When should you start potty training?

From curiosity to using the potty for the first time

Potty training starts with sparking interest. Have you successfully completed that step? If so, your child has become curious about the toilet and understands that big kids and grown-ups don’t wear diapers. You’ve talked about the toilet, pooping, peeing, and diapers, and introduced your child to the toilet in a playful way. Then you can move on to step 2: the first time on the potty. Your child will take off their diaper more often, and you’ll watch for signs that they need to go. You’ll identify the signals your child shows.

Learning to sense what is happening

Potty training means that your child is becoming increasingly aware of what’s happening in their body. First, after the fact: “I pooped or peed”; then, while it’s happening: “I’m pooping or peeing”; and finally, beforehand: “I need to poop or pee.” And your child understands that they can pee and poop in the potty and the toilet, and no longer in a diaper.

First time on the potty: what should your child be able to do? 

In this step, it helps if your child is a bit more independent. That’s because your child will start practicing using the potty or the toilet. At first, they’ll still be wearing a diaper. During this step, you’ll take the diaper off for an hour or so every now and then. Offer the potty so your child can sit on it. Age isn’t the most important factor, but you can generally start anytime after age 2.

In step 2, let your child go without a diaper for an hour each day. Offer the potty and ask your child if they need to go at set times.

You can do this once your child can do the following:

• Your child is interested
• Your child can walk on their own
• Your child can sit down and stand up on their own (on a potty)
• Your child understands simple instructions
• Your child can point to something or describe it in their own words

Please let us know if your child needs to use the restroom

Has your child peed or pooped in the potty a few times? Then it’s time for the real training phase. During this phase, your child will spend more and more time without a diaper and practice using the potty or toilet. The diaper stays off for longer periods and less frequently. In Ready for Potty, we call these steps 3 and 4. It’s helpful if your child can do a little more by then. It’s important that your child learns to let you know when they need to go. Of course, you’ll continue to help them recognize the signs.