Potty training for real life
Potty training, without the power struggle.
A calm, child-led plan you can start on a normal week. No clearing your calendar for three days required!
Somebody probably told you there's a right way to do this. Stay home for three days and it's done by Sunday. Or wait, don't push, they'll get there when they get there.
I've watched both pieces of advice land on tired parents like a verdict. There's a middle path. It's the one I've used at home, and the one I share with every friend who texts me in a panic.
"I feel like I got my daughter potty trained in a day, thanks to Emma."
Jess, mom of 2, 3 & 6mo
Every child's timeline is different. The goal is less stress, not a race.
Hi, I'm Emma
I've been on the bathroom floor too.
I've been in Montessori since I was eight weeks old, tucked in a sling while my mom taught in her classroom. Since then I've been a Montessori teacher, a school director, and now a Montessori teacher educator. Toilet learning has been part of my work for years, in the classroom and with the families I coach.
I'm also a mom. I've stood on my own bathroom floor covered in pee at 7am. I've let two potty windows pass because I just couldn't add one more thing to my plate, and trusted a third would come. It did!
So I know the philosophy, and I know what it looks like on a regular day, in the middle of whatever is actually happening at your house. That's where I like to meet you.
AMS Early Childhood Credential · M.S. Leadership Development · Co-Director, Montessori Teacher Academy
My approach
The Real Life Approach
Montessori means we follow the child, not a calendar. And I'll be honest, the three-days-at-home crowd is right about one thing: half committing drags this out. So I blend the two. I call it the Real Life Approach.
Underwear at home, a named pull-up out.
Real progress without canceling your week.
The potty lives in your rhythm.
Less asking, fewer battles.
The timer does the asking.
You and your child end up on the same side.
Accidents are information.
Your child learns from them, without the shame.
The goal isn't dry underwear by Friday. It's a child who trusts their own body, and a relationship that comes out of this stronger.
Free live workshop
Let's Potty Talk
Toilet Learning for Real Life
Thursday, October 15 · 12:00pm Pacific · 60 minutes · Live on Zoom · FREE!
Grab your lunch and come hang out! I'll walk you through the Real Life Approach, from the first signs of readiness to naps, nights, and the kid who says no every single time. Then I'll coach you through whatever is going on with your little one.
Just starting to wonder, or three weeks in and stuck? All are welcome!
What we'll cover
- How to tell if your child is ready (and what to do if they're not yet)
- The Real Life Approach, for busy weeks
- Accidents, pushback, and regressions
- Live Q&A with me
You'll get a calendar invite with the Zoom link right away. Can't make it live? Register anyway and I'll send you the replay.
Free download
The One Page Potty Plan
Everything you need to get started, on one page you can stick on the fridge.
- The signs your child is ready (you only need three or four!)
- What to get, and what you can skip
- Your daily rhythm, one moment at a time
- What to say when accidents happen
Send me the plan
It'll land in your inbox right away. Unsubscribe anytime.
The complete guide
Let's Potty Guide
a realistic and flexible approach to potty training
The One Page Potty Plan gets you started. The Let's Potty Guide walks you through the Real Life Approach step by step, so you're never guessing what comes next.
Work with me 1:1
Want someone in it with you?
A guide covers most of this. Your child is the rest. If you'd love a plan made for your family (and someone to text when it gets messy!), I'd love to coach you through it.
1:1 Potty Coaching Session
$250
60 minutes · Zoom or phone
We'll look at where you are, what you've tried, and what's getting in the way. You'll leave with a plan made for your child and your week.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What age is this for?
Is this only for Montessori families?
My child is in school or daycare. Will this still work?
How long does it take?
Where should I start?
They'll get there.
They always do.
And you don't have to figure it out alone.
