How to Potty Train a Toddler: A Calm, Step-by-Step Guide
Potty training goes best when you start from readiness, not a calendar. Here's how to spot the signs, set up the days, and handle accidents without drama.
By JULIMay 2, 20268 min
Author
JULI
Certified Early Childhood Educator & Parenting Writer
Certified Early Childhood Educator (ECE)Background in Developmental Psychology10+ years working with child-development specialists
About JULI
JULI is a certified early childhood educator with over a decade of experience working alongside child-development specialists, pediatric therapists, and classroom teachers across South Florida. Grounded in developmental psychology, she has spent years studying the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the CDC, and leading peer-reviewed journals — then translating that research into the kind of warm, plain-language advice that actually reaches parents in the middle of a hard evening. Her writing covers the full arc of early childhood: big feelings, toddler behavior, bedtime battles, picky eating, sibling dynamics, and the everyday moments that shape how kids grow. She believes the best parenting advice should feel like a knowledgeable friend talking you down off the ceiling at 7pm — evidence-based, honest, and never judgmental.
How JULI writes
Every article starts with a real question parents are actually asking, then pairs what child-development experts recommend with the messy reality of family life. The goal is never to lecture — it's to leave you with one or two things you can genuinely try, and the reassurance that you're doing better than you think.
Articles by JULI
How to Help Your Child Make Friends
Friendship skills can be taught and practiced. Here's how to coach the small social moves, set up low-pressure playdates, and support a shy or struggling child.
By JULIApr 28, 20267 min
Picky Eater Toddler? Calm, Practical Mealtime Help
Picky eating peaks in toddlerhood for good developmental reasons. The fix isn't pressure — it's a calm structure that lowers the stakes and slowly grows the menu.
By JULIApr 20, 20267 min
Building a Calm Toddler Bedtime Routine That Works
A predictable, calming wind-down is the closest thing to a bedtime cheat code. Here's a simple routine, the right timing, and gentle fixes for stalling and wakeups.
By JULIApr 15, 20267 min
Separation Anxiety in Toddlers: A Gentle Guide
Tears at drop-off are a sign of healthy attachment, not a problem to fix. Here's how to make goodbyes calmer for both of you — and why the quick exit really does help.
By JULIApr 2, 20267 min
How to Build Self-Esteem in a Child (the Real Kind)
Real self-esteem isn't built on constant praise — it's built on competence, effort, and being loved as you are. Here's how to grow the durable kind of confidence.
By JULIMar 18, 20267 min
How to Stop Sibling Rivalry and Build a Real Bond
You can't end every squabble, but you can lower the temperature. Here's how to handle sibling conflict fairly and help your kids build a bond that lasts.
By JULIMar 12, 20267 min
How to Talk to Kids About Feelings (So They Open Up)
Kids who can name what they feel handle it better. Here's how to build emotional vocabulary and respond so your child actually opens up — instead of shutting down.
By JULIFeb 11, 20266 min
How to Handle Toddler Tantrums Without Losing Your Cool
Tantrums aren't bad behavior — they're a small brain overwhelmed. Here's a calm 5-step way to respond, plus how to head them off before they start.
By JULIFeb 4, 20267 min
How to Teach Emotional Regulation to a Child
Self-control isn't something kids are born with — it's taught, mostly through your calm. Here's how co-regulation, naming feelings, and simple tools build it over time.
By JULIJan 30, 20268 min
Positive Discipline Techniques That Actually Work
Positive discipline means firm limits with warmth — not letting everything slide. Here are the techniques that teach behavior instead of just punishing it.
By JULIJan 21, 20268 min