Top tips for successful potty training
Potty training is one of those parenting milestones that can feel equal parts exciting and overwhelming. One day your little one seems completely ready, the next they're refusing to go anywhere near the potty. Sound familiar? You're not alone.
With the right approach, a little patience, and some practical potty training advice, most children get there in their own time. In this blog, we’ve pulled together some key strategies, so you can feel confident supporting your little one through this important step.
How do you know your child is ready for Potty Training?
One of the most common questions we hear is "when should we start?" and the answer depends on your child.
Most children show signs of readiness somewhere between 18 months and 2.5 years, and that's a wide window for a reason. Every child develops differently, and starting before your child is genuinely ready often leads to more accidents, more frustration, and a longer process overall. Readiness really does matter more than age.
Rather than watching the clock, watch your child. The signs to look out for include:
Staying dry for longer stretches (an hour or more during the day)
Showing interest in the toilet or potty; wanting to watch, touch, or sit on it
Communicating when they've done a wee or poo, either with words or gestures
Pulling at their nappy when it's wet or dirty
Being able to follow simple two-step instructions
One thing worth letting go of early on is the pressure to keep up with other children. If your friend's child trained at 22 months, that's wonderful for them, but it tells you nothing about when your child will be ready. Nursery timelines and well-meaning comments from relatives can create a lot of unnecessary anxiety. Trust your child's cues over anyone else's expectations.
For a more detailed look at the early signs of readiness and how to first introduce the potty, our blog onwhen and how to introduce the potty or toilet covers it really well.
Set up the right environment
Before you ditch the nappies, it's worth taking a little time to set the scene. Getting the environment right makes the whole process feel much more natural for the both of you.
Choose the right equipment together
There's no single ‘best’ potty. What matters is that your child feels comfortable and safe using it. Some children love having their own standalone potty (and having a say in choosing it can make a big difference to how enthusiastic they feel about using it). Others prefer a child-sized toilet seat with a step stool so they can use the "big toilet" like the grown-ups. Travel potties are brilliant for days out and give you a lot more flexibility. It's fine to have both options available.
Make the bathroom feel welcoming
Children pick up on atmosphere very quickly. If the bathroom feels rushed or tense, they'll associate the potty with pressure. A few simple things help enormously:
Keeping a small basket of books or a favourite toy nearby
Using calm and neutral language around toileting
Letting your little one spend time in the bathroom without any expectation on them
Keep your kit simple
You don't need a lot:
A few pairs of easy-on, easy-off pants or knickers (let your little one pick them if possible… character pants are a surprisingly powerful motivator)
A step stool for the toilet
Spare clothes within easy reach
Simple is always better.
Build a consistent daily routine
Consistency is probably the single most important ingredient in successful potty training. Children thrive on predictability, and a clear routine around toilet time removes a lot of the guesswork, for them and for you.
The key is to build in regular "potty sits" throughout the day, rather than waiting for your little one to tell you they need to go (especially in the early days, when they're still learning to recognise those signals). Natural prompts work well: after waking up, 20–30 minutes after meals, before leaving the house, before naps, and before bed. These aren't random, they align with the times the bladder is most likely to need emptying.
The trick is to offer these sits calmly and without pressure. Rather than asking "do you need a wee?" (which almost always gets a "no"), try something like "it's toilet time" — matter-of-fact, not negotiable, but not a big deal either. If they sit and nothing happens, that's absolutely fine. The habit of sitting is the win.
Keeping things consistent across different settings is just as important as what you do at home. If your little one is at nursery or with a childminder, share your approach with them; the language you use, how often you're prompting, and how you handle accidents. A joined-up approach makes a significant difference.
How to handle accidents positively
Accidents are not a sign that potty training is going wrong. They are a completely normal and expected part of the process, even for children who seem to be doing really well. Every single child training out of nappies will have accidents, often for weeks or months. Knowing that when you start makes it so much easier to respond calmly when it happens.
How you react to accidents matters. Children are attuned to the emotions of the adults around them, and if they sense frustration, disappointment, or irritation, it can make them anxious about the whole process, which tends to make things worse, not better.
When an accident happens, the goal is to keep it low-key. A simple, neutral "oops, a wee came out. Let's get you changed" is perfect. No big reactions, no fuss, no drama. Clean up calmly, get fresh clothes on, and carry on. Similarly, avoid language that could create shame around bodily functions. Words like "yucky" or "dirty" can build negative associations that are genuinely hard to shift.
A few practical things that help:
Keep a bag of spare clothes everywhere your little one spends time (home, nursery, the car, grandparents' house)
Use a waterproof cover for the child’s mattress and seat protectors during the training period
Dress your child in clothing that's easy and fast to pull up and down. Nobody needs the added stress of complicated fastenings when every second counts.
When progress stalls, is it regression?
Even when potty training has been going well, it's common for children to suddenly start having more accidents or to show resistance again. This can feel really disheartening, but it's important to know it's very normal, and usually temporary.
Potty regression often has a trigger: a new sibling, a house move, starting nursery, illness, or any other change that disrupts a child's sense of routine and security. It can even be a change in our approach. Understanding what's behind it makes it much easier to respond with patience rather than frustration.
When to get professional support
Most families navigate potty training with time and consistency, but sometimes despite the best efforts it remains a real struggle. If you're finding that accidents are persistent, such as your child is showing significant distress around the potty, or you've been at it for some time without meaningful progress, it might be time to get a little extra support.
That's exactly what our potty training consultations are here for. There's absolutely no judgement. Every child and every family is different, and sometimes what's needed isn't more tips from the internet but a genuine, personalised plan built around your specific situation.
If you're ready to talk, you can find out more about ourtoilet training consultations and book a session, including a free 15-minute discovery call if you'd like to have a chat first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age should potty training start?
There's no single right age, most children are ready somewhere between 18 months and 2.5 years, but readiness matters far more than the age. A child who shows interest, can communicate their needs, and is staying dry for periods during the day is likely ready regardless of their age. A child who doesn't yet show those signs may just need a little more time, even if they're older.
How long does potty training take?
It varies enormously. Some children are reliably dry within a few days, while others take several months to feel consistently confident. Both are completely normal. Progress is rarely linear either; expect some days to feel like a big step forward and others to feel like a step back. The most important thing is to keep going calmly and consistently rather than comparing timelines with other children.
Should I use pull-ups during potty training?
This is a common question and the answer is genuinely nuanced. Pull-ups absorb wetness so effectively that children don't experience the sensation of having an accident, and that sensation is actually part of how they learn to recognise and respond to the signal to go. Because of this they might not be the best thing to use during the day. However, overnight, or for long journeys, before training is well established, pull-ups are a perfectly sensible option. As with so much in potty training, what works best will depend on your child.
If you're finding potty training tough right now, please know that you're not alone — and that struggling doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. Our team of specialists is here to help whenever you need us. Find out more about ourtoilet training consultations.