After walking, stopping using nappies is the second biggest milestone your child will reach in the first 5 years of life. Potty training is the name for the part of potty learning where your child stops using nappies and uses the potty/toilet all the time. In order to be able to manage this without accidents, all children have to go through the same 3 stages:
– Awareness (realising what happens and when),
– Responding (getting the pee and poo in the right place) and
– Independence (learning how to do 1 and 2 on your own).
There are 40 skills involved in becoming toilet independent, most of which your child is capable of practising and mastering before you stop using nappies. In fact, it is most helpful to think of stopping using nappies as one of the very last steps in your child’s toilet training journey.
Free download
Discover the 40 skills your child will need to become toilet independent broken down by what they are capable of at each age and stage of development.
How to potty train
The key to making potty training a positive and successful experience for your child is preparation. This isn’t about waiting for the right moment to start, it’s about supporting your child to develop the necessary body awareness, communication, understanding and physical skills in order to succeed.
Often parents are told to wait for signs of “readiness” but this concept is a myth that was created to sell nappies to parents for as long as possible. Parents are also told to wait for signs of “interest” but language is often one of the very last skills of communication that children develop. so don’t wait until your child decides or even tells you they no longer want to wear nappies. Research shows that delayed potty training is harmful for bladder and bowel health.
Before disposable nappies were the norm, 60% of English babies started potty learning within the first 2 weeks of life, 47% had completed potty training by 12 months and 83% were finished by 18 months. (Douglas & Blomfield, Children Under 5, 1958)
Potty training is a learning process, just like brushing teeth or using a spoon. Babies are ready to start potty learning from birth, and most parents find a good time to introduce potty skills is when their child can sit up independently, around 6–9 months. Starting early and gently allows plenty of time for practice, making the transition out of nappies smoother and less overwhelming.
Rather than viewing potty training as a single event, think of it as a gradual journey. Developmentally speaking, between 12 and 18 months your child will be at their most co-operative and capable of being independent in many parts of the process. Most children are ready to take the lead in many aspects of potty use around 18 months and can master most skills, including wiping, by school age. Research suggests that stopping nappies between 18 and 30 months is best for bladder and bowel health. The longer you wait, the harder it can be for your child to adjust to life without nappies.
To potty train your child, follow Nurse Rebecca Mottram’s Go Potty evidence-based 3 step approach. It begins with preparation to use the potty, next is practising potty skills before eventually stopping using nappies as your child gains confidence. Rebecca’s 3-step method is recommended by ERIC the children’s bladder and bowel charity and will form part of the new NHS and DoE guidance on potty training.
Step 1) Preparation:
This stage is about laying the groundwork for a smooth and stress-free transition to stopping wearing nappies. At this stage, you’re helping your child build awareness of their body, bladder, and bowel habits. Check that they are passing some soft poo every day and there’s no underlying constipation. If you think your child might be constipated, it’s important to sort this out before you stop using nappies. You can download our free guide to recognising and treating constipation.
Step 2) Practice:
The practice stage is about building confidence and independence with potty skills. Once your child can safely sit up on their own, you can start helping them use the potty at key times. As they grow and develop, you can help them start to learn to recognise their body’s signals, and practice simple skills like pulling pants up and down, using words or signs to communicate, and developing good hygiene habits. This stage helps them feel comfortable with the process before fully transitioning out of nappies. Short nappy-free periods and loose-fitting clothing can make practice easier, setting them up for success when they’re ready to go without nappies altogether.
Step 3) Stopping using nappies:
This final step is about transitioning away from nappies completely. Whatever stage your child is on their potty learning journey, stopping using nappies is a big change for them. Depending on how your child is doing with practice and preparation, you can either stop using nappies in a single step, or follow Rebecca’s Little Steps Method to help your child through this transition.
This free download includes a checklist and pathway to understand which approach is likely to be best for your child.
Read my new potty training book
Based on over 10 years of research and work with parents, Rebecca’s innovative, evidence based guide to potty training will be published in January 2026 by Bloomsbury Press.
Potty training children with additional needs
Almost all children can learn to be clean and dry. Children with delayed speech, autism or a physical disability may need tailored support or additional time to master the process but they can still follow the same 3 step process: preparation, practice and then stopping using nappies.
The longer they wear nappies, the harder it may be to introduce a new place for them to wee and poo. Therefore, it’s important not to put off potty training for too long.
Helping your child to learn through play
Using play can help teach your child what you expect as well as motivate them. You can use stories, characters and toys to explain to your child what they need to do and teach them how to do it.
For example:
· Have a favourite doll or toy pretend to use the potty
· Use books and pictures to show how things work
· Help your child add some stickers to their potty to make it their own
· Have some toys or books that they only look at when on the potty or toilet. Small soft toys, fidget toys or little books work well for this.
Learn how to potty train playfully, including a recipe to make poo doh to help your child understand what you expect, with my book Positively Potty.
Potty training problems
We offer expert advice which is child-centred and evidence-based to resolve all sorts of issues related to potty training.
Blogs About Potty Training
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The Evidence Behind the Go Potty 3-Step Method
My Go Potty 3-step method offers a fresh, evidence-based approach to potty training, developed through an in-depth review of peer-reviewed research, clinical guidelines, and child development theory. As a children’s research nurse and NIHR Doctoral Fellow, I used my knowledge to create this method to provide a developmentally sensitive, scientifically sound alternative to outdated, one-size-fits-all approaches.…
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What your toddler thinks about potty training
You’ll know from your everyday experiences as a parent that your toddler doesn’t think the same way as you. Have you ever wondered what they think about potty training? Understanding this answer can unlock the key to potty training success.
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Why your child doesn’t seem ready for potty training and what to do about it
Are you looking for signs of ‘readiness’ so you can potty train? Did you know there are over 40 different skills involved in potty training and you can help your child to learn every single one!? If you want your child to be ready for potty training, here is what you need to do.
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If you are struggling with potty training because your child will only poo in a nappy, this is one of the most challenging situations to try and manage alone. The solution lies in understanding that your child’s attachment to their nappy is usually fuelled by feelings as well as habit. Here are my tips to…
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The most unhelpful thing to say when potty training
How many times have you said “do you need to pee?” only to be told “NO!”, even though you know the answer is really a yes? When you get a ‘no’, where does this leave you? What can you do to avoid this trap and help teach your child about consent along the way?
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Potty training your neurodivergent child: 10 tips for success
What’s the best way to approach potty training a neurodivergent child (with developmental delay, learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders?) What about children who struggle to communicate or are non-verbal? Should you use a different process or follow mainstream potty training approaches? This blog explores the answers to these important questions.
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Potty training without the sticker charts
Should you use rewards such as sweets or sticker charts whilst potty training your child? Here’s why external motivators aren’t as helpful as you might think.