Potty training's a major milestone as little ones transition from toddler to "big kid." Not only does it offer parents and the planet relief from dirty diapers, it's a big leap forward in your child’s autonomy and self-regulation.

Many parents find potty training daunting, especially if it's tied to a deadline, like the start of preschool. Anticipating accidents, coupled with indecision about when to start and how to do it can be stressful. We’re here with expert guidance, so you can determine when your child's ready to potty train and pick the right approach for your family.

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6 signs your child's ready for potty training

The key to potty training success is developmental readiness. This typically occurs at 22-36 months, but every little one is different. Girls tend to show readiness a few months earlier than boys. Watch for these signs that your child's ready to graduate from diapers. They don't need to demonstrate all of them. But the more you see, the more you can be certain little one's ready for the potty.

1. They need fewer diaper changes.

As your child's body and brain mature, they'll urinate in larger volumes less frequently and poop on a more set schedule. If your little one wakes up dry from naps and can go about 2 hours between diaper changes, they're physiologically ready to potty train.

2. They've mastered motor skills needed for potty training.

Think of all the other physical aspects of using the potty. Pulling diaper pants up and down. Sitting down and standing up. Reaching over and pressing down to flush the toilet. These are motor skills your toddler should master first, so they can safely use the potty.

3. They can ask for a diaper change.

As body awareness grows, children are visibly more uncomfortable in dirty diapers. If your kiddo can communicate that they're about to go or that they've gone and need a diaper change, they're ready to try the potty.

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4. They can name their private parts.

Teaching your child the proper names for their private parts is important for many reasons. In the context of potty training, it allows children to express that they need to relieve themselves. Ideally your child can identify what body part they need to use and how their body feels.

5. They "hide" when they have to poop.

Many toddlers "hide" in a quieter, more private space when they know they have to poop. This shows that they've mastered the body awareness they'll need for potty training and understand that going to the bathroom is a private, personal act that takes focus.

6. They demonstrate an interest in the potty.

Some children naturally express an interest in using the potty. Others need a friendly introduction. You can do this by bringing your toddler into the bathroom and showing them how the potty works, reading books about the potty, or purchasing a child-size potty they can practice sitting on. Keep it low-pressure, and allow your child’s natural curiosity to take hold.

4 potty training approaches

Once you determine that your child's ready to potty train, choose the approach that feels most feasible for your family. You might need to try a few times—and a few methods—for potty training to stick, so be patient with your little one and the process. Accidents are inevitable, and potty training can take longer than expected. Every one of us had to master this skill at some point.

There are a lot of opinions about potty training. The important thing to remember is that this is a skill your child will master in their own time, and every child (and family) is different. Below are the most common approaches to potty training.

1. Child-oriented

This method pioneered by pediatrician Dr. T. Berry Brazelton is designed to start once your child demonstrates interest and readiness to use the potty on their own. It's endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and has high success rates, but it may mean waiting longer to get started, since your little one is leading the process. The child-oriented approach works great with independent kiddos who are eager to be more like the big kids.

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2. Parent-led

This more structured method is ideal for families that can maintain a schedule. Parents and other caregivers initiate their child's visits to the potty at regular intervals throughout the day. They honor any additional potty visits their child requests, too. One potential downside of this method is that it may take longer for children to recognize their own bodily signs.

3. 3-day intensive

This method is used by parents trying to quickly potty train their child, often over a weekend. It's efficient, but requires staying at home, close to the potty. Parents replace their chid's diapers with underwear and encourage them to use the potty. When accidents happen, parents carry their child to the potty to finish and praise their effort. Then they change their child's underwear and resume the training.

4. Elimination communication 

This method isn't traditional Western potty training, but it comes up in parenting conversations sometimes and is worth discussing. In elimination communication, parents learn their baby's natural cues and rhythms and hold them over a toilet when it's time to go. This removes the need for a diaper change, and parents can begin this practice with babies of any age. Elimination communication is common is more rural regions of Asia, Africa, and South America and requires caregivers to be very observant.

How to encourage potty training

Whatever potty training method you use, you want this process to feel positive. If your child appears nervous or tentative, gentle encouragement can go a long way. If they're more resistant or ask for their diaper back, take a break and try again in a few weeks. If your child remains hesitant after taking a break or two, consider setting up a reward system.

To be effective, a reward system should consist of small, achievable goals that are positively reinforced each time. If the ultimate goal is using the potty independently, you may first want to help your child communicate that they have to go. Any time little one tells you they need to use the bathroom, you want to reward that behavior.

Praise doesn’t require anything other than your enthusiasm, but small tangible rewards like stickers can also be great reinforcers. (Pro tip: Try not to reward with fruit snacks or edible treats, if you can avoid it.)

Once your child consistently communicates that they have to go to the bathroom for about five consecutive days, you’re ready to move on to the next step.  Depending on your child's comfort level, this might be walking into the bathroom when they have to pee or poop, or it might mean practicing sitting on the potty with a diaper on. Make progress in small increments until your child is consistently using the potty.   

References

Kiddoo, Darcie. (2012.) Toilet training children: when to start and how to train. Canadian Medical Association Journal. Retrieved June 10, 2026.

Goodwin, Cara. (2022.) An Evidence-Based Approach to Potty Training. Psychology Today. Retrieved June 15, 2026. 

Mayo Clinic. (2024.) Potty Training: How to get the job done. Retrieved June 17, 2026.

Crider, Catherine. (2020.) Potty Training Methods: Which Is Right for Your Child? Healthline. Retrieved June 17, 2026.