Potty Training Tips and Resources

How do you know when your child is ready for potty training? There are some tell-tale signs to look for to help make the essential milestone a successful experience.

In the early child care field, it’s also called “toilet training or toilet readiness.” It’s a skill your child will master over a period of time with the right support and resources.

When children learn to walk, they practice many foundational skills such as rolling, creeping, crawling, and cruising along furniture for stability before they actually take their first step. Learning to use the toilet is a lot like learning to walk because children need to master many different developmental steps before they are ready to use the toilet.

According to healthychildren.org, “In general, children show signs of bladder and bowel control between 18 and 24 months of age.” Each child is different, and, in some cases, children may show readiness signs earlier or later. Here are some things to look for that will help you know when your child is ready to begin the process:

Physical Readiness Signs

• Dry for at least two hours
• Aware of bowel and bladder fullness
• Has the gross and fine motor skills needed to get to the toilet on time, remove clothing, and get on and off the toilet 

Cognitive and Language Readiness Signs

• Able to follow simple directions and knows where things belong (knows that toys go in the toy box, shoes go in the closet, etc.)
• Can let you know when diapers or clothes are wet or soiled and ask to be changed
• Knows the words for using the toilet, and can tell an adult when they need to go
• Shows an interest in wearing underwear 

Emotional Readiness Signs

• Hides or finds a private place when soiling their diaper
• Shows interest in using the toilet (asks to sit on the toilet, likes to flush the toilet, plays with toilet paper, etc.)
• Curious and showing interest in other people’s toilet habits
• Wants to use the toilet
• Unafraid of the toilet

Once your child is ready, there are several things you can be mindful of to make the process a more positive learning experience. Doing so will help improve their success rate!

Let them be curious. Talk to your child about the items found in the bathroom, such as the toilet and sink. This helps to establish a level of comfort and ease. Sometimes children want to sit on the toilet fully clothed. Let them! This is an early sign of readiness. The only expectation here should be to familiarize your child with the bathroom.

Provide reassurance. Children are often either fascinated by the toilet or fearful of the noises it makes. Reassure your child that they are safe and only their body waste and the toilet paper are being flushed away. Invite them to flush the toilet on their own.

Let them mimic you. Pick a potty chair that is an appropriate size for your child and place it in the bathroom where you can help role-model proper use of the toilet.

Choose your words wisely. Use simple, straightforward words about the toilet learning process involving urination, bowel movements, and body parts.

Promote independence. Give your child a sense of participation, control, and independence by allowing them to pick out new underwear.

Inform with ease. Once your child is comfortable with the toilet and shows interest in using it, have them sit on the toilet for about a minute after a wet or soiled diaper has been taken off. Talk about how the toilet is a place where they can go instead of using their diaper.

Teach proper hygiene habits. Encourage your child to wipe and wash their hands with soap and water after using the toilet. Consider getting a fun soap dispenser that encourages healthy handwashing habits.

Be patient and keep trying. Encourage your child to sit on the toilet anytime and several times a day. Help them to remove or replace their diaper, as needed.

Watch for patterns. Pay attention to your child’s toileting times. It is a good idea to visit the toilet after waking up, after meals, before rest times, and at bedtime. When possible, devote specific times for toilet learning. Maintain the same routine for several weeks until your child develops a consistent pattern. Be attentive to your child’s body language such as squatting, grimacing, and other facial expressions that suggest a need to pee or poop.

Provide plenty of encouragement. Affirmation (“Yay, you tried! Thank you. Good job!”) is the best method of supporting a child’s success. 

Potty training requires teaching and strategy. It’s a natural progression of independence, but accidents will happen. It’s a natural part of learning as they work to master the complex task. If your child has an accident, calmly invite them to change their clothing and try again next time. It’s important to remain positive. Celebrate your child’s efforts, be optimistic when they sit on the toilet, and remain encouraging even if they do not use the toilet. Be sure to celebrate each successful toilet trip with extra praise!

Experts recommend against the use of rewards like candy, stickers, or toys because the motivation wears off and can create power struggles. Instead, sharing verbal praise has the best long-term success on your child’s sense of accomplishment.

The keys to successful toilet learning are communication, consistency, and kindness. Your goal is to make this stage in development a positive learning experience!

Here are some books and helpful online resources you can try:

• Let’s Go to the Potty! A Potty Training Book for Toddlers by Allison Jandu
• We Poop on the Potty! by Little Grasshopper Books
• Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty by Leigh Hodgkinson
• The New Potty by Gina and Mercer Mayer 
• The Right Age to Toilet Train
• Choosing a Potty

This article was drafted by our in-house Education Team and reviewed by LCG Education Advisory Board member Dr. Seth Scholer, a Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Center.