The Ultimate Three-Step Potty Training Approach
The Ultimate Three-Step Potty Training Approach: Prepare, Practice, and Proficiency
Potty training is a milestone that marks your child’s growing independence. But let’s be honest—it's also a process that can feel overwhelming for many parents. That’s why, at The Healthy Child Co., we take a child-centered, evidence-based approach to make the journey smoother, stress-free, and, most importantly, successful.
Our three-step potty training method—Prepare, Practice, and Proficiency—is designed to build confidence in both you and your child. By focusing on role modelling, habit setting, and play, we ensure that potty training becomes a natural, positive experience rather than a pressured task.
Are they ready?
Knowing when to start potty training involves understanding both your child's interest and teaching them the skills needed in a supportive environment. It’s not just about picking the right potty; it’s about mentally and emotionally preparing yourself and your child for the journey ahead.
Signs Your Child is Ready for Potty Training:
Before diving into potty training, ensure your child is showing signs of readiness, remembering every child is unique and will progress at their own pace, so it's essential to recognise and appreciate individual differences. These signs typically appear between 18 months and 3 years, but every child is unique. Look for cues such as:
Physical – Can walk steadily. Is able to squat and can reverse into a potty to sit down. May be able to help with pulling pants up or down.
Communication - Can use simple words or gestures to communicate and can understand different body parts.
Social and cognitive - Shows curiosity about the world and acts out familiar observations or routines learnt from parents.
At The Healthy Child Co., we emphasise getting down to your child’s level to observe their behaviours, making sure they are truly ready, not just because they’ve reached a certain age. This is key for building confidence and a sense of independence in your little one.
Step 1: Prepare – Laying the Foundations for Success
Before potty training officially begins, preparation is key. Think of this stage as setting up your child for success by familiarising them with the toilet environment, developing body awareness, and establishing early habits.
Role Modelling: The Power of Observation
Children learn best by watching others. If they see a sibling, parent, or caregiver using the toilet, they start to understand how it works. Talk to your child about what you’re doing in a simple and positive way. For example: “I’m using the toilet because my body tells me it’s time to go.” If your child is comfortable, let them observe you flushing, washing hands, and pulling up clothing—these small moments of exposure help normalise the process.
Responsive Parenting: Following Your Child’s Cues
Responsive parenting is an approach that emphasises attentiveness, empathy, and flexibility in meeting a child's needs. It involves tuning into the child's cues, signals, and emotions and responding in a supportive and nurturing manner. When it comes to toileting, responsive parenting involves understanding the skills needed for potty training and recognising a child's unique habits, behaviours, and cues. It can be broken down into three key steps: observation, interpretation, and action. Parents observe their child's toileting cues, interpret them, and then encourage their child to use the toilet, supporting their independence in a gentle and responsive way.
Getting Used to the Toilet Environment
A fear of the toilet can delay potty training, so start by making it a comfortable space. Let your child explore the bathroom, flush the toilet, and sit on a potty fully clothed before they need to use it.
Developing Body Awareness & Habit Setting
Children need to recognise their body’s cues before they can act on them. Encourage awareness by:
- Talking about bodily sensations (“Your tummy feels full; that might mean you need a wee”)
- Changing nappies in the bathroom to create a toilet association
- Having set “potty breaks” first thing in the morning, after meals and naps, even if they don’t go
Once your child is familiar with the process, it’s time to move to the next step—practice!
Step 2: Practice – Building Skills Through Repetition & Play
This is where potty training officially begins! The goal of this stage is to turn learning into a consistent habit while keeping the process positive and playful.
Habit Setting: Repeating What Was Learned in the Preparation Stage
Routine builds confidence. At this stage, you’re reinforcing the habits you introduced earlier:
- Encouraging potty visits at regular times
- Using gentle reminders “you look like you need the toilet, you know where it is”
- Praising every small success “You sat on the potty—great job!”
Practicing All the Skills of Potty Training
Now your child is not just recognising when they need to go but actively learning the full potty routine, including:
- Pulling down/up underwear and trousers
- Sitting on the potty comfortably
- Wiping (with help)
- Flushing the toilet
- Washing hands independently
The Importance of Play in the Practice Stage
Children learn best through play, and potty training is no exception. Making it fun reduces pressure and helps your child engage with the process. Here’s how:
Pretend play – Let toys “use” the potty so your child can role-play the routine.
Storytelling – Read potty training books together to reinforce learning.
Silly songs – Singing a potty-time song.
The more relaxed and playful this stage is, the faster your child will gain confidence!
Step 3: Proficiency – Mastering Independence
By this stage, your child is using the potty regularly—but the final goal is true independence and confidence.
Handling Setbacks with Patience
Even when children seem fully potty trained, accidents can and will happen—especially during transitions like starting nursery or moving to a big kid bed. Instead of frustration, use a calm approach:
“Oops, that’s okay! Let’s get you cleaned up and try again next time.”
The key is to keep potty training positive—never shame a child for accidents, as it can create anxiety around toileting.
Nighttime Training
Night dryness can take longer to develop. Some children will still need nappies or training pants overnight, and that’s completely normal. When they start waking up dry, you can transition to full underwear.
Why The Healthy Child Co. Three-Step Approach Works
Our Prepare, Practice, and Proficiency method is evidence-based, child-led, and grounded in responsive parenting principles. We believe that potty training should feel natural, not forced. By focusing on:
✅ Preparation – Setting up the environment, role modeling, and building awareness
✅ Practice – Repeating routines, playing, and making learning fun
✅ Proficiency – Encouraging independence while handling setbacks with patience
… you’re ensuring long-term success in a way that is gentle, empowering, and stress-free!
At The Healthy Child Co., we support parents with expert guidance to navigate each stage with confidence and ease.
Final Thoughts
Potty training is a journey, not a race. Every child will progress at their own pace, and that’s okay! By following the three-step approach, you’re giving your child the tools they need to succeed—not just in potty training but in developing life skills like independence, self-regulation, and confidence.
Need more support? Check out our expert-led online potty training course for step-by-step guidance!
References
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2016). Toilet Training Guidelines: Parents—The Role of the Parents in Toilet Training. HealthyChildren.org. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org
Blum, N. J., Taubman, B., & Nemeth, N. (2003). Relationship Between Age at Initiation of Toilet Training and Duration of Training: A Prospective Study. Pediatrics, 111(4), 810-814. doi:10.1542/peds.111.4.810
Brazelton, T. B. (1962). A Child-Oriented Approach to Toilet Training. Pediatrics, 29(1), 121-128.
Ginsburg, K. R. (2007). The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-2697
Mota, D. M., & Barros, A. J. (2008). Toilet Training: Methods, Parental Expectations, and Associated Dysfunction. Journal of Pediatrics, 84(1), 9-17. doi:10.2223/JPED.1740
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). (2017). Developmental Milestones and Toilet Training. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://www.nichd.nih.gov
Schaaf, R. C., & Nightlinger, K. M. (2007). Sensory Integration: Implications for Toilet Training in Children with Developmental Delays. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 61(5), 578-590.
Tizard, B., & Hughes, C. (2002). Young Children's Behaviour and Development: Insights from Research. Routledge.