The Ultimate Potty Training Guide
Oh, the adventures of toilet training! It’s such a special and important time in the lives of our littles. While there’s no formula that works for everyone, we’ve compiled a series of resources for families to use during this special moment.
The most important thing to remember is that every child’s journey is very unique and different. No two children will have the same experience, and that’s totally normal! Embrace the pace and experience of your child, take it with ease and flexibility, and remember to support your child as they navigate this milestone!
Potty training is (sort of) a science. There are both psychological and physiological signs that you should look out for to know when is the right moment to start.
Physiological Signs of Potty Training Readiness:
Bladder and bowel control: Your child should start to show some sense of bladder and bowel control to hold urine or stool for a reasonable amount of time. They may have longer intervals between wet diapers or show a consistent bowel movement pattern.
Regular bowel movements: If your child has predictable bowel movements, they may be ready for potty training. Regularity in their bowel movements indicates that they have developed a pattern and may be able to anticipate their bathroom needs.
Physical coordination: Potty training requires some physical coordination to sit on the potty chair or toilet, pull down clothing, and manage wiping (to a degree). If your child can perform these actions with relative ease, they are showing that they have the necessary physical skills for potty training.
Psychological Signs of Potty Training Readiness:
Awareness of bodily functions: Is your child showing awareness of their bodily functions, such as recognizing the sensation of needing to urinate or have a bowel movement? That’s a key sign!
Language and communication skills: Your child should have basic language and communication skills to express their needs, ask for help, or indicate when they need to use the potty. They may use words, gestures, or a specific signal to communicate their bathroom needs. You can work on establishing these cues as their language grows.
Interest and imitation: A child who is ready for potty training will show an interest in the bathroom, toilet, or watching others use the potty. They may imitate family members or older siblings in their potty-related behaviors. With this curiosity- we highly encourage “potty exploration.” Let your child lift the seat, flush the toilet, sit, close the lid, etc., and explore the different aspects of this new space.
Independence and motivation: Your child may exhibit a desire for independence and motivation to learn new skills. They may express an interest in wearing "big kid" underwear or demonstrate a willingness to participate in the potty training process. Be sure to include them in conversations about bathrooming and the process of picking out underwear and other potty-related things.
Longer periods of dryness: If your child can stay dry for longer periods, such as during naps or overnight, it may indicate that their bladder muscles are developing and they have better control over their bodily functions.
Some general best practices for potty training:
Timing: It's important to start potty training when your child shows signs of readiness, typically between 18 months and 3 years of age. Look for signs such as staying dry for longer periods, showing interest in the bathroom, or being able to communicate their bathroom needs. (see above!)
Create a routine: Establish a consistent routine for using the potty. Encourage your child to sit on the potty chair or toilet at regular intervals, such as after meals or waking up from naps. Consistency helps them develop consistent habits.
Use child-friendly equipment: Invest in a child-sized potty chair or a seat adapter for the regular toilet. Let your child choose their potty chair or decorate it to make it more appealing and personalized.
Potty flexibility: It’s super important to encourage your child to use different toilets to promote potty flexibility. If your child becomes used to only using their small potty at home, it may be difficult for them to feel comfortable peeing at school, in public bathrooms, or at other family or friends’ houses. Encouraging flexibility and “meeting” different potties is a great way to exercise flexibility.
Demonstrate and explain: Show your child how to use the potty by demonstrating the steps. Use simple language to explain what is happening and why it is important. Encourage them to ask questions and be patient with their learning process. Books are your best friend! Read books about potty training with your child and ask them questions about what they see. Make comparisons and answer any questions they might have.
Use positive reinforcement: Offer praise, encouragement, and rewards when your child successfully uses the potty. This can be in the form of verbal praise, stickers, small treats, or a reward chart. Avoid punishment or shaming, as it can create negative associations with potty training.
