Potty Training in 4 Steps

The process of potty training during the day is a little different for every child. However, there are four clear steps you can follow. Each step usually takes a few weeks. It may go faster if you can devote more time and attention to it. But follow your child’s lead. Every child is different!  

Feel what's happening

For your child, potty training means learning to sense what’s happening in their little body.
- First, after the fact: I peed or pooped.
- Then, while it’s happening: I’m peeing or pooping.
- And finally, beforehand: I need to pee or poop.

‍Diaper on or diaper off?

Your child starts to sense what’s happening even while they’re still wearing a diaper all day. So don’t take the diaper off all at once. As a parent, you’ll help your child recognize the signals they feel and give off. This will help your child gradually understand better what’s happening. It’s a 4-step process.

Step 1 – Sparking Interest (While Still in Diapers!)

The first step involves your child becoming curious about the potty and the toilet. What happens there? What is a potty? Most of us keep the door closed when we go to the bathroom. As a result, children have no idea what goes on in there. In this step, your child learns that big kids and grown-ups don’t wear diapers anymore, but pee and poop in the toilet. Your child wants to do that too! No matter how old your child is, don’t skip this step. The diaper can stay on during this step. You’ll start by reading books and chatting about it in a playful way. Name what you see in the diaper and take your child to the toilet with you.

Step 2 – First time on the potty or toilet (taking off the diaper every now and then)

In this step, your child will gradually become more aware of what’s happening in their body when they pee or poop. You’ll start by taking off the diaper for an hour every now and then and offering the potty. Your child will go to the potty or the toilet to poop or pee for the first time. As a parent, you’ll start to recognize the signs when your child needs to go. Your child will then experience for the first time: “When I feel like I need to go, I can do something about it.” This makes a child feel grown-up and gives them more and more control over their body. The diaper can still stay on when you’re not practicing.

Step 3 – Using the potty and the toilet more often.

Your little one is getting better at understanding what’s happening in their body and can sense in advance when they need to go. You’re getting better at recognizing when your child needs to go—before it happens. And you’re starting to recognize the pattern: the times when your child usually needs to poop or pee. This way, you’ll make it to the potty or toilet on time more and more often. With set times and more practice, things go smoothly more often. Your child’s confidence grows, and you’re proud that they’re succeeding more and more often! The diaper can be left off for longer periods or more often, but is still on for a few hours a day. Even with the diaper on, your child will let you know when they need to pee or poop.

Step 4 – No diaper.

Is potty training going better and better? Does your child hardly ever have accidents anymore? And does your child let you know when he or she needs to go? Then it’s time to pick a day and leave the diaper off completely. You’ll go to the toilet at set times. As a parent, you’ll need to pay extra close attention and encourage your child. Even when you’re out and about, on the go, or somewhere else: the diaper stays off. This means you, as a parent, need to stay alert, bring dry clothes, and give lots of praise. Being potty-trained during the day means your child has no more than 2 accidents per week. And that your child goes to the bathroom on their own, can pull their pants or leggings down and up, wipe their bottom, and wash their hands. So there’s a lot to learn in this step!