Get a potty chair, or if you already have one out, put it in
hiding.
Every single parent who has attended my class has made the “put the
pot out so they can get used to it” mistake. If you haven’t put it out,
don’t. If you have and your child has only ever used it to pee and poop
in, you may leave it out. If the potty chair has been used for anything
else besides peeing and pooping, put it away.
I also don’t suggest letting your child pick her own potty chair.
They’ll inevitably pick one with bells and whistles, and you don’t
need that. This isn’t a toy. Personally, I’m a huge fan of the
BabyBjörn potty chairs. If your child asks to use the potty chair
between now and your selected start date, go ahead and let him. So,
say you’ve set a start date for two weeks from now. He’s been using
the potty, but inconsistently. Still, it’s in the bathroom and has not
become any sort of toy. You can leave it out. During the two weeks
between now and your start date, if he asks to use it, let him. But
don’t make a big deal about it. Just say, “Thank you for using the
potty.” You are not going to mention potty training. You are not
going to give accolades. Just go with a simple thank you or a
reflection back to him: “You used the potty chair to pee in. Thank
you.”
Clear your social calendar for a week, starting with your
start date.
Just to clarify, let’s say you’ve decided to start potty training in two