When is the Right Time to Start Potty Training
What’s inside: Is your child ready to start potty training? 9 physical & behavioral readiness clues, plus the one essential item to have on hand you might not expect! Sponsored by Pampers at Sam’s Club.
My biggest potty training mistake
I kept hoping that my daughter would just want to potty train and it would be no big deal. Most of my friends seemed to have an easy time of it with their kids. My daughter is pretty clever, so I figured we’d get it right away too.
Well, I think my daughter is too smart, because she quickly figured out that all her fancy potty seats are just a gimmick (yes, we tried multiple potty options). This girl also figured out that she can still play the “You did it!” sound on her potty, even if she didn’t do it yet.
So we tried another strategy: no more diapers.
Result? More accidents than I dreamed possible and an entire pack of toddler panties in the washing machine within a few hours. Thank goodness we still had a couple spare Pampers on hand!
I quickly realized I had some pretty unrealistic expectations about potty training! Perhaps my daughter wasn’t quite ready yet, and really, what’s the big rush?
My biggest potty training mistake was trying to do it on my timeline, instead of waiting until my daughter was truly ready. I decided to stock up on diapers, and give my daughter a little more time to come around to the idea of potty training.
How do you know if your child is ready to start potty training?
Your toddler or preschooler will show you that they are ready by both physical capability and behavioral clues. Many children are physically ready before they are mentally ready – the key is waiting for both physical and cognitive abilities to be in alignment.
Physical capabilities
Babies younger than 12 months old are not physically able to control elimination; the age when this happens varies among children. Even if your toddler shows an awareness of their bodily functions, they might physically be unable to fully control it until they are older.
Physically, a child should be able to:
- Stand, walk, and run easily on their own
- Pull up or down their pants
- Control elimination
- Go longer than 2 hours without urinating and/or have dry naps
Behavioral clues
Your child may let you know that they are ready to use the potty by:
- Talking about being a “big kid”
- Showing curiosity in what others do in the bathroom
- Telling you when they are going and/or when they need to
- Expressing dislike of wearing wet diapers
- Demonstrating a desire for independence and doing things themselves
Signs your child may need more time
If your child automatically answers “no” or shows strong resistance anytime you ask them to use the potty, they are likely not ready emotionally. Wait a little while and try again.
It’s also normal to experience “setbacks” throughout the process. In fact, the average time it takes to potty train is three months.
Sources: BabyCenter, WebMD
What if my child doesn’t seem ready to start potty training?
My number one tip (learned from experience) is actually pretty simple — relax!
Your child will get it when they’re ready. I promise they won’t be 13 years old and still waiting for you to change their diaper! Unless your day care provider has strict age requirements regarding potty training, there is no one “right” age to get it done.
Keep encouraging your toddler or preschooler to take notice of their body functions, ask them to tell you when they feel the urge, and familiarize them with what happens in the bathroom.
And in the meantime, make sure that you’re stocked up on diapers!
Related: Potty Training Tips – Ignore them ALL Except THIS One
3 Ways to Stock Up at Sam’s Club
- Sam’s Club Scan & Go App — I’ve got to say, the Scan & Go app is genius! Use your phone to scan items as you put them in your cart, then pay through the app. Your receipt goes straight to your phone, allowing you to save time and skip the checkout line! Download the app:
- Club Pickup — Our daughter will only nap in the car. There are so many times we’ve pulled up to our destination and found her asleep in her seat! Instead of waking up peacefully sleeping kids, you can order your Pampers products on samsclub.com and select “club pickup.” That way when you pull up to the store, everything is already waiting for you — you don’t even need to leave your car!
- Online — Shop Sam’s Club online to order Pampers for delivery straight to your door!
Is there a moment where you were really glad you stocked up on diapers? Share your story below!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of P&G – Pampers. The opinions and text are all mine.
More toddler parenting tips on the Soccer Mom Blog:
Why Won’t My Toddler Sleep Through the Night?
- Frozen S’mores - June 13, 2025
- Air Fryer Fried Ice Cream - June 10, 2025
- Easy Sidewalk Paint for Kids - June 5, 2025
