Is your toddler ready to potty train?
A calm, 60-second check based on the readiness signs pediatricians actually look for. No sign-up, no pressure, just an honest read on where your child is.
How old is your child?
There is no right age. The skills usually come together between 18 months and about 2.5 years, and before age 2 is often early.
The five signs, briefly
Readiness is part body, part brain, and it is the whole picture together, not any single sign. There is no prize for going first.
- Stays dry longer, around two hours or through a nap, so the bladder is holding.
- Notices the signal and can tell you, with words or a gesture, that pee or poop is coming.
- Manages the basics: gets to the potty, sits and stands, and helps with pants.
- Follows simple directions, and wants to.
- Shows interest in the potty, your bathroom trips, or big-kid underwear.
For the full picture, the readiness signs, how to start, and what to do about accidents, see potty training: when and how to start.
When the signs are there
Keep it child-led and low-pressure: hand your toddler the controls, use calm and positive words, and treat accidents as data, not failures. It lands on their timeline, not the internet's.
Every child is ready on their own timeline, and this is general information, not medical advice. If your child is well past their third birthday and not interested, or if accidents return suddenly, check with your pediatrician.