Training our daughter went differently than training our son, mostly because every child has their own signs and pace. Here are the things that helped most.

Our daughter did a deep squat when she needed to go. Once we knew that, we'd say, "Let's go potty," and walk her there right away. Your daughter might squat, hide, go quiet, cross her legs or wiggle. Watch for a day or two and you'll see a pattern.

This is one of the most important habits for girls. Wiping front to back helps prevent germs from spreading and lowers the chance of infections.

• Show her how, and help her at first
• Make it part of the routine every time: potty, wipe front to back, flush, wash hands
• Flushable wipes can help little hands get clean at first

A step stool under her feet helps her sit relaxed and steady, which makes it easier to go, especially for poop. We used a seat on the big toilet with a stool.

"Let's go potty." "Pee and poop go in the potty." Everyone in her day should use the same words, including daycare and grandparents.

Like a lot of toddlers, our kids found poop harder than pee. They'd hold it or we'd miss the moment. Bath time helped: we'd sit her on the potty just before bath, when she was relaxed. If she went after the bath, that was okay.

If she's often constipated or it seems to hurt, check in with your pediatrician.

Our daughter had a slight regression after we moved and she started a new daycare. The fix was consistency. Once her routine was steady again, the accidents faded. If your daughter has a setback after a big change, it's normal. Go back to basics and stay calm.

If she complains that it burns or hurts when she pees, is going much more often than usual, or suddenly has lots of accidents, call your pediatrician. These can be signs of a urinary tract infection, which is more common in girls and easy to treat.

A sticker chart and a big "Good job!" with a hug made every success feel huge. Keep it fun and low-pressure.

Our free Potty Training Starter Kit includes a cue tracker and sticker chart. The Prep-First Potty Plan includes 7 printables and a full one-week plan.