One of the most important skills a child learns is to use the toilet successfully and independently. Parents can’t wait for the day their child is out of diapers. Being potty trained means no more messy diaper changes, no more lugging diapers wherever you go, and no more searching for the best diaper deals online. The child has more opportunities for integration since children can’t attend certain programs if he/she is not potty trained. In terms of timing, each child is different; however, typically, a child should be ready to be potty trained anywhere between 18 to 30 months. 

The child should have some degree of bowel and bladder control and should have the mental capability to cooperate. On the other hand, the parents should have the patience to consistently follow the toileting schedule. Just remember, this is a chance for real bonding time between parent and child. 

The following factors should be considered before starting a potty training program: 

1. Can the child pull down his/her pants and underwear and pull up pants and underwear with little to no assistance?
2. Can the child imitate actions? (i.e., sitting on the toilet, wiping, etc.)
3. Can the child identify where the bathroom is located in his/her house?
4. Can the child sit on a toilet with a potty-training seat or sit on a transitional potty without resistance?
5. Does the child display displeasure in being wet or soiled and want to be changed?
6. Does the child show interest in the toilet by sitting on it or flushing it?
7. Does the child take an adult to the bathroom to get a clean diaper or pull-up?

Once readiness is determined, a simple process can be used to carry out toilet training.  Make sure it’s done at a time when the child doesn’t have a lot of activities planned or there are no travel plans in the near future.  Once the start date is chosen, prepare your child a week before by creating a visual countdown and by reading potty-training books and/or potty-training social stories to the child. Start the toilet training process by saying “bye-bye,” to diapers or pull-ups, and “hello” to underwear.  Prepare a basket of reinforcers (books, dolls, candy) that the child can have as a reward each time he/she successfully uses the toilet. 

Most toilet training procedures include the steps below:

1. Increase fluid intake.
2. Take the child to the toilet every 20- 30 minutes. Place the child on the toilet seat and check if the underwear is wet. If the underwear is dry, use positive reinforcement by saying “good staying dry”. If it is wet, stay calm and verbally prompt the child by saying “pee/poop goes in the potty”.
3. Set the timer for five minutes and have the child sit on the toilet.  Keep the child entertained by reading to him/her or have him/her play with the toys in the activity basket. If the child is successful, reinforce by saying, “Good peeing or pooping in the potty,” and immediately reward him/her with something the child really likes. Then use wet wipes or toilet paper to wipe the child and finish the toileting routine.  Make sure the child washes his/her hands.
4. If the child is not successful, pull up the underwear and remind him/her to stay dry.
5. Repeat the process until bedtime.
6. After a few days of success, start to decrease the child’s fluid intake and increase the time the child is taken to the bathroom from 30-minutes, to 45-minutes, to an hour. When your child has more successes than accidents, the child is on his/her way to being potty trained.

Potty training can be a positive and rewarding experience for both the parent and the child. It is a significant accomplishment, and a major step in a child’s independence.
Check out our range of Potty Training essentials to help you along the way https://www.momstore.com/ae-en/bath-potty/potty-training/

Written by Afsheen Sheikh,
Behavior Consultant, MSc (ABA), MBA, BCBA

Afsheen Sheikh is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 10 years of experience working with individuals with special needs. Since starting her career in Kings Dubai School, she has worked with children from 2 to 16 years and has seen a vast range of cases. She continued to do the same in the coming years in ‘Life Works Holistic Counselling Center’ and currently works with ‘Neuropedia – Neuroscience Center’ in Dubai. 

When to Start Potty Training Your Toddler + Training Tips from Experts

In terms of timing, each child is different; however, typically, a child should be ready to be potty trained anywhere between 18 to 30 months.

The child should have some degree of bowel and bladder control and should have the mental capability to cooperate. On the other hand, the parents should have the patience to consistently follow the toileting schedule. Just remember, this is a chance for real bonding time between parent and child. 

The following factors should be considered before starting a potty training program: 

1. Can the child pull down his/her pants and underwear and pull up pants and underwear with little to no assistance?
2. Can the child imitate actions? (i.e., sitting on the toilet, wiping, etc.)
3. Can the child identify where the bathroom is located in his/her house?
4. Can the child sit on a toilet with a potty-training seat or sit on a transitional potty without resistance?
5. Does the child display displeasure in being wet or soiled and want to be changed?
6. Does the child show interest in the toilet by sitting on it or flushing it?
7. Does the child take an adult to the bathroom to get a clean diaper or pull-up?

Once readiness is determined, a simple process can be used to carry out toilet training.  Make sure it’s done at a time when the child doesn’t have a lot of activities planned or there are no travel plans in the near future.  Once the start date is chosen, prepare your child a week before by creating a visual countdown and by reading potty-training books and/or potty-training social stories to the child. Start the toilet training process by saying “bye-bye,” to diapers or pull-ups, and “hello” to underwear.  Prepare a basket of reinforcers (books, dolls, candy) that the child can have as a reward each time he/she successfully uses the toilet. 

Most toilet training procedures include the steps below:

1. Increase fluid intake.
2. Take the child to the toilet every 20-30 minutes. Place the child on the toilet seat and check if the underwear is wet. If the underwear is dry, use positive reinforcement by saying “good staying dry.” If it is wet, stay calm and verbally prompt the child by saying “pee/poop goes in the potty.”
3. Set the timer for five minutes and have the child sit on the toilet.  Keep the child entertained by reading to him/her or have him/her play with the toys in the activity basket. If the child is successful, reinforce by saying, “Good peeing or pooping in the potty,” and immediately reward him/her with something the child really likes. Then use wet wipes or toilet paper to wipe the child and finish the toileting routine.  Make sure the child washes his/her hands.
4. If the child is not successful, pull up the underwear and remind him/her to stay dry.
5. Repeat the process until bedtime.
6. After a few days of success, start to decrease the child’s fluid intake and increase the time the child is taken to the bathroom from 30-minutes to 45-minutes, to an hour. When your child has more successes than accidents, the child is on his/her way to being potty trained.

Potty training can be a positive and rewarding experience for both the parent and the child. It is a significant accomplishment and a major step in a child’s independence.
Check out our range of Potty Training essentials to help you along the way https://www.momstore.com/ae-en/bath-potty/potty-training/

Written by Afsheen Sheikh,
Behavior Consultant, MSc (ABA), MBA, BCBA.
Afsheen Sheikh is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with over 10 years of experience working with individuals with special needs. Since starting her career in Kings Dubai School, she has worked with children from 2 to 16 years and has seen a vast range of cases. She continued to do the same in the coming years in ‘Life Works Holistic Counselling Center’ and currently works with ‘Neuropedia – Neuroscience Center’ in Dubai.