The Messy Truth About Potty Training

Potty training has been sold to parents as a finish line — three days, one weekend, no more diapers. But what if that’s the wrong way to think about it? In this episode, Laura Birek, co-author of Good to Go: A Fresh Take on Potty Training for Today’s Intentional Parent, explains why potty training isn’t a binary, why “naked weekends” don’t work for every family, and how a rehearsal period can ease kids (and parents) into the process. We talk about readiness, deadlines, daycare pressures, and why social media has made potty training so much harder than it needs to be.

If you’re in the trenches — or about to be — this conversation will change the way you think about one of parenting’s messiest milestones.

Laura’s new book Good to Go is out October 2, 2025 from Bloomsbury and available for preorder now.

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