Each child is unique and when it comes to potty training there is a wide variety on the pace at which a child will potty train. Some children show interest very young, while others show no interest at all. What do you do when your child falls into the latter category? First off, know that potty training is not a reflection of your parenting ability nor is it a reflection of your child’s behavior or intellect. If your child is younger than 3 and showing resistance to potty training, the best course of action would be to postpone potty training and try again in a month or two, but if your child is over 3 and still not potty trained, here are our best tips for potty training the late bloomer.

1. Take your child to the potty when you go to the potty. Ask her if she needs to go and see if she can make an attempt to go on the potty. Praise her if she sits on the potty even if she does not go. For some kids just getting in the habit of going and sitting on the potty regularly takes a little practice. Do your best not to show disappointment if she doesn’t go. Being consistent with potty training will help your child get into the routine of going to the potty and help her to associate the trip to the potty with elimination.

2. Encourage your child to recognize and vocalize when she is wet or dirty. This is the first step towards potty training. When she does tell you she is wet or dirty take her to the bathroom and help her to change. Have her assist you in the clean up. This helps her to understand that elimination should take place in the bathroom.

3. Be careful not to get in a power struggle. You cannot make your child go to the potty if they do not want to. Trying to force them to go will usually only lead to further delays in potty training. Give your child choices when it comes to the potty. Have a potty chair and a seat for your toilet. Offer him both choices. Do you want to use the little potty or the big potty? This is one way to help your child feel in control and reduce the power struggle that can sometimes come with potty training

4. Use a reward system such as a sticker chart. Some children reward systems work very well with. Stickers, extra playtime outside, story time with mommy are all great ways to reward your child for going (or attempting to go) on the potty.

5. If you have tried an aggressive approach to potty training in the past, take some time off. Sometimes that’s all you need is a break. Take a month or two off with no mention of potty training and try again. Children potty train when they are ready and sometimes when mom is ready is not when the child is ready. If potty training has become a huge struggle for mom and child, take some time off. Potty training, when your child is ready, should not be stressful to either of you. If you find that you are both getting frustrated, take a break for a month or two and try again. Eventually he will get it.

Download and print out our potty training charts to help keep track of your child’s potty training success. Stickers, markers or smiley faces can be added to the chart to give your child recognition.

Potty Training Chart for Girls

Potty Training Chart for Boys

Potty training is easier and happens faster if your child is truly ready in all three areas: physical, cognitive and social. But the big question is: how do you know when your child is ready? If you have never traveled this road before, you likely don’t even know what signs to look for. Take the potty training readiness quiz to find out where your child is on the readiness spectrum.

When it comes to potty training it is important that you follow your child’s lead and look for signs of readiness. Some children will be ready to potty train as early as 18 months while other kids are not ready until they are three to four years old.

Here are some signs that your child is ready to start potty training:

• Your child is starting to do big kid things by himself such as walking, running, and eating finger foods.
• Your child can understand simple instructions like “go put your toy in the toy box”.
• Your child can dress or partially dress himself (he can take his pants on and off by himself.
• Your child understands what “pee” and “poo” is. You can use whatever words are most comfortable for your family. Even if he can’t tell you until after he goes, he should know what “pee” and “poo” is before he starts potty training.
• Your child recognizes when his diaper is wet or soiled. She may start taking her diapers off when they get uncomfortable.
• Your child takes an interest in toilet training by wanting to wear panties or underwear, flushing the toilet or sitting on the toilet.
• Your child isn’t scared of the potty. If your child cries when you put him on the potty or attempt to potty train, he isn’t ready. Forcing him to sit on the potty when he isn’t ready will only make potty training more difficult.

You can start pre-potty training and introducing your child to potty training at any age. Start with just letting your child sit on the potty, flush the toilet, or go with you when you go to the potty. Talk about “peeing” and “pooping” when you go to the bathroom and during diaper changes.

Here are some other pre-potty training activities you can do with your child:

• When you change your baby’s diaper talk to him about “pee” and “poo” so that he starts to understand what each word means.
• Let your child sit on the potty the first few times with clothes on.
• Let your child practice flushing the toilet. She can flush when you go to the toilet.
• Ask your child if he has made a pee or a poo. Once your child starts to recognize his bodily functions he will be able to tell you when he has urinated or soiled his diaper. He may not recognize the urge in time to get to the potty though.
• Get a potty seat or potty chair for him to practice with. Make a big deal about his potty seat or potty chair and what a big boy he is.