Nurse Rebecca Mottram

When asked how many skills are involved in potty training, most parents guess between 3 and 5. In fact, research shows there are over 40 different skills involved in learning how to be independent from nappies! 

The 40 skills of potty training can be categorised under 4 headings:
Body awareness (understanding the signals the body sends)
Communication (being able to communicate toileting needs)
Understanding (being able to understand when to act and what needs to happen where) and
Physical skills (being able to physically move to and use the potty or toilet).

Each category presents complex skills that require time and teaching to master. This is why it’s best to start learning as early as possible. In fact, there is no lower age at which children can start learning these skills – developmentally they are designed to begin from birth!

Our potty skills grid explains how skills develop over time and according to age. Note that the following shows when most developmentally typical children are capable of learning skills if given the opportunity. Each unique child may master skill at a different pace and it’s important not only to understand the typical skills development but also your own child’s stage. 

Body Awareness

1. Recognising the sensation of bladder fullness
2. Recognising the sensation of bowel fullness
3. Identifying the feeling of needing to urinate
4. Identifying the feeling of needing to defecate
5. Awareness of weeing and pooing happening
6. Awareness of muscle control for holding and releasing urine
7. Awareness of muscle control for holding and releasing stool
8. Recognising bodily cues consistently and reliably
9. Distinguishing wee and poo during or after voiding
10. Recognising the difference between wee and poo sensations before voiding.

Communication

11. Communicating elimination needs non verbally
12. Communicating elimination needs verbally
13. Communicating elimination needs  with words or gestures / sign language
14. Communicating needs verbally / with speech
15. Verbalising needs before going to the appropriate place
16. Asking for help with toileting when necessary
17. Communicating discomfort or the need for a change after an accident
18. Responding to parental prompts or reminders about using the potty
19. Learning social cues related to bathroom privacy and behaviour
20. Communicating for assistance with wiping or hand washing

Understanding

21. Learning to associate a sound or cue with the act of voiding
22. Sitting long enough on the potty to toilet to complete the void
23. Understanding basic sign language, words or phrases about toileting
24. Being able to sit long enough to complete the void on their own
25. Understand what the potty or toilet is for
26. Following instructions to go to the toilet
27. Understands the sequence of undressing and sitting before voiding.
28. Starting to internalise body awareness and initiate potty or toilet use independently
29. Using the potty or toilet independently without prompts
30. Being able to stop playing to use the bathroom
31. Identifying the right timing to approach the toilet
32. Understanding the concept of privacy and respecting others’ privacy

Physical Ability

31. Voiding on the potty or toilet when held in position by a caregiver
32. Can sit on the potty independently and maintain their position without being held
33. Can move to the potty or  toilet independently
34. Can push down pants and underwear without assistance
35. Holding and releasing wee intentionally
36. Holding and releasing poo intentionally
37. Wiping effectively and consistently after using the toilet
38. Getting on and off the toilet or potty safely and independently
39. Using soap, rinsing, and drying hands independently
40. Sustaining control to hold urine for around 2 hours during the day

The Potty skills grid

The age at which your child is capable of mastering any potty skill is unique to them, but the age at which your child can be given the opportunity to begin learning and practising potty skills is much earlier than you may have expected. You can download our handy Potty Skills Grid to see the skills mapped out by age/development stage.

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Nurse Rebecca Mottram is an advocate for Baby Pottying and a potty training expert. She is the author of two books; The Baby Pottying Guide and Positively Potty, the host of the Go Potty Podcast and founder of the Little Bunny Bear shop. If you are trying to resolve a potty problem, you can explore Rebecca’s free resources, join her Facebook group or request a private consultation.