Answers to 11 Common Questions About Potty Training Readiness

Potty training is one of the most exciting milestones for kids and parents—no more diapers! But it can also be a time of frustration and confusion. Not all kids will take to potty training quickly or even at the same age.

We've compiled answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about signs of potty training readiness. Read on to figure out if your child is ready to take the big leap or if you should wait a wee bit longer.

When Is the Earliest You Can Start Potty Training?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you can begin conventional potty training as early as 18 to 24 months. That's around the age when children start to show signs of bladder and bowel control, which is one of the signs of potty training readiness.

A health care provider will likely talk to you about potty training during your child's 18-month, 24-month, 30-month, and 36-month well-child checks. Most kids in the US are potty trained between 2 and 3 years, according to the AAP.

Potty training before a child reaches 18 months is more about the parent learning the child's schedule and recognizing the signs they need to go than the child being taught to use the potty on their own. Proponents of elimination communication use this basic approach. With this method, caregivers watch their child for signs that they are about to go pee or poop then they bring them to the toilet.

According to Carrie M. Brown, MD, a pediatrician with Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, many children who are conventionally potty trained before the age of 2 will stop being successful and need to be re-trained at some point in the future. That said, lots of kids will be interested in what goes on in the bathroom between 18 to 24 months.

When Do Kids Show Interest in Using the Potty?

Interest in using the potty is another sign of potty training readiness. Most children should be interested in using the potty by age 3 and often as early as 18 to 24 months. If you have made it to 3 1/2 or 4 and your child refuses to use the potty (which is different from a lack of interest), there is a problem, says Dr. Brown.

The first step is to determine if your child has any negative association with the bathroom or toilet. For example, is your child afraid of the flushing sound? Or does your older toddler or preschooler with separation anxiety know that when they use the bathroom independently, they will leave you during the day to go to preschool? Once you know what's causing their hesitation or refusal, you can help them work through it.

To kick-start the potty training process with an interested older toddler:

• Find a few days when you can remain mostly at home.
• Purchase multiple pairs of underwear, and be prepared for accidents.
• Start by having your child sit on the toilet first thing in the morning after taking off their overnight diaper.
• Make it fun—sing songs, read a book, drink juice, and see what happens.
• If they succeed, celebrate with lots of praise and something to keep them motivated, such as a sticker, an M&M, or bubbles.
• If they don't succeed, praise them for sitting and trying, put on underwear, and talk about using the potty when they need to go.
• Plan bathroom trips every 90–120 minutes during the day.
• If accidents happen, don't get upset, change to clean underwear, and talk about heading to the bathroom sooner next time.

If you can remain calm and consistent and only use diapers for naps and bedtime, most kids this age will figure it out fairly quickly.

What Are Some Signs of Potty Training Readiness?

Potty training requires a child to control their body and brain. Not only do they need to recognize the signals from their body and act on them, but to use the toilet independently, they also need coordination to be able to undress and sit down on the potty, wipe, flush, get dressed, and wash their hands. Depending on when you introduce your child to the potty, they may need your help at certain steps.

According to the AAP, full potty training relies on signs of readiness in multiple areas:

• Physiological: Enough bladder and bowel control to make it to the potty
• Cognitive: The ability to recognize the need to pee and poop, remember to go to the potty, and resist distraction long enough to complete the process
• Physical: Motor skills to get to the potty, manage clothes, and sit still on the potty
• Emotional: The desire for independence and learning a new skill
• Social: Awareness of other people's toilet use and a desire to imitate their behavior

Sound like a lot? It is! But take heart: You don't have to hold off on potty training until you're certain that your child checks all of the boxes, but each step does increase the chances of successful potty training.

What Can I Do to Prepare My Child for Potty Training?

Preparing your child for potty training before you begin is all about hyping your child up and getting them excited for this big transition. Before the official toilet training begins, it's wise to warm your kid up to the idea by explaining the bathroom routine in positive, child-friendly language.

During a diaper change, you can say, "When we eat or drink, our body takes what it needs, and then the rest gets turned into pee or poop. It's like our body's garbage." Start letting your child watch you use the potty while you narrate each step in simple terms.

You can also pretend that a doll or stuffed animal uses the potty. Seeing a "friend" go through the motions in a relaxed, playful setting can relieve any stress your kid may feel about starting to use the potty.

Have your kid practice sitting on the potty. Suggest visits to the potty first thing in the morning, before nap, before their bath, and before bedtime. Don't expect success yet, but getting your child on a potty routine early may save you from constantly asking them to go when the real training begins.

Should My Child Use a Potty Chair Before Transitioning to a Real Toilet?

Yes, in most cases, you should start potty training your child on a small child-sized potty chair before transitioning them to a toilet.

Unless your child is begging to use the big potty (which often happens with younger siblings who see their older siblings using the big potty), it's often best to start with a potty chair. The toilet can be scary for many children: Loud flushing and whirling water escaping to the unknown, and your child may feel unsteady sitting up high.

