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Potty Training: A Milestone to be Proud Of

Being ready to use the potty can be an exciting, yet challenging time in
your child’s life. There is no set age to begin toilet training, but children are usually ready between 18 and 36 months. Be attuned to your child’s cues so you can help her begin to learn to use the potty at the appropriate time.

Introducing a child-sized potty chair and allowing her to become familiar
with it is a great way to help her feel comfortable from the very beginning. Observe if your child can follow simple instructions, help undress himself, or give you verbal or facial cues that he needs to use the toilet. Remember that your child must also be emotionally ready so it’s important to be patient and encouraging.

Learning to use the potty is a major milestone. However, learning to use
the potty independently takes time and practice, just like learning to use a spoon, learning to tie shoes, and learning to read a book. Let her know that accidents happen and that it’s okay to have an accident. She can try to remember to use the potty the next time! The most important thing is for your child to feel proud of herself and keep trying.

Here are some tips to help your child along with potty learning:

Make sure your child has her own potty chair so she knows she can use it whenever she needs to go.

Point to and label the various parts of the big potty, such as the seat and the flusher, and show your child how the potty works. Also, have your child sit on her potty a few times with her pants on to assure her that she will not fall in.

Help your child recognize the feeling that he has to use the potty. Emphasize that when he gets that feeling, it’s important to stop what he’s doing and go to the potty! Remind him that his books and toys will be waiting for him when he’s done using the potty.

Help your child keep track of her progress by providing rewards like stickers that she can collect in a book.

Together, read books about using the potty which can help your child feel more comfortable about the process.

Encouragement not only comes from parents and caregivers, but can come from fun sounds or phrases on potty chairs, personally decorated potty chairs or character potty chairs that can help your child to feel excited to use it.