Get started

Getting started

How to potty train a toddler, step by step

Potty training goes best when your child is ready, you have a few calm days at home, and everyone reacts to accidents the same way. Here is the whole path, from the first signs to the day you stop thinking about it.

The 8 steps

  1. Check that your child is ready. Look for 3 or more signs: dry for 2 hours, notices a wet diaper, curious about the toilet, can pull pants up and down. Not sure? Take the free 1-minute check.
  2. Get ready for a week: a floor potty or a seat with a step stool, easy clothes, a few potty books, and your family's words for pee, poop and potty.
  3. Pick three days at home with no big plans. A long weekend works well. Tell everyone who looks after your child that you're starting.
  4. Day 1: diapers off, eyes on. Offer a potty sit every 30 minutes, plus after waking up, after meals and before sleep. Each potty sit is 3 to 5 minutes, with a book or a song.
  5. React to every accident the same way: calm and short. "Pee goes in the potty." Finish on the potty, change together, move on.
  6. Praise every potty sit, not only the pees. A sticker chart helps many toddlers: one sticker, one big smile, no big speech.
  7. From day 3 or 4, make the gaps longer and try short trips out. Do a potty sit before you leave and when you arrive.
  8. Poop often comes last. Offer a potty sit 15 to 30 minutes after a meal, with feet on a stool. Naps and nights come later, on their own timeline.

What you need before you start

  • A potty or a toilet seat insert with a sturdy step stool. Feet flat, knees a little higher than hips, makes pooping much easier.
  • Clothes that come down fast: loose pants or shorts, no buttons or overalls.
  • Spare clothes and a few old towels for the first days.
  • A free potty training chart and stickers, if your child likes them.
  • A plan for the first day. The day 1 sheet fits on the fridge.

Potty training tips that help most

  • Keep potty sits short. Long sits make the potty feel like a punishment.
  • Use the same words every time, at home, at daycare and at grandma's.
  • Offer choices, not questions. "Do you want to walk or hop to the potty?" works better than "Do you need to go?", which almost always gets a "no".
  • Let them flush, wash hands and choose the sticker. Being in charge helps.
  • Look at the trend, not one bad day. More pees in the potty than yesterday means it's working.
  • Stay calm about poop. Pressure is the fastest way to start poop holding.

When it isn't working

Day 3 and lots of accidents is common. Keep going at home with a little more time between potty sits, and one goal: more pees in the potty than yesterday. See what to do on day 3.

Tears, fear or fighting every potty sit? Take a calm break of two weeks, without shame, and try again. Pushing through refusal tends to make it last longer. See toddler refuses to sit on the potty.

What to say

“Your body is telling you it's time. Let's go to the potty.”

Try not to say

“You're too big for diapers. Why can't you just do it?”

When to call your pediatrician

  • Your child is 4 or older and shows no progress at all
  • Pain when peeing or pooping, or blood in either
  • Hard, painful poops or fewer than 3 poops a week
  • Never dry at all, even for a short time

Questions parents ask

How long does it take to potty train a toddler?

For daytime, most children need a few days to a few weeks. Many are reliable within one to three weeks, with the odd accident for months after. Read how long potty training takes.

Should I use diapers during potty training?

During the day, no: underwear or bare bottom at home helps your child feel when they're wet. For naps and nights, keep a diaper or night diaper on until your child wakes up dry most mornings.

What's the best age to start potty training?

Most children train between 2 and 3, but signs matter more than age. Read potty training age: when to start.

Free for your next step

More guides

Last reviewed November 4, 2026. Based on public guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) and the NHS. This is general information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your child's health, talk to your pediatrician.