A 2-minute checklist with 12 real signs, and what the score means: start now, warm up first, or wait a little.
12 signs, in plain words
What your score means, and when to start
A4 or US Letter, ready to print
2-minute checklist
Is your child ready for the potty?
Tick every sign you've seen in the last two weeks. It doesn't have to happen every time.
Body
Stays dry for about 2 hours
Sometimes wakes up dry from a nap
Poops at roughly the same times each day
Walks to the potty and sits down on their own
Noticing
Stops playing or hides to pee or poop
Tells you after, or pulls at the diaper
Doesn't like a wet or dirty diaper
Ready to learn
Follows a two-step request, like "get your shoes and bring them here"
Wants to do things "by myself"
Is curious about the toilet or the potty
Pulls pants down with a little help
Has a word or sign for pee or poop
Signs ticked / 12
pottyplan.com
For grown-ups
What your child's score means
8–12
Ready to start
Pick a start date in the next week or two. Choose a calm stretch at home, without travel or big changes.
4–7
Almost there
Start with a gentle warm-up: the potty in the bathroom, sitting on it dressed, a potty book, and your family's words for pee and poop. Check again in two weeks.
0–3
Not yet, and that's okay
Try again in 4 to 6 weeks. Until then, let them watch you, name pee and poop out loud, and change diapers in the bathroom.
Better to wait a few weeks after
A new baby in the family
Moving house
Starting daycare or a new room
Illness, or a tough week
Before day 1, get
A potty (or a seat on the toilet and a step stool)
8 to 10 pairs of underwear
Easy pants with an elastic waist
A few small stickers or treats
Cleaning spray and old towels
A cover for the car seat
Age matters less than the signs: most children are ready somewhere between 2 and 3½. Pain when peeing or pooping, hard poop, or worries about development? Ask your pediatrician first.
Ready to start? Potty Plan gives you a day-by-day plan made for your child, with a potty timer and answers for the hard moments. pottyplan.com
