13 Tricks That Will Make Potty Training Your Kid a Breeze

"Poop is the hardest thing about potty training," Glowacki says. "There's a lot of fear and anxiety around it. Kids sit and they can't release."

To help, Glowacki has a list of things to try, the first of which is Play-Doh. Sometimes, a child needs to see what pooping looks like. The best (admittedly gross way) is Play-Doh. She also suggests having a child blow bubbles or sing a song. "Singing loosens the lips, which loosens the sphincter, just like in childbirth," she says.

Sometimes, an otherwise potty-trained child will request a diaper when it's time for No. 2. Try not to give in, Glowacki says. "It's a habit. A child who can request a diaper is aware of the feeling. They want the conditions to be right for them. They have some fear and anxiety and they don't know what to do. You need to work through that."

Once your little one does poop, you're left to dispose of the mess if you're using a toddler potty. ("Oh, fun!" said no parent ever.) Make it easier with this tip from the blog, Mama Frankenstein: Set a coffee filter in the potty, so all you need to do is pop the filter into the diaper pail. Boom.

Some kids work well with a reward system. To potty train her tricky toddler, Laura Rossi, who previously wrote the blog My So-Called Sensory Life, motivated him with a clear jar filled with prizes, like Matchbox Cars, that he got to pick from each time he pooped. Make sure you let your child see, touch, and discuss the jar, Rossi adds. Then leave it where the child can see — and associate it with going potty.

Experts will tell you not to bribe your toddler with sweets. Other parents will tell you that the time will come when you'll have to bribe your toddler with sweets. Translation? Use rewards like lollipops or M&Ms judiciously and consider a different option if you're not entirely comfortable with a candy-based reward.

If your kid loves to have a goal, create a chart and make it a game. This is a great way to keep track for the prize jar, too.

When kids use an adult-size toilet, make sure they have a stool for their feet. Not only will it help them get up onto the seat, it'll be something for them to brace against if they have to poop. Plus, it's generally more comfortable.

When it's time to wash hands, you'll want to make sure they can actually reach the water! You can buy a fun faucet extender, or make your own out of an empty shampoo or soap bottle. Kids love that it looks like a little water slide.

To keep bored kids on the ivory throne long enough, give them washable or dry-erase markers and let them color on the lid while sitting on the toilet backwards. (First, test markers on a small area of the lid to make sure they wipe off.) A bonus: Turning kids backwards means less likelihood of sprays and messes.

Or just bask in its cuteness. When mom Stacia Wright posted this ditty in the midst of potty training her 2-year-old, it understandably went viral.

Once you've mastered the potty skills at home, you've got to bring them into the real world. Depending on your destination, some extra gear might help. You might want to buy a foldable travel seat cover to make a public toilet smaller for little kids, or a portable potty that comes with disposable bags if you find yourself in a situation where there are no public bathrooms at hand.