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In this Article

• What is potty training?
• Are there cultural differences in potty training?
• How do I know if my child is ready to be potty trained?
• How do I know if I am ready to potty train my child?
• How do I begin potty training my child?
• What products do I need to begin potty training my child?
• How can I encourage my child to use the potty?
• How long will it take to toilet train my child?
• Is there anything I can do to prevent accidents from happening?
• When will my child stop wetting the bed at night?
• My potty-trained child has regressed. What should I do?
• Tips for successful toilet training
• Where can parents find more information about toilet training?
• Potty Training At A Glance
• Potty Training Index

How do I begin potty training my child?

Pediatric developmental specialist T. Berry Brazelton has proposed a rational (for parents) and developmentally appropriate (for children) step-by-step approach. The following are his suggestions:

1. Decide on a vocabulary for body fluids (pee, poop, etc.) that will be used consistently. Remember that these terms will be used both at home and out in public.



2. Buy a potty chair. Attempting to use an adult toilet prevents the leg leverage necessary for ease of bowel movements for the young child. Many toddlers enjoy decorating their potty chair; this activity creates an emotional "investment" into this important piece of furniture.



3. Practice sitting on the toilet (initially, fully clothed is fine) and look at a favorite book. This allows familiarity and pretend play without the stress of "performing."



4. Practice sitting on the potty chair without a diaper. Some parents will transfer diaper urine or stool into the potty chair to help the child better understand the goal. The urine and stool can then be transferred into the toilet and flushed away. Some children may be scared by the flushing toilet; practicing with toilet paper alone often helps any intimidation factor.



5. More practice: Develop a routine/ritual regarding predictable times for sitting (without diaper) on the potty chair. A common time for many is just before taking a bath. Some children have very predictable bowel movement patterns; "catching them in the act" allows for an opportunity for praise and a small reward (for examples, hand stamp, sticker, etc.)
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6. Transition to training pants or underwear: When the child expresses a desire for "big boy/girl" pants and he/she has been successfully using the potty chair for one to two weeks, an option to transition (for progressively longer periods each day) out if diapers may be offered. Such a move should be viewed by the child as a reward for his efforts and should not intimidate the child.



7. When comfortable with his potty chair, many children express a desire to use the adult toilet. An over-the-toilet-seat lid and a step stool are important to facilitate this final transition.