Resources on Early Learning

Tip Sheets

"No more diapers!" Sounds great, but how do you get ready for toilet training? Here are some tips.

Be sure you are ready!

Helping your child learn to use the toilet takes time and patience. Have a potty chair, a child-sized seat that fits the toilet, and a sturdy stepstool on hand. Training can take 3 months or more. If you start during warm weather, your child can wear fewer clothes—and you'll have fewer clothes to wash!

Get your child interested!

• Let her get to know her potty chair or portable toilet seat. Let her sit on it fully clothed, if she wants.
• Check out children's books about using the potty, and read them with your child [e.g., Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi (1993) and Going to the Potty by Fred Rogers (1986)].
• Let him observe you or other children (if they are willing) using the toilet.
• Show him how the toilet works. Let him flush it if he wants. (Note: To avoid messes, make the bathroom "off limits" to the toddler unless someone else accompanies him!)

Teach the right words.

Use the terms you want your child to use. You might say in a friendly voice, "I'm changing your diaper because you peed in it." "You pooped in your diaper, so I'm putting on a clean one." Use terms that other people will understand.

Watch for signs that your child is ready.

Most children learn to use the toilet between 2 and 3 years of age, but some learn later. Children may show some signs of readiness at around 18 months. Girls show signs of readiness an average of 3 months before boys. Your child may be ready to start toilet training if she shows any of the following signs:

• knows the diaper is wet or dirty and wants a clean one
• has bowel movements at regular times
• stays dry for 2 hours at a time
• can pull down her own diaper or underpants
• uses facial expressions, sounds, or words to show she is ready to urinate or have a bowel movement
• understands the terms you use for bladder and bowel functions
• can follow simple directions and likes to put things in the right place

Be aware of signs that your child is not ready.

You may need to wait a little longer if he simply doesn't want to sit on the toilet or if he is going through any of the following:

• an illness
• a phase of irritability or power struggles with you
• major life changes such as the birth of a new baby or moving to a new home

Learn more about getting ready for toilet training at these Web sites:

• Toilet Training Your Child
  http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/toilet/179.html
• Readiness Signals
  http://www.parentingme.com/toiltrng.htm#readiness
• Toilet Training
  http://www.nncc.org/Guidance/toilet.train.html
• Toilet Ready: How to Know Your Child Is Ready to Use the Potty
  http://www.education.pitt.edu/ocd/publications/parentingguides/ToiletReady.pdf

Spanish: No más pañales: ¿Está listo su hijo?

The opinions, resources, and referrals provided in this Tip Sheet are intended for information purposes only and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We advise parents to seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider with questions regarding their child’s health or medical conditions.

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