Only 5 (Type Of) Things You Need To Potty Train Your 4-Year-Old!

So, you are all set to start potty training your 4-year-old? But do you have all the supplies in your hand? Do you know what exactly you need?

I will list all the essential things (only 5) you must have in hand when you start potty training your preschooler.

After that, I will list many nice-to-have items that will make potty training easier.

Essential items for potty training big kids:

These are the products/supplies that are absolutely necessary to potty train your kid.

Potty Training Seat/potty chair
Training pants (lots of them)
Rewards
Cleaning supplies Potty training cleaning supplies
Mattress protector sheet / disposable bed mats

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1- Potty Training Seat/potty chair:

The very first and the most important thing to have is “a Potty seat or a potty chair” for your kid.

4-year-olds are still too little to use a regular toilet. So they need a separate system for them.

You can either opt for a potty chair that you can place at any place in the house, or you can get a potty seat that you can put on a regular toilet to make it suitable for a 4-year-old.

I already have a complete list of the best available potty seats and chairs for 4-year-olds; you can find it here.

What I can recommend is the 711TEK Potty Training Seat. It’s perfect for my 4-year-old daughter. It’s easy for the kid to step up on it and use it.

And for potty chairs, we have Regalo 2-in-1 My Little Potty Training & Transition Potty; the best part about this potty chair is that; you can initially use it as a chair, and once your kid is potty trained, you can remove the upper part and place it on the regular toilet to use as a kid potty seat.

2- Training pants (lots of them):

When potty training, the child should be wearing training pants. These pants lie between the diaper and normal underwear. The child will feel that they are wearing underwear, but you know that these can absorb the accidents before your kid can reach the toilet.

But training pants don’t mean that you can let your child urinate in them and then keep playing. You have to remove it immediately and take the kid to the toilet.

It’s just about saving you from cleaning a whole lot of mess.

The training pants are easy to pull up and down, just like regular underwear, so they are easy to use during potty training. They are smooth and come in various designs to build your kid’s interest.

Have a bunch of training pants so you can change them immediately after an accident. (Don’t worry; they are washable)

3- Potty training cleaning supplies:

No matter how careful you are, you can still expect to clean a lot. You MUST have all your cleaning supplies nearby, so you don’t have to run at that time.

Here’s the list of most important potty training cleaning supplies:

Clorox Urine Remover for Stains & Odors (shop now on Amazon)
Paper towels
Disinfectant spray (shop now on Amazon)
Flushable wipes
Clothing detergent

4- Mattress protector sheet / disposable bed mats:

You need something to put under your kid (especially when he is sleeping). Look! If your kid has a potty accident on the carpet, couch, or mattress, it’s way hard to clean them.

So, to be on the safe side, I always suggest putting disposable bed mats under the child where he sits and a water-proof mattress protector sheet or bed mats under his bedsheet when potty training him at night.

If you don’t have a waterproof mattress protector sheet or disposable bed mats, you can buy them here: (on Amazon)

5- Rewards:

Whether the child is a toddler or a preschooler, rewards work as an essential tool to potty train your kid.

You will have to reward your child with something exciting after every successful trip to the bathroom. A happy (and willing) child is very easy to potty train.

Try to give fewer eatables as rewards; go for non-edible rewards. Because if you give plenty of candies and chocolates as a prize, the kid may not eat a regular meal, which can eventually cause constipation.

Here are a few reward ideas for 4-year-olds:

Slime
Play-dough
Stickers
Crayons
Coloring books
Color pencils
Bubbles
Stamps

Non-Essential But helpful Potty Training products:

Now is the list of products that are not absolutely necessary, but if you can get them, they will help you (and your kid) a lot.

Potty training books
Travel potty
Potty Training dolls
Progress charts
Faucet extender
Step stool

1- Potty Training Books for kids:

You can easily find many good potty training books for kids that will make your child more interested in the process.

Story books are the first love of 4-year-olds. Telling them stories or showing board books will encourage your 4-year-old to start using the toilet instead of the diaper.

Here are a few fun books for your 4-year-old.