Potty Training While Working from Home (Without Losing Your Sh*t)
Let’s just go ahead and say it: potty training while working from home is its own special brand of W. T. F.
In the grand scheme of things, pee hasn’t been our biggest issue. I won’t lie and say it was easy — my son literally dipped (and tried eating) a chicken nugget in his own pee once — but it only took a few soggy accidents for him to realize he didn’t like feeling wet and cold.
What actually helped us turn a corner was motivation. Specifically, Papa. I always say my son had an umbilical cord attached to my dad too — he was the most active in my belly when Papa came over to watch car shows, and ever since then, Papa has been his person.
So what started as a joke — printing out a “Papa Potty Chart” — became a household legend. It showed Papa giving a big thumbs up every time he used the potty. My son thought it was hilarious… and it worked. We found our groove. Peeing on the potty became part of the routine. I thought, “Okay, I’ve nailed this!”
Then came the poop.
Poop is a whole other monster.
I know we’re not the only ones. I’ve seen the Reels. I’ve heard the stories. Kids hiding their poop like it’s a precious gem. Lying about needing to go. Holding it for days.
In our house, we hit a low point — or maybe a high one, depending on how you see it. On a sunny April afternoon, my son decided to poop in the backyard because “the dog does it.” And, just like I pick up RoRo’s poop, he thought I might want his too. So there I was, enjoying a breeze, when I was gifted — by the tiniest hands and sweetest smile — a fresh pile of boy poop.
And thus began our Poop Saga™. Ever since, it’s been a daily symphony of scrubbing the kid, the bathroom, and myself. I’ve whispered “Are you pooping?!” during Teams calls. I’ve thrown rugs back in the wash within minutes. I’ve wandered the house wondering, “What is that smell?” only to find dried poop on my shirt.
If any of this feels familiar: you’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong. Potty training really is this hard.
But here’s the good news: you can get through it. With a little planning, flexibility, and humor, you’ll survive this stage — and maybe even keep most of your sanity intact. (I say that as someone still in the trenches with you.)
Set Reasonable Expectations (for You and Your Kid)
Rule number one: set expectations. Not just for your kid, but for yourself too.
Potty training is not a sprint — it's a marathon. Sure, the “3-Day Method” posts on Pinterest look tempting, but for most of us, time + consistency + repetition works far better.
Trying to force fast progress can backfire. You start thinking, “If it worked for them, it should work for us,” and when it doesn’t, you’re left frustrated. That frustration builds into resentment — especially when layered with deadlines, meetings, and toddler chaos.
Start with this truth: this season is hard, and your potty training plan needs to work for your child first and everything else second.
I’ve felt that guilt — the “I should be doing more for work” guilt. I once told my husband, during a major burnout, “I feel like I’m two people: Work Me and Mom Me — and I’m being pulled apart.”
So if you’re stuck between Slack notifications and wiping butts, I see you. And I promise, it’s okay to put your child first. You can still get the job done — just with a better system.
You Need a System — and Permission
One thing I’ve learned? We are often our own worst critics.
I recently chatted with a coworker (a mom of 3!) who I thought had everything together. But she came to me for advice — worried about returning to work and asking for a raise. I told her the motto I live by now:
“I modify my work-life around my priorities, not the other way around.”
In other words: I work to live — not live to work.
You can choose your child. You can design a system that supports your family first. The rest will follow.
Planning Like a Project Manager (Because I Am One)
I haven’t shared this before, but I’m a project manager. So I tend to think of big life events — potty training included — like a project.
There’s a beginning, middle, and end. (Yes, an end. Keep that in mind the next time you’re wiping poop off a wall — someday, this will be over.)
Pre-Planning
Before diving in, do your research:
Know your child’s natural rhythms (wake times, naps, eating, and bathroom habits)
Understand your work schedule and when you’ll need more flexibility
Track things for a few days — pee/poop times, accidents, behaviors. Don’t stress about perfection. This is just to give you data you can actually work with.
Tools You Might Need
Every child is different, but here are the things that helped us:
Potty chart (personalized with something they love — ours was Papa!)
Underwear drawer in the bathroom
Step stool for handwashing
Wipes + cleaning supplies within arm’s reach
Extra clothes for your child and yourself
Books or songs to keep them seated on the potty
Our pediatrician told me that mini toilets can be a crutch — and sometimes delay using a real toilet. But if it works for you, go for it! We use a potty chair that sits on top of the regular toilet.
Let’s Talk Rewards
Rewards don’t have to be sugar-filled or expensive. Think:
Stickers
Favorite snacks
Special time on the tablet or TV
A toy from the Dollar Store for hitting a big milestone
The key is celebrating progress. My son’s first unprompted potty trip earned him a monster truck. His first poop in the toilet? A cupcake. Rewards are fluid (no pun intended). What works today may not work next week — that’s okay.
Sync Potty Breaks with Your Workday
You can’t hover 24/7 — and you shouldn’t. So work potty breaks into your normal routines:
Before you sit down for work
After meals and snacks
Before or after meetings
When you take your own bathroom break
Set timers if needed. Sometimes I say, “Let’s both take a potty break!” so it feels like a shared goal, not a chore.
Accidents Are Part of the Process
Accidents will happen. Probably today. Maybe while you're reading this.
Respond with calm:
“Oops, we didn’t make it this time. That’s okay. We’ll try again later.”
I kept a little clean-up station near my desk: wipes, spray, fresh clothes. It wasn’t glamorous, but it saved me many a meltdown (mine and his).
Tools to Stay Sane
Some things that helped me stay human during the roughest days:
Potty-time videos (YouTube has some gems)
Special toys or books just for potty breaks
Sensory bins or snack trays nearby during work
Pull-ups during meetings or tough days (survival mode is real)
Knowing when to hit pause and try again next week
Taking a break is not quitting. It’s parenting with grace.
Grace, Mama. Grace.
Everything feels urgent in this season. Your child’s development. Your inbox. The laundry.
But take a breath.
It’s okay to cry. To laugh. To text a friend “this is f*cking ridiculous.” You’re doing something hard — and you’re doing it while holding a thousand other pieces together.
That matters. You matter.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone
If you’re reading this in pajama pants, clutching a potty chart in one hand and a laptop in the other — I see you.
Potty training while working from home is chaotic. It’s real. It’s sticky (sometimes literally). But it will end.
And when it does, I hope you remember: you did it. You are doing it. You’re not alone.
Drop your questions, tips, or hilarious war stories in the comments — we’re in this together. 💪
