Once your baby becomes a toddler, the whole routine around diaper changes shifts, and the journey to potty training begins. But until your little one can explore the world without a diaper, there’s a step-by-step process of patience and growth. Here’s how you can help your child become potty trained.

Getting your child toilet trained: the initial signs

Potty training your child? Before you get there, you’ll probably notice quickly that changing a toddler is a completely different experience than changing a baby. These are the first signs: your little one hardly stays still, is much more stubborn, and is aware of the poop or pee they produce.

A good idea is to announce your plans in advance (“I think your diaper is full; we’ll need to put on a new one soon”). This shows that you take the situation seriously. Feel free to let your child help out: they can hand you the baby wipes or a clean diaper. This way, your child is actively involved in the changing routine.

If your little one no longer stays still on the changing table, simply place the changing pad on the floor. Your little explorer can then, for example, stand during diaper changes. The ideal solution for this are the , which are easy to put on and take off while your child is standing.

Is poop and pee something you and your child can talk about? Then that’s a promising sign that your child is becoming toilet trained. And when will they stop wearing a diaper at night? That’s a question that will be answered over the coming months through trial and error. Bye diaper, hello potty.

When do children become potty trained?

Opinions are divided on the answer to this question. Theoretically, children under 18 months cannot become toilet trained. So when do children become toilet trained? Some experts claim that toilet training is possible from the first birthday, but the fact is that control over the bladder and bowels develops around 18 months—and that control is necessary to hold urine and stool at all. Before this age, children can learn to indicate with words or gestures that they need to go to the toilet.

The exact moment when your child becomes potty trained can’t be determined with certainty, because it varies quite a bit from child to child. Once your child can do the following, potty training can essentially begin:

• Your child is aware that they have a bowel movement and feels the urge.

• Sitting down independently on the potty or the toilet works quite well.

• Your child can indicate with words or gestures that they need to go to the toilet.

• The diaper stays dry for a longer period (up to 3 or 4 hours).

If you also notice the following signals and behavioral patterns, you can definitely start toilet training your child:

• Your child is clearly interested in the potty or the toilet and wants to know what happens there (and sometimes even climbs on).

• When they do their business in the diaper, they withdraw.

• Your child no longer wants to have their diaper changed.

• Your child indicates that the diaper is full (and finds it quite interesting) and would like a new one.

• In general, your child becomes more independent and wants to do more things on their own.

How to toilet train your child

A baby urinates approximately twenty times a day, without any control over it. From the sixth month onward, this number decreases until a toddler—around 2.5 years old—realizes that their bladder is full. Bladder control is usually not fully developed at that time, so holding in pee can still be challenging. However, for about half of children between 2 and 3 years old, bladder control is developed enough that the diaper stays dry; the vast majority manage this before their fourth birthday.

Then the big question arises: when is a diaper no longer needed at night? This is usually a few months after your child becomes potty trained. Children often have better control over their bowels earlier than their bladder because the urge comes on more slowly, and pooping is easier to hold in.

“Dry nights” refers to a period when a child has not wet the bed for 6 months. Until then, you’re usually another 10 to 14 months further along. Even if your little explorer takes longer to reach this milestone, there’s no reason to panic. After all, every child learns at their own pace.

Toilet training: from diaper to toilet

The path to a dry diaper and using the toilet is often called potty training. However, “training” may not be the right word. More accurately, you support your toddler in their natural development as they learn to use the potty and toilet.

Having your little explorer spend hours on the potty waiting for pee or poop usually has the opposite effect. Becoming toilet trained is a natural process that should mainly be fun and interesting. Creating literal pressure can have negative effects on your child. Wondering how to toilet train your child naturally? Read the tips below.

1. The right accessories in the house

A potty makes the transition from diaper to toilet a little less abrupt. If your child eventually outgrows the potty, you can make the step to the toilet easier with a toilet reducer and a step stool. Involve your child in the choice, and try out what works best.

“I need to pee…” After that announcement, you usually have little time to get your child on the toilet or potty. Pants and underwear are quicker to take off than rompers. Easy clothing without complicated zippers and buttons (for example, tights) can be pulled down quickly to the ankles, which definitely helps with potty training.

