We’ve all been there – in the midst of raising your kids, you’ve likely stumbled across a parenting dilemma that made you think, there really needs to be a better way to manage this. Maybe it was just a thought, or maybe you came up with a great idea to solve the dilemma. Either way, the thought of moving forward with your thought or idea probably makes you a little nauseous when you consider all that’s involved.

You likely have a million thoughts running through your head. “I can’t do this,” “I have no time to invent something,” “No one would even buy my invention” and “I have no idea how to move forward with my idea.” After all, bringing a product to market is a huge endeavor.

Despite these thoughts, rest assured that hundreds of other parent inventors have felt the same way yet they have pushed forward to bring to market a solution that makes parenting easier and are now successfully running or have sold a lucrative business. If you’re like I was and have no idea where to start, here are some valuable lessons I’ve learned throughout my process of developing the Potty Wiz.

1.  Get inspired.

One of my favorite things to do as an inventor is peruse the hundreds of products created by moms and dads. I spend days just browsing all of the ingenious inventions. Doing this has certainly inspired my own invention as it opens up your mind to think about all of the possibilities. It also solidifies that your idea just might work, despite your self-doubts.

A good place to find these inventions is through browsing the Huggies MomInspired grant program website where you can read about all of the past years’ winners. You can also find some inspiration by googling “successful mom inventors.” Other good resources to browse for inspiration are Mompreneur Mogul, The Mogul Mom, Mom Invented and Mompreneur Media.

2.  Reflect on your own parenting issues.

The best product ideas are derived from a person’s own personal experiences. This is especially true when inventing juvenile products. Most of the time, there is a problem the parent faces when parenting that there is no existing solution for – so the parent creates the solution.

To help you pinpoint this problem, think back through your parenting journey. What problem did you face that could be solved with a simple solution that doesn’t currently exist? Is the problem a common problem that would be experienced by other parents? For example, I created the Potty Wiz as a solution to my own problems potty training my son. There were no products on the market that made potty training easier on both of us, so I designed the solution.

Be sure to check the market to make sure your idea doesn’t already exist before wasting any more time. You can do this by searching on Google, but you should also search Google patents and go through all relevant patents for further confirmation that your idea is unique.

3.  Invest in a provisional patent.

After you have come up with that really great idea, have determined there’s a need for that idea through consumer research and have made sure the product doesn’t already exist or infringe on an existing product, I highly recommend investing in a utility patent or a design patent. A utility patent protects the utility of your idea while a design patent protects the ornamental aspects of your idea. This can get confusing so you can read more here.

If you plan to pursue a utility patent, it might be in your best interest to first submit a provisional patent application. This provisional application is less cumbersome and less expensive and protects your idea for a full year. After a year’s time, and once you determine how you want to move forward with your invention, you can choose to file for a full utility patent or trash the idea. Design patents do not offer the provisional aspect, however, so make sure before you file for a design patent that your design is exactly how you want it produced. Otherwise, it will be useless.

Many people will tell you not to waste money on a patent but I disagree. If you don’t you most certainly risk someone else coming up with the same idea and capitalizing on it right away and you will lose out. I’ve seen it many times.

4.  Take advantage of freelance websites.

One of the toughest parts of developing a product is finding a good product designer and a good manufacturing facility. I’ve talked to so many inventors who have just cold-called people all over the world, who have hired a liaison to find them an expert in another country, who have experienced so much stress and confusion associated with finding a designer and a manufacturing facility.

My golden nugget for developing a product on a budget has been freelance websites. I found my product designer on Freelancer.com who was also able to recommend a great manufacturing facility that he has worked with many times in the past. These freelance sites allow you to post your job and receive proposals from high-rated contractors/company representatives all over the world.

5.  Consider hiring abroad.

I know more than anyone that many inventors want to hire within the United States. They want a product designer and manufacturing facility based in America. However, what many inventors and startups don’t realize is just how much of a discrepancy there is in pricing between outsourcing projects or working within the United States. When I talk about discrepancy, I’m talking about 10-100 thousand dollar discrepancies. For a solo inventor or startup, the budget simply may not accommodate staying within the United States.

To ensure you’re being as precautious as you can when outsourcing, I recommend using established freelance sites as mentioned in the last point. You can also seek assistance from other small businesses in your industry to see what companies they work through. Another option is using LinkedIn to search for reputable manufacturing companies and product designers in various countries.

Inventing and bringing a product to market is going to be one of the most arduous processes of your life, while also being the most rewarding and fulfilling journeys. Good luck, we can’t wait to see your product on the shelves!

