Kylie Kelce, co-host of the podcast Not Gonna Lie and mother of four, has opened up about her experiences with potty training her daughters in a recent interview with PEOPLE. In discussing the topic, she revealed that there’s one popular potty training method that her family chose to avoid.
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She and her husband, Jason Kelce, a professional football player, share four daughters: Wyatt, 6, Elliotte, 5, Bennett, 3, and Finn, who is just 13 months old. In her conversation, Kylie reflected on well-intentioned advice she received from acquaintances regarding the “naked weekend” approach to potty training, which involves letting children go without diapers for a weekend and allowing them to learn through trial and error.
However, Kylie made it clear that this method was not suitable for her family. “I actually had more than one person recommend the naked weekend,” she explained. “The idea is to just go for it and, yes, accidents will happen, but in time, they’ll learn.”
Despite the popularity of this method among some parents, Kylie found it unpalatable due to her own concerns. “My germophobia kicks in at the idea of them possibly having an accident somewhere in the house without me knowing. It was too much to handle,” she stated emphatically. “That was going to be a no for me. I know it has worked for other families, but it wasn’t going to work for us.”
Instead of the naked weekend strategy, Kylie offered her own recommendation for successful potty training. She emphasised the importance of setting a timer to regularly check in on her children’s progress. “I think the timer is the best piece of advice because I myself, much like my second child, get wrapped up in things and completely forget about other tasks,” she shared.
Kylie suggested setting the timer for 45-minute intervals. “It may sound excessive, and it certainly can be, but those long days with the 45-minute reminders were essential,” she explained. “You can occasionally stretch it to an hour, but it’s important to consider their liquid intake.”
She described her method as an invitation for her children to try using the potty rather than a directive. “It works because it’s that constant check-in of just, ‘Do you think maybe we should try?’” she noted. Instead of saying, “You must do this,” she positioned it as, “Let’s see if we can give it a go.” This gentle encouragement helped create a more positive atmosphere around potty training.
Kylie’s approach demonstrates her commitment to finding a method that aligns with her family’s needs while also considering her own boundaries. By actively seeking out solutions that honour both her parenting style and her children’s experiences, she is paving her own path in what can be a challenging phase for many parents.
Through her partnership with Pull-Ups Learning Layer diapers, Kylie hopes to share insights that could assist families as they embark on the journey of potty training. The glowing feedback from other parents reflects that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and what works for one family may not work for another.
Ultimately, Kylie’s message resonates with many: while there are myriad methods and advice available for potty training, it is essential for parents to choose what feels right for their own family. With an informed and flexible approach, Kylie is navigating this parenting milestone in a way that prioritises both her comfort and her children’s growth.