Learning to say: "I need to go to the bathroom!"

Good to know

• In this stage, your child is becoming increasingly aware of what’s happening in their body. But many children don’t immediately know what that means. They often don’t realize they need to pee or poop until it’s too late. Or they don’t quite understand the sensation yet.
• That’s why it helps if you point out what you see. Maybe your child is fidgeting, stops playing for a moment, or looks a little different. You’ve learned to recognize these signs before.
• By calmly pointing out these cues, your child will learn to recognize the sensation. This will help your child get better and better at letting you know in time when he or she needs to pee or poop.

What can you do?

• Point out the signs you recognize and notice. For example, say:
  “I see you’re squirming. Maybe you need to go pee.”
  “I think it’s time to go poop on the potty. See if you can feel anything in your tummy.” Or ask: “Can you feel a pee coming?”
• Help your child learn the words to let you know when they need to go. For example, say: "When you need to pee, say, 'Mommy! I need to pee!' Okay? Then we'll go to the potty together." Or say: "When you feel like you need to poop, say so. 'Daddy, poop!'" With young children, it can be short and simple. Like: "Mommy, pee!"
• This way, your child will gradually learn to better sense and understand their body.