Is your little one ready to get started?

You want to know if your child is ready to start potty training. For that, your child needs to be able to do and understand a few things. Most children are ready to take the first step by the time they’re 2 years old.

What is the first step in potty training?
In the first step of potty training, your child is still wearing a diaper, but you’ll start taking them to the toilet. You’ll also talk a lot and read books about peeing, pooping, potties, and the toilet. After that, your child will start practicing on the potty and the toilet in a playful way. You’ll do that in steps 2, 3, and 4. So, for the first step, your child doesn’t yet need to know everything required to go to the toilet all by themselves. That’s exactly what your child will learn. Check: what does your child already understand? Almost all children aged 2 and up are ready to start the first steps of potty training. They already have the physical, language, and brain development needed to learn something new.

Want to start before age 2?
‍Pay close attention to what your child can already do and understand. Some toddlers can already move around, climb, and get dressed well by age 1.5. But potty training is more than that. Your child also needs to understand what you mean when you talk about the toilet, peeing, and pooping. It’s also helpful if your child can clearly communicate what they need. They can do this with words, but also with sounds, by pointing, or with gestures. Most children understand more than they can express. As long as you know exactly what your child means, that’s perfectly fine.

What should you look for?
- Can your child perform simple tasks? For example, can they grab something when you ask or help with cleaning up? Many toddlers, for instance, want to help out around the house in their own way, such as sweeping, cleaning, or doing the dishes. That’s a sign they already understand a lot.
- Does your child understand what you mean when you talk about a clean diaper, a dirty diaper, changing, poop, or pee? For example, if you say, “I think I smell a dirty diaper. Did you poop?” Or if you say, “Come on, let’s go change your diaper.”  Does your child then come to you, or to the changing table, for example?
- Does your child ever let you know when he or she wants a clean diaper? Note: some diapers are so dry that a child doesn’t feel it. There are also children who don’t mind walking around with a wet or dirty diaper. The first thing is whether your child is able to let you know.
- Does your child want to come with you to see what happens in the toilet and in the diaper? Is your child curious about pooping, peeing, and potty training? For example: your child is already practicing with a doll or stuffed animal on a toy potty, or sometimes changes a diaper on a doll or stuffed animal.

How old should your child be?
We know that almost all children over the age of 2 can already do this, even if they don’t always make it obvious. Children with a strong will, those who are still very playful, or older children (ages 3 and up) often understand you but don’t always do what you say. This is often because they’re so eager to keep playing.

Don’t wait until your child asks for it
In the past, people used to say: wait until your child shows interest. That’s why many parents wait too long. After all, very few children actually ask, “Will you help me get potty trained?” Often, just starting in a playful way is the best choice. Many children enjoy learning something new. You’re helping your child become independent, which is good for their development. It’s also good for their physical development to be potty trained well in advance.