After closely watching your toddler for a few telling signs, you’re pretty sure they’re ready for potty training! But while this is exciting news, it can also be a little daunting. Not only will you need to buy them underwear, but you’ll also need to potty-proof the home, and make sure they have suitable clothing. And before all of that, you have a decision to make. Will you use a potty or go straight to a toilet trainer seat?

What are the benefits of using a potty as opposed to a toilet trainer seat?

Given that they’re entirely portable, potties are fantastic for both home and travel. They can be set up in any room in the house, which comes in handy if you only have one bathroom, and they’re far less intimidating than a toilet.

The downside is that your toddler will have to learn to use the toilet at some point, but this is generally a pretty smooth transition. Given that it offers so much flexibility, we recommend that you begin with a potty and don’t go straight to toilet trainer seats, but the decision is yours to make.

And now, with that out of the way, let’s find out how best to prepare for potty training.

How to prepare for potty training?

Choose your potty or trainer seat. When it comes to potties, there’s a wealth of options, but the simplest models are almost always the best. Just make sure it isn’t too wide or narrow for your child and that it’s positioned so they can sit with both feet firmly on the floor, their knees a little higher than their bottom, with a bit of support for the lower back. Before they use it, ensure there’s no chance of it toppling over. If you opt for a training seat, it should sit securely on the toilet and mustn’t be too wide or narrow. They’ll also need a step to get on and off the toilet.

Introduce the potty 1 or 2 weeks before training begins. Introducing the potty a couple of weeks before training gives your toddler a chance to try it out and practise sitting on it fully clothed, but don’t introduce it any earlier as they may lose interest.

Avoid pull-ups (disposable nappies with an elasticated waist that can be pulled up and down.) When you use pull-ups, you are telling your child that you want them to start using the potty, but you don’t trust that they can do so. It’s much better to do away with nappies entirely, at least during the day, and instead, use underwear.

Buy underwear. When you set out on your underwear-buying trip, try to involve your child as much as possible. Let them know excitedly that you’re going on a special shopping trip before letting them choose a few fun and colourful pairs. We recommend letting them choose their favourites, even if you don’t like their choice. We want them to be excited to put them on each morning instead of their trusted nappy. Just make sure they’ll be comfortable.

Make sure they have some potty-friendly clothing. Some clothing will make using the potty a great deal more difficult:

Trousers/shorts with zips, hooks, buttons
Tights and leggings
Bodysuits with poppers/dungarees/overalls/onesies
Belts
Long tops with tassels
Long dresses
Tight skirts

Instead, go for:

Baggy trousers and shorts with elasticated waistlines
Tops that end at the waist
Skirts that can easily be pulled down by your toddler
Dresses that aren’t too long or flowy and are easy for your toddler to manage
Baby leg warmers will keep your little one’s legs nice and warm in the winter instead of tights

If it’s warm enough, your toddler can also go bare-bottomed for the first few days to make potty trips even easier.

Potty-proof your home. During potty training, your home will get a little messy, so it’s worth investing in a few useful products and bearing a few points in mind. To protect wooden floors, carpets, and furniture, we suggest you get hold of:

A lot of old towels and cloths
Carpet cleaner
Hard-floor cleaner
A waterproof yet comfortable mattress protector
A waterproof sheet or an old shower curtain
Air freshener or a natural oil diffuser

If you have any favourite rugs, it might be a good idea to store them away temporarily. Similarly, placing washable blankets on your sofa and chairs will help to prevent staining and damage.

Set up a hand-washing station. If they haven’t already learnt to wash their hands, now is a great time to teach your toddler the importance of regularly washing hands. Explain that germs are tiny creatures that we can neither see nor feel; while some are good, others are bad and can even make us sick. Let them know that in order to keep the good germs around and get rid of the bad ones, we must always wash our hands after using the toilet.

Make sure your toddler has easy access to a sink, a towel, and some soap (preferably of the liquid, hand-pump dispenser variety.) You may need to buy them a small bathroom step they can move about on their own.

Prepare for trips. When you’re out and about, there’s nothing worse than not having a spare pair of pants or a bag for wet clothes. However, if you keep a couple of bags by the front door that are always fully stocked and ready to go, you can avoid a lot of potentially difficult situations.

Bag number 1: A bag with a waterproof lining to transport any wet clothing.
Bag number 2: A bag containing at least two pairs of clean underwear, a pair of shorts or trousers, and a couple of pairs of socks. You’ll also need some wet wipes and toilet roll.

You should also buy a protective seat cover, known as a piddle paddle, for car journeys or if you’re using the buggy, and you might want to get hold of a collapsible travel potty.

How do I prepare for potty training?

Here are our top tips on how to get ready to train your toddler.