Toilet Training Steps By Age

If you’re like most parents, potty training can feel overwhelming and a bit anxiety producing. How do I get my child, who has been dependent on diapers since they were born, to transition to the toilet? Will this take a weekend? A week? A month? How do I bolster their self confidence when accidents inevitably occur?  And how do I personally navigate this big change? 

Don’t despair! Knowing the basics about potty training can help you feel prepared and in control. And believe it or not, conversations about pee and poop should begin when a child is still in diapers. You’ve got lots of time, so no need to panic! Consider this timeline to support your family’s transition to potty training:

At 18 months, begin teaching about pee, poop, and how the body works

• Teach relevant vocabulary. This might include pee, poop, toilet (potty), underwear, toilet paper, etc.
• Clarify that everyone, grownups and children, pee and poop
• Point out when animals are going pee or poop
• Talk about the signals your body gives you when you need to pee or poop. This might sound like, “I notice you have gas. I think your body is telling you that you need to poop.” 
• Praise your child for going poop in their diaper
• Avoid describing poop or pee as yucky, stinky, or dirty 
• Make diaper changing a pleasant experience
• Make sure to change your child frequently so that they develop a preference for a dry diaper

At 21 months, begin teaching about the potty and the toilet

• Talk to your child about the toilet. Tell them what it’s for (“We go pee and poop in the potty”). Demonstrate this by dumping poop from your child’s diaper into the toilet. Flush. 
• Talk about the potty chair and the toilet in a positive light. Make your child feel like sitting on the potty is a privilege.
• Have your child watch toilet trained children use the potty (older siblings are great for this). 
• Buy a floor level potty chair. This kind of chair lets the child’s feet touch the floor, allowing them to bear down and to get on and off the potty at will. Have your child pick out their own potty chair. They can name it and decorate it. 
• Have your child sit on the potty chair for fun. Encourage your child to sit on it while eating a snack, playing a game, or reading a book. You want your child to develop a sense of ownership. Toilet training should not begin until the child feels positively about their chair. 
• Transition the potty chair into the bathroom. Have your child sit on the potty with a bare bottom while you are using the toilet. Don’t allow diapers or pull ups in the potty. Establish that the bathroom as a place where we exclusively poop and pee in the toilet.  

At 2 years of age, begin using teaching aids

• Check out some toilet training books from your local library. Watch toilet training videos.
• Encourage your child to pretend they are potty training their stuffed animals or baby doll.
• Present underwear as something very special. Keep their new underwear in a place where they can always see it. 

Potty training doesn’t have to be an unpleasant or scary experience. In fact, it can be a great opportunity for you to bond with your child. Embark on the potty training adventure together. You’ll get through it in no time!