The LILLYDOO training pants support potty training. Your little one can put on and take off the pants like underwear by themselves. When an accident happens, your little explorer stays dry.

If you want to skip diapers while you’re out and about, be sure to bring a set of dry clothes. When you no longer use a diaper at night, a mattress protector is also a good idea. It prevents pee from soaking into the mattress.

2. Set a good example and spark interest

Make the potty interesting for your child and place it in a nice spot. Explain to your little explorer that the potty is for sitting on, even with clothes on. Don’t force your child. You can also explain the purpose of a potty or toilet in a playful way using storybooks.

Then you can gradually place your little one on the potty at set times, for example before bathing, so they get used to the routine.

Once a routine has been established, you can also place your child on the potty without a diaper. The same rule applies here: don’t force it, and don’t make it mandatory to sit until something happens. If you put pressure on toilet training (and take the word “training” too literally), your little one will probably lose interest quickly. Keep it fun and light-hearted for your little explorer.

3. Explain where pee and poop actually belong

If you go to the toilet, take your little one with you and explain what happens in this exciting place. This way, your child learns that going to the toilet is completely normal and nothing to be ashamed of. If your child still has a full diaper during toilet training, calmly explain that mom, dad, an older brother, or an older sister puts the contents in the toilet.

4. Time for the potty / the toilet

If you’ve clearly noticed that your child is ready to be toilet trained, you can skip the diaper during the day for a few hours and offer the potty instead. Or go to the toilet together when your child indicates they need to pee or poop. Saying goodbye to the diaper completely is something you’ll do only when your child is ready and indicates they want to.

Ask your child regularly if they need to go to the toilet. This helps them learn to judge when a full bladder means it’s time to urinate.

Becoming fully toilet trained can take some time. When your child goes to the potty or toilet by themselves, you can reward them with a compliment or a sticker. Don’t overdo it, and above all, stay positive when it doesn’t work out.

5. When the diaper is no longer needed at night

A euphoric moment: your little one stays dry throughout the day without a diaper! But it can take several months until the bed stays clean at night as well. Maintaining bladder control during sleep takes time and practice.

Going to the potty or the toilet at night is no fun for your little one. To make it a bit easier, you can place the potty next to the bed or leave the toilet light on.

Even with a positive attitude, lots of patience, and consistent perseverance, staying dry at night can take some time—but that’s no reason to panic. One common measure against bedwetting that you can definitely ignore is withholding drinks in the evening.

6. Patience is a virtue

If you want to potty train your child, stay patient and positive, and don’t let your surroundings influence you. Family and friends probably have plenty of tips, but ultimately, your child has to do it themselves.

Don’t get angry when a little accident happens. That’s completely normal and nothing your child should be ashamed of. Keep that in mind when you spot a wet patch on the jeans just before leaving for your in-laws, and stay light-hearted even then. That also builds your child’s confidence.

Toilet training: timing, consistency, and a positive attitude

Timing is everything when it comes to toilet training. Spring—and especially summer—are good times to start. Your child often walks around (partially) naked, which allows them to clearly see what happens during urination and bowel movements.

A not-so-good time to start potty training is when your child’s environment is unstable. Has your little one just gotten a brother or sister? Are you in the middle of a move? Is your child sick, or is your little explorer starting preschool for the first time? Then feel free to keep the diaper on a little longer—your child needs that energy for other things.

Regularity is also important. For example, inform childcare or a babysitter about the potty training so they can stay consistent. If you don’t, it may confuse your little one: Dad or Mom is gone—should I use the potty now, or the toilet?

Also establish clear rules for using the toilet, so going to the bathroom follows a consistent routine. Consider washing hands, or always wiping from front to back.

Your little one may have a small setback. Sometimes there’s a cause, such as illness or a significant event. Always stay positive; most of the time, you can simply pick up where you left off afterward.

An important step for you and your child

We’re happy to provide you with diapers, but we also love to see your little one become toilet trained. If you receive our and need fewer over time, you can simply adjust the delivery intervals. And when the time finally comes and your child no longer needs diapers, you can stop the delivery.

The path to potty training is an important step for your little explorer, and we wish you the very best of luck with it!