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Do you have a toddler at home that you’re struggling to potty train? I’ve been through the potty training process 4 times already and am about to start my 5th – and last – time. Luckily, we had a lot of support and guidance from our day care teachers in the past. But, we still had to follow through at home. Every child was very different. I’ll share with you my best tips for potty training your toddler – from the Pediatrician and Mommy perspective.

Tip #1: Make sure your toddler is ready!

To make the process easier on everyone involved, before you even start potty training, make sure that your toddler is ready! Don’t feel like you have to train your 18 month-old just because your friend’s baby potty trained at 18 months. Don’t force your resistant 2 year-old either. Here are a few readiness cues:

18 months old – I don’t recommend trying to potty train before this age. First of all, there’s no rush – besides the selfish reason of not wanting to pay for diapers anymore. But, you aren’t doing anything for your child’s development by forcing him to potty train at 18 months. The majority of toddlers just aren’t ready before this age.

Communication – Ideally, your toddler should be able to communicate to you that he needs to go potty. This could be through sign language, other gestures, or verbally. A simple “potty”, “pee pee” or “poo poo” are all they really need – not complete sentences or thoughts.

Physically able – To make potty training easier, your toddler should be able to pull his pants up and down. He should also be able to get to the potty without much assistance.

Uncomfortable in a dirty diaper – If your toddler starts to let you know that his diaper is dirty and wants it to be changed, it may be time to start potty training. Pulling off a dirty diaper is a big sign.

Staying dry – Your toddler should also be drier for longer periods of time before you try to potty train. If you’re still changing diapers every 1-2 hours, potty training may be difficult.

Tip #2 – Be patient

Potty training can take up to a year in some cases, or can be as brief as 1-3 months if your child is ready. Please don’t believe the programs that tell you that you can fully train your child in a weekend. These types of messages create false hopes and expectations. Yes, spending a weekend doing nothing but potty training can be a great catapult in the process. But, there’s still no guarantee that your child will come out fully trained in 2 days. This just isn’t enough time. Potty training is a process. Accidents are expected. So, pack your patience with the process!

Tip #3 – Don’t push it

Sometimes things don’t go as plan once you start to potty train. If your toddler is resistant, or just doesn’t seem to “get it”, it’s absolutely OK. You can take a break from potty training and start again when your little one show more readiness cues. Don’t feel like a failure. Don’t feel like you’ve given up. Believe me, it’s better to take a break and start again later rather than trying to push through and end up frustrated.

Tip #4 – Change often

Before you start the potty training process, change your toddler’s diaper often, so that he gets used to having a dry diaper. Hopefully, he’s starting to get annoyed by a dirty diaper, and will show you his discomfort by letting you know.

Tip #5 – Use a potty chair

I recommend using a small potty chair on the floor, rather than a potty seat that sits on top of the adult toilet. At least at the beginning of potty training. In my experience, kids tend to be more comfortable on the smaller potty chair. Being able to rest their feet on the ground makes a big difference, especially when trying to poop! The big, adult toilet can be scary for a lot of kids. So, I would get your little one used to a smaller potty chair before transitioning over to the toilet. A potty chair can also be personalized, and your little one may develop a sense of ownership because it’s “his” chair that no one else uses.

Tip #6 – Get your child used to the potty

Before even using the chair as a potty, you can have your child use it as a regular chair to get used to it. He can sit on the potty chair with clothes on, while he colors, reads a book, etc.

Tip #7 – Have your child imitate

Have your child sit on the potty while you or older siblings use the toilet. Toddlers like to imitate, and imitation is one of the best ways to potty train.

Tip #8 – Read books about using the potty

There are lots of books out there about potty training. Here are books we’ve used to introduce the potty to our kids: Potty, P Is For Potty, Potty Time!, The Potty Train. They’re not meant to “teach” potty training. The books just serve as an introduction, to make your child more comfortable with the potty and less afraid.

Tip #9 – Use underwear as a reward

Buy underwear and introduce it to your child as a “reward” for staying dry. Most toddlers are excited about wearing “big kid” underwear, especially if it features their favorite character or color. Once your child uses the potty at least 10 times, you can have him try to wear underwear, and just see how it goes!

Tip #10 – Schedule potty times

When you first start to introduce the potty, I recommend having your toddler sit on the potty in the morning, after waking up, and at night before bedtime. If he has a usually “pooping” time everyday like mine, try to catch him and place him on the potty at that time as well. Once you’re really ready to start potty training, schedule potty times for first thing in the morning, after naps, 20 minutes after meals, and every 2 hours. Just have him sit on the potty and see what happens. If he happens to go, get really excited, and give lots and lots of praise.

Tip #11 – Reward your child

I’ve learned that kids definitely perform better when there’s a reward involved. I’ve created a potty chart that I’ve used for my kids, which has helped our potty training process each time. You can get your potty training reward chart + tips at the bottom of this post. I recommend placing the chart by the potty, and putting a sticker, stamp, X or check mark over each spot every time your toddler uses the potty. The numbers on the chart have the added bonus of helping your little one count and recognize numbers! Each time he uses the potty, you can offer a small prize, like an M&M, sticker, or just verbal praise. Once he goes 5 times and makes it to the “prize” spot on the chart, you can give a bigger prize. This can be something from the dollar store – I’m not trying to make you go broke here!

Tip #12- Don’t get upset

Once again, potty training is a process. If your little one has an accident, don’t get upset. Don’t punish him. Change him as soon as he has an accident, and start all over again. Hopefully you’ll make a little progress everyday. But, if you hit a wall, remember it’s OK to take a break for a little while. Just start again when you’re both ready.

I hope these tips are helpful! Believe me, I know potty training isn’t easy. Here’s to easier potty training for us all!

Do you have any other potty training tips to add? Leave a comment below!

If you have a toddler at home, check out My Best Advice To Moms of Toddlers. Also, get your free printable “Potty Training Reward Chart” by filling out the box below. It includes an easy sheet to track your child’s progress on the potty, along with tips for success. You’ll also get access to my Resource Library with tons of helpful printables and checklists, plus my weekly newsletter to help you balance your many roles. Check it out!

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