Is Your Child Ready for Potty Training?

It’s a big change when your little one starts phasing out of diapers and begins to use the toilet. They are gaining independence, building their gross motor skills, and growing up right in front of you! But how do new parents know when it’s time to ditch the diapers? Watching and listening to your little one will help you know when your little one is ready for potty training.

Some Playgarden Parenting Tips for New Parents to Look Out For:

• Questions and Interest: Is your little one getting inquisitive about the potty? Are they asking about underwear? Do you find them following you to the bathroom? New parents should take the opportunity to share facts about the bathroom when their little one’s interest is spiked; they are more likely to retain the information they learn when they are interested! 

• Dry Diapers: Is your little one’s diaper dry more often when changing? They may be starting to develop more bladder control. If you are finding they stay dry for two or more hours, like after their nap for example, they could be ready for potty training.

• Regular Poop Schedule: Is your little one having poops on a more regular schedule? When they become more regular, you can start trying to get them to sit on the potty when that time rolls around.

• Independence and Following Directions: Is your little one following simple directions more often? When asked to do something, like clean up toys or hand you a book, do they do it? Is your little one doing these tasks or showing interest in doing these tasks on their own? There are multiple steps that your little one is going to need guidance with as they learn to use the bathroom independently. So when they start to consistently follow multi-step directions, they could be ready for potty training.

• Communication: Does your little one use phrases indicating they need to relieve themselves? Or do they find a spot away from people and have a squat by themselves? If they tell you before, take that as a cue to try sitting on the potty.

• Aversion to Mess: Is your little one showing signs of discomfort when messy? Is your little one telling you when they need a new diaper? A great parenting tip is to, after discarding the dirty diaper, have your little one sit on the potty a few moments before putting on the fresh diaper. This gets your little one comfortable with the seat, as well as creates the connection of “when I need to pee or poop, this is where I go!”

• Dressing and Undressing: Is your little one comfortable dressing and undressing themselves? They will likely still need some help getting their clothes on and off when learning to use the potty; these are, as well as sitting down and standing up from the toilet, important gross motor skills they are building. For this parenting tip, remember: If they show interest in dressing/undressing themself, that’s a great step in getting ready to use the potty.

Here are some extra parenting tips for new parents just beginning potty training:

• For the duration of potty-training, it can be easier on you and your little one to utilize clothing bottoms with elastic bands – easy on and easy off. 
• Be patient with your little one; as with all things they are learning (and you as new parents), there are liable to be mistakes. That’s just part of being human!
• And speaking of which, always remember to pack extra clothes when potty training! This might be the most important parenting tip of all!

We here at Playgarden wish all new parents (and old pros) an easy potty training journey! And if these parenting tips helped you, check out some other posts about social emotional development, health & wellness, and more!