With a little potty, their legs are bent with their feet firmly on the floor, making them feel physically grounded and relaxed and getting their body into the best position for peeing and pooping. Also, getting to the potty quickly without your help will let your child feel more in control—and potentially cut down on accidents.

Down the road, switching to the big toilet (with or without an insert) shouldn't be a big deal since your child probably already uses one outside the house.

Are Rewards a Good Motivator for Using the Potty?

Rewarding your child can be a great way to motivate them to continue using the potty. But whether and how you reward your child depends on their response.

Start with plenty of encouragement and praise. Many kids are motivated by the sheer pleasure they give their parents. Make sure you also support their self-pride to encourage internal motivation. For example, you could say, "You peed in the potty. Do you feel proud? You should!"

But if you feel that your child needs an actual reward to feel successful, that's fine, too. Many parents do well with potty training charts, stickers, candy, or small toys or figurines. Remember, however, that your praise becomes less potent as you up the ante with gifts, and often, the impact of those gifts eventually wears off, too.

Should I Transition My Toddler to a Bed Before Beginning Potty Training?

No, you don't need to transition your toddler to a bed before beginning daytime potty training. The move to a toddler bed is a change that should be driven more by safety than by age. Experts recommend transitioning from the crib to a toddler bed when your child can climb out of their crib as a fall to the floor can be dangerous.

For some children, this size happens before the child is ready for potty training. Other times, a child may show signs of readiness for potty training before they're ready for a big kid bed.

The transitions from crib to big kid bed and from diapers to the potty are significant changes for a toddler. To make both transitions as easy as possible, aim to make them positive experiences and only when your child is ready.

If possible, avoid moving to a big bed and potty training space around the same time. Spacing big transitions at least a few weeks or even months apart allows your child to focus on learning one big new skill at a time, and it can help avoid overwhelming them.

How Do I Get My Toddler to Sit on a Big Toilet?

There is no real rush to transition your child from a little potty to the big toilet, though they will need to get used to the idea when they start spending time away from home and away from their small potty. The transition will require a few small steps, including:

1. Start by placing their potty in the bathroom next to the toilet so your child gets used to the idea of "going to the bathroom."
2. Then, buy a kid-friendly toilet ring and a stepstool to help your child climb up.
3. Once you're set-up, you can start to offer your child the choice of the little potty or the big potty.

Some kids will be highly motivated to try the big toilet, but others might need some encouragement. You can make using the big toilet more appealing by offering an extra prize for going there, allowing them to pick out the accessories like the stool, signing fun songs, or making a game out of it (watching toilet paper swirl out of the toilet can be fascinating to some kids).

If your child's resistant to the big toilet, let them watch as you move the contents from their little potty into the main toilet—or better yet, let them help! Seeing that their poop and pee from their little potty eventually goes into the big potty will show that going potty has the same end result no matter where they go. Once they're comfortable on the big toilet, put the mini potty away.

When Should I Remind My Child to Go to the Bathroom While Potty Training?

Reminding your child to use the potty during transitional parts of the day helps your child establish a bathroom routine. Try using reminders at the following times:

• Upon waking
• Before going to sleep
• After meals
• Before leaving the house

Once they've had some success in using the potty, ask your child several times a day, especially before you leave the house. Reminders help children get into a habit of thinking about the potty and preventing accidents and setbacks.

How Long Should It Take to Potty Train My Child?

It depends on the child, but fully potty training a kid can take longer than you might think, even up to a year in some cases. Most of the time, toilet training isn't fast, and it isn't smooth. That's because several areas of development need to line up first.

Your child has to communicate well, be aware of their bodily feelings, and understand how much time they need to get there. Potty training regressions are also common and sometimes happen with big life changes, disruptions, and emotionally stressful situations like a new sibling, move, or family conflict like a divorce or separation.

It's also very common for kids to be fully trained during the daytime before they are ready to go overnight. It's normal and expected for kids to need more time before they can stay dry through the night, and overnight accidents are common until age 5 or so. According to the AAP, between ages 5 and 7, up to 15% of kids still wet the bed.

How Should I Teach My Child to Use Public Bathrooms?

Children should always be accompanied by an adult when using a public bathroom, not only for obvious safety concerns but also because this is a great time to help your child learn how to use a public restroom.

After your child masters the art of going potty at home, they need to learn how to handle it when they aren't home. Here are some general tips for teaching your child to use a public restroom:

• Teach your child to recognize restroom signs and encourage them to use public bathrooms whenever necessary.
• Prepare your child for the unfamiliar sights and sounds of a public bathroom by describing them. The bright lights, loud flushes, and multiple stalls and sinks can make some kids who've only pottied at home uneasy at first.
• Pack sticky notes in your bag to put over the automatic flush sensors, which can easily startle your toddler if triggered unexpectedly.
• When going out, dress your child in clothes that can easily be pulled up and down, like elastic-waist pants or shorts.

It's also a great idea to teach your child how to plan bathroom breaks, like going before a long trip, even if they don't feel a strong need.