There were all sorts of reasons to put it off. Maybe you weren’t sure what method was the right one for you, or even if you found one that was a good fit you knew you couldn’t be home for three days straight! Ah, so much has changed. But the fact is now you’re home, and you’re seriously considering taking on something that can be one of the bigger challenges for parents: potty training.
Starting Point
No matter whether you’re researching where to start or you’re just sick of the store being out of diapers, the starting point is the same: Work on the basics, and build up from there at your child’s pace. Even if your child isn’t ready now, you can make potty training easier on your child when they are.
Readiness is Key
It’s important to remember that potty training doesn’t just “click” for kids overnight. They have to be good and ready, first – and this list of signs of readiness can help you figure out just how ready your child is to get started.
The more signs you see, the more likely your child is ready to potty train. You can help by teaching them some smaller skills that lead to potty independence:
Essential Skills to Develop
Pulling up and down their pants
Make it fun and playful:
- Turn it into a game with races (letting your child win)
- Sing silly songs with pants-pulling motions
- Let your child take the lead
- Offer help only when needed
- Use stretchy pants without tricky buttons or zippers
Understanding body signals
Help your child recognize their body’s cues:
- Point out when you notice signs
- Use phrases like “Look! You’re squatting. I bet you’re ready to poop.”
- Suggest bathroom visits based on their development level
Learning potty vocabulary
Build familiarity with potty-related terms:
- Read books about potty training
- Sing songs about the potty process
- Narrate the process while they observe you or siblings
- Help them gradually learn the vocabulary for successful potty training
