14 Secrets to Potty-Training Success

Only the potty at home will do

What's going on: Kids take comfort in the familiar -- so the weird noises and smells and strangers in the other stalls can very well make your new potty user nervous. Holding it till he gets home is, to him, a small price to pay for security.

Make every potty feel more like home. Get a travel potty seat and have your child customize it with stickers. Practice using it at home first, Crane suggests, and then when you're out, make the bathroom the first stop, if you can. Your child can test out his special seat on the new toilet and make sure it "works" before he needs to go.

Turn bathroom trips into adventures. A kid who's skeptical of a new bathroom might be compelled to test out how the sink works, count the number of stalls, or listen to the flusher. That way, it's not just about the pressure to go on the potty, and he might feel comfortable giving it a try.

Pack some Post-its. Those loud, scary self-flushing toilets are often to blame for potty phobia. A quick fix: Stick a Post-it over the toilet's electric eye until your child's finished and heading out of the stall.

Plus:
How to Potty Train in a Week
Best Potty Training Products
Potty Training: Girls vs. Boys