Dress your child appropriately: Dress your child in loose-fitting clothing that they can easily remove, for example- pants with elastic waists, dresses, or skirts that are easy to pull up. Please avoid overalls, onesies, and other clothes with laces, buttons, or other difficult clasps. This allows them to be more independent when using the potty and reduces accidents.
In general, we recommend starting with no underwear so that your child can feel the difference of not having that physical sensation of support on their bodies. If your child is very excited about underwear or wearing underwear with certain characters/designs/colors, definitely go for it and hype up the concept of underwear!
Practice good hygiene: Teach your child the importance of washing hands thoroughly after using the potty. Make handwashing a fun and regular part of the routine. Talk to them about the importance of wiping and asking a trusted adult for support wiping when it’s too hard for them.
Be patient and consistent: Understand that accidents are a normal part of the learning process. Stay patient, calm, and consistent in your approach. Avoid going back to diapers, as it can confuse your child. If you use diapers/pull-ups for naps and bedtime, make that differentiation to your child very clear.
Support nighttime training separately: Potty training during the day and nighttime training can be separate processes. It's common for children to take longer to stay dry at night. Consider using pull-up diapers or protective bedding until they can consistently stay dry.
Communication is key: We’re here to support you through this process! Please communicate with us what your plan is, how you’re feeling about starting this journey, and any details that can help us best support your child through their potty training while at school. We encourage sharing what language you use to keep it consistent and any books or other strategies so we can use them too. Teachers will share tips and any important and relevant information to support you. We’ll be sure to keep you updated!
Using Neutral and Anatomically Correct Language
At wBees, we use neutral language when speaking to children about bathrooming. Instead of using the words “dirty” and “clean,” we use words like “wet,” “full,” and “dry.”
For example, if we notice a child has urinated in their diaper, we’ll ask, “Is your diaper wet or dry?” to encourage them to notice and react when they need to be changed. Using neutral language reinforces the fact that having bowel movements and urinating is a normal and natural process, and we all do it. Having neutral language avoids shame and embarrassment so that children can feel confident and safe speaking about their body’s natural processes.
In addition to neutral language, we encourage using anatomically correct words for children’s body parts. Giving children the anatomically correct words helps them establish healthy body boundaries and allows for more informed communication. Avoiding nicknames for their genitals allows for children to feel informed about their bodies and doesn’t make it taboo. Of course, it’s also important to inform and educate your child about when it’s appropriate to touch these parts of their bodies and what trusted adults can ask for consent to see them if it’s appropriate or necessary (pediatrician, parents, etc.).
Remember that every child is different, and the timeline for successful potty training varies. Stay positive, be flexible, and provide support to your child as they navigate this important developmental milestone.
Here are some popular book recommendations for potty training that parents have found helpful:
"Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right" by Jamie Glowacki: This book provides a step-by-step guide to potty training, addressing common challenges and offering practical tips and strategies.
"Potty" by Leslie Patricelli: This children's book uses simple, engaging illustrations and text to introduce the concept of using the potty. It's a great choice to read to your child to help them understand and feel more comfortable with the idea of potty training.
"Potty Superhero: Get Ready for Big Boy Pants!" by Parragon Books: This interactive book features a superhero theme and encourages children to become "potty superheroes." It includes stickers and a reward chart to make potty training more fun and rewarding.
"The Potty Train" by David Hochman and Ruth Kennison: This whimsical book uses a train theme to explain the process of using the potty. It's a fun and engaging way to introduce potty training to young children.
"A Potty for Me!" by Karen Katz: In this interactive lift-the-flap book, children can follow along as a little boy or girl learns to use the potty. It's a playful and interactive book that can help keep your child engaged and motivated during the potty training process.
"Once Upon a Potty" by Alona Frankel: This classic book uses simple language and illustrations to explain the process of potty training. It addresses common concerns and encourages children to feel confident and proud of their accomplishments.
MORE RESOURCES:
You can download our potty-training guide here. This document is made by our Seedlings teachers- Nicole and Mary.