Kaylee Wickline is founder of the Potty Wiz, a multifunctional and transitional potty chair that accommodates the unique needs of both girls and boys unlike any other product on the market. Kaylee’s company is committed to manufacturing innovative products that making potty training a simple, convenient, autonomous, stress and mess-free experience. Kaylee is also a writer, speaker and advocate for women in business.

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1.  Explain potty training just like you do anything else.

It’s important to remember that for the first two or so years of his life, peeing and pooping in a diaper was just the way the world worked. Now that you’re ready to potty train him, you can’t just expect him to understand why, all of a sudden, he has to pee in a weird bowl. It’s a good idea to start out by introducing him to his area a few weeks before the onset of potty training and explain what it is and what it’s used for. Do so in a fun way by making up a rhyme or telling him a story. There are also plenty of toilet training books available that are geared toward boys that you can start introducing him to prior to potty training.

2.  Don’t push sitting or standing. Give them a choice.

Many experts will tell you to start the potty training process with boys sitting down. This is because it’s believed to eliminate the confusion associated with sitting and standing. However, this doesn’t apply to all boys, just like not all boys like peanut butter and jelly. It’s important to give your boy a choice between sitting and standing and find out what works best for him. Boys are designed to urinate standing, so it makes sense that not all boys want to sit down. Plus, they’ve most likely seen dad standing in the bathroom, so they might be more curious to do the deed just like him. Get a potty chair that makes sitting and standing simple, comfortable and fun, like the Potty Wiz.

3.  Give him a role model right away.

You show your son how to eat, how to sleep, how to play – why wouldn’t you show them how to urinate both sitting and standing? At the onset of potty training, whether it’s mom or dad, show him how to do the process both ways. If dad isn’t around, take a water bottle and pretend you’re peeing standing up. Like anything else, he needs to be shown.

4.  Be aware of genital injuries due to training on the adult toilet.

Believe it or not, the toilet your little boy is afraid of can actually pose a health risk. Genital injuries due to falling toilet seats are not uncommon, in fact, the risk seems to be increasing. Between 2002 and 2010, researchers found the number of emergency room visits for toilet-related injuries to the penis increased by about 100 visits each year.

To prevent this, use a small kid-size potty chair when training a child to stand and, if you do decide to use the toilet seat, ensure the child stands on a non-skid stool so his anatomy is out of the range of the falling toilet seat lid. You can also invest in a soft-close seat and lid.

5.  Make it a game.

Boys love a good game more than anything, especially when it comes to potty training. If they find something boring or stressful, they’re going to give it up faster than last night’s cooked carrots. You need to ensure the process is fun and stress-free. You can use a cool potty training chart like ours, invest in a potty training board game, make up a potty song to sing while going, or toss cereal pieces in the pot as an aiming tool and offer rewards and incentives for hitting the mark. There are plenty of ways to make potty training fun for your boy.

6.  Buy a potty training doll.

We’re talking about a boy doll or even a stuffed animal that accompanies your child to the potty every time he goes and makes him feel comforted. There are plenty on the market, but some favorites are the Potty Monkey and the Potty Scotty dolls. Having a potty companion that they help “teach” to go potty will make them feel more autonomous and encouraged.

7.  Forget the underwear and the pants and pick up some carpet cleaner.

The best approach to potty training is investing a lot of carpet cleaner and skipping the pants and underwear when possible. This allows your boy to realize when he’s made an accident and see the result of it rather that it getting absorbed into clothing. Truthfully, this is probably going to take a few months of pants-free evenings and weekends, but your time will pay off in the end.

8.  Do your product research.

This is one of the most important tips. Please be aware that not all products are made the same and a cool character design or color should not be mistaken for practicality. A good chair or other tool will probably cost you a little more initially, but save you a lot of stress, mess and money because you won’t need to buy follow up products. We highly recommend adding a travel potty to your shopping list.

9.  Consider purchasing a multifunctional potty seat designed for boys.

The Potty Wiz, which can be pre-ordered now on Kickstarter, is a good option for a multifunctional seat because it’s a potty chair that accommodates a young boy in the sitting and standing position, rids training of stress and mess, and encourages autonomy in all stages of potty training. Not only does the Potty Wiz work when sitting or standing, it also allows a young child to urinate naturally standing, without the need to learn how to aim at such a young age. It also features a built-in target, so when the child is ready to aim, it makes the process a fun and rewarding game.

10.  Don’t stress

Kids know when parents are stressed. And the worst time to be stressed is when potty training your boy. He will feel your stress, it will make him stressed and there’s a good chance it will make the process harder. Remember, it’s a process and an important life skill and he’ll master it eventually.

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