of her dreams and get some great new undies in the process in Goldilocks and Just the Right Potty.

10The best potty training book just for boys

Why not make potty training a celebration. That’s the angle Alyssa Satin Capucilli goes for in The Potty Book For Boys. When a big box arrives for Henry, he’s so excited. Might it be a new toy? A new rocking chair? Nope, it’s a potty! And that means that he’s become such a big boy, he can let go of his diapers and move on to using the toilet full-time. Kids will feel the excitement of their next big developmental milestone as they read this sweet and silly story.

11The best potty training book for kids who love stickers

Specifically designed for potty training girls, with Ready to Go! Toilet Time: A Training Kit for Girls by expert child psychologist and mother of two Dr. Janet Hall, parents can follow a brief 16 page guide. To achieve potty training success, the book comes with two reward charts and stickers, so parents have all the tools they need to make potty training fun and fulfilling for their daughter. As one Amazon critic put it, “Clear, concise, and sequenced perfectly — toddler loves it.”

12The best potty training book for straight-to-the-point instructions

“A must have! I'm just about done me reading the book and I'm super confident to start potty training,” writes one Walmart critic of Oh Crap! Potty Training. Not a bad sign. If there’s one thing parents are hoping for when they embark on potty training, it’s to do it right the first time. Accidents may happen, but the last thing any parent wants is to see their child regress to diapers. “Oh Crap!” promises to make that happen using a six-step plan for children 20–30 months old. Just follow the steps and author Jamie Glowacki says you can have your toddler potty trained in days.

13The best potty training book for a long weekend

Want to put a hard number on how long it’ll take to potty train? How about Potty Training in 3 Days? This potty training book blends psychology and step-by-step actions to help parents understand what’s going on in their child’s head while they get them restroom-ready. And with a 72% five star rating on Amazon, that method seems to pay off. As one critic wrote, “Finally something that worked for a stubborn 3 year old!”

14The best potty training book for a tear-free strategy

Tears, man. They’ll break your heart. Especially when it’s your child crying over having to use the toilet. Avoid the hysterics by opting for The No-Cry Potty Training Solution all about improving and boosting a child’s self-esteem while mastering potty training. As a bonus, this book also includes an essential list of bathroom safety checklists and childproofing strategies.

15The best potty training book for stressed parents

Two words parents love to hear: stress-free. That’s what this potty training book, Stress-Free Potty Training, promises. And delivers in a creative way. The book includes things like quizzes to help determine what potty training method will be best for their child. It also has sections to help determine a child’s readiness for potty training. In addition, it’s chock full of practical advice to clear away any potty training confusion.

Ready to invest in a potty training toilet and say bye bye to diapers for good. Urine for a treat (get it?) when you pick up any of these great potty training books for children and adults.