Potty Training Tips for Toddlers: Signs, Steps and a Fun Potty Song

Potty training is a big step for your child and for you. Some kids learn in a few days. Others take a few months. Both are normal. The most important things are to wait until your child is ready, keep it positive and be patient when accidents happen. They will happen, and that's okay.

This guide covers the signs that your child is ready, simple steps to get started, what to do about accidents, and how a fun song can turn potty time into something your child looks forward to.

When Is My Child Ready to Start?

There is no perfect age. The American Academy of Pediatrics says kids usually start to show bladder and bowel control between 18 and 24 months. In the United States, most families start potty training between ages 2 and 3. Most kids are trained by age 4.

Your child is more important than the calendar. Look for these signs:

• They stay dry for at least 2 hours at a time, or wake up dry from naps.
• They make a face, squat, grunt or stop moving when they are about to go.
• They tug at a wet or dirty diaper and want it changed.
• They can walk to the bathroom and pull their pants up and down.
• They can follow simple directions like "Go get your shoes."
• They ask to use the potty or want to wear "big kid" underwear.

If your child shows only one or two of these signs, it's fine to wait a few weeks and try again. The Mayo Clinic also says it may help to wait if a big change is coming soon, like moving to a new home or a new baby joining the family.

Simple Steps to Get Started

1. Talk about it first

Before you start, use simple words for pee and poop, and use the same words every time. Let your child see you or an older sibling use the toilet. Read a potty book together. Kids feel better about new things when they already know what is going to happen.

2. Get the right potty

A small potty chair on the floor is easy for little legs. If you use the big toilet, get a child seat and a small step stool so their feet can rest flat. Kids feel scared when their feet are hanging in the air.

3. Make a routine

Sit your child on the potty at the same times each day. Good times are right after waking up, after meals, before bath and before bed. They don't have to go every time. Just sitting there is practice. Keep the potty in the same place every day, and do the steps in the same order every time.

4. Switch to underwear

Once you start, try to switch from diapers to underwear during the day. Kids can feel when underwear is wet, and that helps them learn. Let your child pick underwear with a favorite color or character. It makes them proud to wear it.

5. Praise the trying, not only the success

Say "Great job sitting on the potty!" even if nothing happens. Say "Thank you for telling me you need to go!" Be clear about what they did well. A high five, a happy dance or a sticker on a chart is plenty. Keep the praise about what they did, not about being a "good" or "bad" kid.

Teach the Steps With a Song

Using the potty is not one step. It's a lot of little steps in a row, and that is a lot for a toddler to remember. A song can help, because kids remember words they can sing much better than words they are told.

The Potty Song walks kids through every step with Bebo and the penguin family. It even has a fun "poop and pee pee party" part that toddlers think is very funny. Here are the steps the song teaches:

1. Know when you gotta go. "Oh oh, I gotta go!"
2. Diapers out, potty on. Take off the diaper and sit down "like a big boy" or "like a big girl."
3. Pull your pants down, sit and wait. Waiting is part of it. Nobody has to rush.
4. Wipe with toilet paper. Help your child at first. Girls should wipe from front to back.
5. Flush. Some kids are scared of the loud flush. Let them flush after they stand up and step away, or let them wave "bye bye" to the potty.
6. Wash your hands. Every single time.
7. Feel proud! "Stayed dry all day, oh I did great!"

Try this: Play the song when your child sits on the potty. It gives them something fun to do while they wait. Some families use it as a "potty timer." Sit until the song ends, then try again later.

You can find the song, plus our other children's songs for everyday habits like bath time and brushing teeth, on our music page.

What to Do About Accidents

Accidents are a normal part of learning. Every child has them, even after they seem fully trained. When it happens:

• Stay calm. Use a soft voice. Say "That's okay. Pee goes in the potty. Let's try next time."
• Never yell, shame or punish. The Mayo Clinic says punishment has no role in potty training. It can make kids afraid and make them hold it in.
• Let them help clean up. They can put wet clothes in the laundry basket. This is not a punishment. It just shows them what happens next.
• Keep extra clothes with you. Pack a full change of clothes in the car and the diaper bag.

It's also normal for kids to go backwards for a while. A new baby, a new school, a trip or being sick can all cause more accidents. Stay patient and go back to the routine.

What About Nighttime?

Staying dry at night is different from staying dry during the day. It depends on how your child's body grows, not only on practice. Many kids who are trained in the day still need a diaper or pull up at night for months or even years. That is normal. Let your child use the potty right before bed, and don't worry if nights take longer.

When to Talk to Your Child's Doctor

Most potty problems go away with time. But call your child's doctor if:

• Your child says it hurts or burns when they pee.
• They have hard, painful poops, or they are holding their poop in.
• They were dry for months and suddenly have lots of accidents.
• They are peeing much more often than usual, or you see blood in the pee or poop.

Pain when peeing can be a sign of an infection. You can learn more in our post about urinary tract infections in children.

Questions Parents Ask

How long does potty training take?

It is different for every child. Some kids learn in a week and others take a few months. Kids who start when they are truly ready usually learn faster.

Should boys learn sitting down or standing up?

Many boys learn sitting down first, because poop and pee often come at the same time. Once they are good at using the potty, they can learn to stand up to pee.

Is it okay to use rewards like candy?

Small rewards like stickers can help some kids. But try not to make it all about treats. The best reward is your praise and your child feeling proud that they did it on their own.

What if my child refuses to sit on the potty?

Don't force it. Take a short break for a week or two, then try again. Make it fun with a book, a song or letting their stuffed animal "try" the potty first.

Potty training takes time, a lot of laundry and a lot of patience. But one day your little one will run to the bathroom all by themselves, and you will both feel so proud.

This post is for general information only. It is not medical advice. If you have questions about your child's health, please talk to your child's doctor.