Toilet Training - KFL&A Public Health

Toilet Training
Where can a parent go for help?
• Child & Babytalk
613-549-1154 or
1-800-267-7875, ext. 1555
• Ontario Early Years Centre:
Kingston and the Islands
613-384-1231
North, Central, and South Frontenac
Township-Sharbot Lake
613-279-2244
Lennox and Addington
County-Napanee
613-354-6318
• Your local library for resources on
parenting
Adapted from Manitoba Health
September 2007

What is the child doing?
Most children are ready to begin toilet training around
the age of 2 to 3 years.
The following are signs that your child may be ready for toilet
training:
• She can stand up and sit down on her own.
• Your child is telling you when he needs to “go.”
• She can follow simple instructions.
• He is able to stay dry for several hours.
• He can pull his pants up and down on his own.
• She knows when she has gone to the bathroom.

What should the parent do?
What is the child doing?
A few tips to remember:
• Relax! Your child will be successful.
• Don’t attempt to toilet train if your child is upset.
• A child may not learn to control their pee and poop at the
same time.
• Keeping dry at night may take a bit longer. Keep diapers
on at night until your child starts waking up dry in the morning.
• Accidents are common until the child is about 5 years old.
Never punish or blame a child when they have an accident.
• A child who has already learned to use the potty may
start wetting again if there is a change in his life (like a
new baby in the family, divorce or illness). Tell your child
it is okay and that you understand.
Remember:
• It may take a child 3 to 6 months before they use the toilet
or potty regularly.
• If you have tried to begin toilet training and your child
refuses to use the potty, give it a break for 1 to 3 months
and then try again.
• Every child is different, however, most children will be
fully toilet trained by the age of 5.

What should the parent do?
What should the parent do?
Before potty training:
• Teach your child to know when he is “going.”
• Teach her words that both of you can understand like
pee, poop, bowel movement, etc.
• Let your child watch you using the toilet.
• Give your child a potty.
• Read books to your child about potty training.
• Let your child dress and undress himself.
• Look for signs that your child needs to use the potty
or toilet.
• Be patient.
When your child is ready:
• Be positive and calm.
• Show your child the potty and tell him what it is used for.
• Encourage your child to tell you when she needs to use the
potty and take her right away.
• Stay with your child while he is on the potty.
• Let your child sit quietly until he is finished or wants to get off
the potty.
• Teach your child to wipe from front to back and to wash hands
afterwards.
• Praise your child whether they go in the potty or not.
• Empty dirty diapers into the potty in front of your child. This
may help him understand what he is supposed to do.
• Let your child know that she can try again later if she doesn’t
go in the potty.
• After repeated successes, suggest the use of cotton under
wear. Let your child help choose her underwear.