Potty training is a major milestone and a huge sign of growth and development!

Using the toilet is a learned skill. It takes physiological, cognitive, verbal and social readiness to be able to do it.(2) For something we all do every day, probably without really thinking about it, it takes an amazing amount of work for small children! And teaching a child to use the toilet really is a skill worth celebrating.

You know that your child already knows how to pee and poop. But in order for them to be potty trained, they need to be able to recognize the physical sensation of having to go to the bathroom. They also need to be able to tell you so that with help, they can make it to the toilet.(2)

Using a toilet and bathroom hygiene are important skills to learn! When you potty train, you help your child develop their independence and increase their confidence. You also teach them related hygiene skills like flushing and washing their hands.(4)

Poop and pee may not be your favorite topic of polite discussion. But explaining bodily functions in plain terms to your toddler sure does help with potty training!

At What Age Do You Start Potty Training?

Infants can’t use the muscles needed to control their bladder and rectum, which is why we don’t try to potty train them!(3) This capability doesn’t arise until a child is about 18 months old.(3) But age doesn’t necessarily indicate readiness.

Between the ages of 20 and 30 months is usually what parents find works best, although every child is different.(1) Prior to 20 months your child is still working on other skills, such as eating, walking, and overcoming separation anxiety. So adding potty training into the mix might just be too much.(1)

But if your child happens to initiate the process or display an interest in using the toilet, follow their lead. Don’t ignore their questions about the potty or tell them they’re too young for it.(1) Allow them to be curious and take the opportunity to teach them about toilet habits.

The longer your toddler wears diapers and the older they get, the harder it is to manage their behavior. This is why many parents find it’s best to potty train their child before they turn 3.(1) Around age 3 is when children start to individuate.(1) They realize they have free will, the ability to make choices, and also display more of their personality. And once that happens, potty training can become a bit more of a battle.(1)

Signs Your Child is Ready for Potty Training

Potty training is a process and determining readiness is not always easy.

But your toddler might be ready to start potty training if they(2):

Tell you when they have to go to the bathroom
Let you know when they’ve peed or pooped in their diaper
Hide when they’re about to have a bowel movement (behind the couch, or they go in another room to poop in their diaper)
Can pull down their diaper without help

Some children don’t give a lot of indications, though, so just remember that every child is unique! Your child may hate diaper changes or ask to use the potty every once in a while, even if she’s not ready for full-blown potty training yet.

How to Potty Train in 3 Days

Also known as the Bare Bottom Method, this method is highly popular and praised by parents from all over the world.

To use this method, you’ll need three consecutive days to be at home potty training your child. This, of course, can be a challenge for working parents and caregivers.(4) For parents who work Monday through Friday, I suggest you try to tackle potty training on a three or four day weekend so you can be at home with your toddler. (4) You’re going to be spending all weekend indoors, basically glued to your toddler’s hip as you walk them to and from the potty! So plan ahead as best as you can.

Here are some tips to plan ahead before you start the process:

Do the food shopping ahead of time. Stock up on juice boxes as you’re going to encourage your child to drink more than usual.
Do the laundry and any house cleaning or errands ahead of time.
If there are older siblings in the house who won’t be involved in the potty training process, try to set up play dates or care for them. That way you can give your full undivided attention to potty training your toddler.
Let your child pick out “big kid underwear” at the store because it’s time to say “bye bye” to diapers.

Day 1

Let your child spend the day bare-bottomed.(4) The idea is that it’s easier for them to sense when they have to go or are going to the bathroom when they have no clothes on. Explain to your toddler that there’s no diaper to catch the pee or poop anymore, so they have to put it in the potty instead.(5)

Closely watch your child for signs that they may have to use the bathroom. When you notice that they need to go, take your child immediately to use the toilet.(4) Even boys will learn to sit on the toilet at first because they simply don’t have the aim to pee standing up yet. Save that for another day!

Remain emotionally neutral when making comments about your child’s potty training progress. If they have an accident, remain calm. Try saying, “You peed on the floor. Let’s clean it up together.”(4)

When they do go in the toilet, congratulate them. Try saying, “You just peed in the toilet. That’s where pee and poop belongs!”(4) Teach them how to flush. Remember to have them wash their hands afterward!

Some children feel uncomfortable with lavish praise or over-the-top parental excitement. Others respond well to that. Your toddler may respond well to rewards like stickers, lollipops, or little trinkets for using the potty. But maybe they won’t! As with anything, every child is different. You know your child best!

Set a timer every 20 minutes to do a check-in with your child on whether or not they have to use the potty. (4) After they drink a juice box, for example, remind them it’s time to try to go pee. They may refuse, but ask them to try anyway. (5)

Nap Time

Whether you want to put your toddler in diapers or pull-ups when they sleep during the three-day potty training is up to you. Some parents choose to potty train for everything all at once – daytime, naps, nighttime – they just find it’s easier that way. Other parents and caregivers decide to potty train in stages.

Days 2 & 3

You’ll basically follow the same process that you did on day one. Let your child be bare-bottomed all day. There’s still going to be a lot of back and forth to the bathroom, roughly every 20 minutes, to practice using the potty.

After potty training, it’s a good idea to dress your child in clothing that’s easy to remove. Try pants that are easy to pull down, have an elastic waist, and aren’t fussy. Avoid clothing that requires more work like tights or shirts with snaps at the crotch.

Interested in Learning More?

Check out this podcast episode for more information on potty training. We also talk about what to do if you can’t take off work to potty train your child and how to handle accidents that happen long after potty training is over.

Equip yourself with knowledge and tools to help your child thrive. And be sure to subscribe to the Genius Little Minds podcast so you never miss an episode!

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