5 Signs Your Preschooler is Ready for Potty Training

At this point you’re about ready to never see another diaper again for the rest of your life. You’ve already stocked up on toddler undies in every color designed with all of your preschooler’s favorite characters, and you’re so ready to make the switch.

Here’s 5 signs your preschooler is ready for potty training, so they can ditch the diapers and start rocking those Elmo undies.

1. STAYING DRY

Staying dry for longer periods of time shows that your child has more control over their bladder, which is an important first step in potty training. As your preschooler grows, their bladders will naturally be able to hold more liquid, and by 2-3 years old children usually develop enough control over their pelvic muscles to hold back urine until reaching the toilet.

If your preschooler is staying dry for up to 2 hours during the day, or waking up dry from naps, they may be ready to start potty training!

2. HIDING

If your preschooler is hiding in a corner while doing their business, then that’s actually a good sign! Hiding during bowel movements means two things:

Your preschooler is beginning to understand that using the restroom is meant to be done in private.
Your preschooler is able to recognize when they have the urge to have a bowel movement, and control where they have it.

3. SHOWING EXTRA CURIOSITY

If your preschooler has become your new bathroom buddy, they may be ready to give potty training a chance. When your preschooler begins to show interest in your bathroom habits, they will begin to learn how to mimic those habits.

Your preschooler will most likely start out by following you and just watching, and may eventually start trying to help you by handing you toilet paper, or even trying to flush the toilet. Doing these things means your preschooler is picking up on important bathroom habits.

Encourage your preschooler’s curiosity and let them be involved in whatever ways they can be. You can use this time of curiosity to teach your preschooler that flushing the toilet isn’t scary, and the importance of washing our hands after we use the restroom. The more curiosity they show, the closer they are to being ready to use the potty.

4. DITCHING DIRTY DIAPERS

If your preschooler emerges from their hiding place demanding that their soiled diaper be removed immediately, there’s a good chance they’re ready to start potty training. When even your preschooler is grossed out by their own dirty diapers, they’re a lot more likely to try to avoid having one at all.

This one can get especially fun when your preschooler starts removing their own diapers and running around the house butt naked. The only advice we can give you about this is…cross your fingers and hope it was just pee this time.

5. DOING THE POTTY DANCE

We mean this both literally, and non literally. Your preschooler may come right up to you and tell you they need to go potty, in which case, you have hit the potty training jackpot! Most likely though, your preschooler will be much more subtle in the beginning.

If you see your child squatting in a corner, wiggling a lot, or holding their private area, then these are huge indicators your preschooler needs to use the restroom, and has realized they don’t want to go in their diaper. If your preschooler is literally doing the potty dance, they’re just waiting for you to show them the right place to go potty.