Potty Training Information and Advice

Need a bath seat to keep your wiggling infant safe or a musical potty to entice a toddler to use the toilet? Find buying guides, advice and top picks for bathing, diapering and toileting from your Guide to Baby Products.

Parents use all kinds of rewards for their kids when they sit on the potty, from stickers to candy. Of course a lot of extra attention and praise works too. What tips do you have for other parents who are trying to potty train their kids?

Potty training is an important milestone that almost all children learn. Unfortunately, it can sometimes cause a lot of distress for families, especially if they begin potty training before their child is ready. Take our quiz to see if your child is ready to start potty training.

When should you start potty training? Most children are ready to begin potty training once they are 18 months to 3 years old.

Potty training usually isn't always easy, but some parents make it a little more difficult than it needs to be by making some all too common mistakes, especially starting the whole potty training process before their child is ready.

Also called 'elimination communication,' baby potty training is the technique of training your baby to use the potty much earlier than the traditional age of two to three years that kids in diapers often end up learning being potty trained.

Review what you should do when your child is resistant to potty training.

Learn what to do when your potty trained child regresses, for example by having accidents or bowel movements on the floor.

While parents often complain of difficulty potty training their children, for most families, potty training is a fairly easy experience. However, this is not always the case for children with developmental delays or disabilities, such as autism, Down syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, etc. Children with special needs can be much more difficult to potty train.

When did you start and finish potty training your child?

Step-by-step description of a potty training method suited to children with special needs, who may have trouble focusing on the task or sensing their need to go.

Question of the Week. What do you consider to be professional help when it comes to potty training?

Potty training a foster child can be a challenge, but also may present a wonderful opportunity of bonding and co-parenting with the birth family. Learn some things to think about when starting the potty training process.

Print out and use this colorful potty training star chart and stickers to help motivate your child when potty training!

Potty training a child who attends daycare or is under the occasional care of a caregiver other than a parent requires a team effort. Review these communication tips to make potty training a successful team effort.

Answers to common potty training questions, including how and when to begin and what to do when your child won't poop in the potty.

American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines concerning toilet training, including recognizing when your child is ready and teaching your child to use the toilet.

Help getting ready to potty train your child, including signs of readiness, step by step training and keeping your child motivated.

Advice on toilet training from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including signs of readiness, what to do about accidents, choosing a potty, and common toilet training problems.