How to potty train a 1 year old- the complete guideline

Being a new mom is a whole new experience; you have to learn how to feed, bathe, care etc. You might even have to learn to sing a song to make your child asleep. 

It’s a profound thought for any parent, from putting them in diapers to when it is best to say goodbye to diapers. 

It’s essential to teach your kid to potty usually. It’s one step forward to making your toddler into an individual. 

Is it making you anxious about your kid already? Don’t worry, keep reading; by the end of this article, you’ll be able to know How to potty train a 1 year old. 

What is the ideal potty training age

Before starting any training or experiment on your kid, you must know the ideal age for starting a potty training. 

Most pediatricians suggest that 18 to 20 months old is the average age for starting the training. But every newborn grows differently, so there is a big chance not to rely on this average age method. 

You should just notice your newborn’s activities, and you will automatically know when it is better to start a new experience and say goodbye to dirty diapers. 

A 12 month old child already feels their basic needs like hunger, sleepiness and urge to pee or poop. So you should tell them already that they will have to pee or poop in a potty chair soon. And gradually start it as an experiment, then make it a habit. 

How to start the training

As you already know when to start, the first thing that makes you anxious is how to begin the potty training for your toddler. 

The first step is to get ready. You have to be patient and prepare mentally that this might take a long time. 

If you are ready, you have to show positivity about using the potty. You have to show the importance of using it on your kid. Make sure your kid uses that sign at the right time, even if he doesn’t want to use the potty chair yet. This part is a notable one. 

So, if your kid is already familiar with the sign, you are halfway on this journey. Try to acknowledge your kid’s behavior when they want to poop or pee.

Now you have to follow some ways-

Start as early as possible- if you do not start early, your kid might get dependent on diapers, and it would be tough for them to jump to the potty later. 

● Prepare your child- Before giving a trial, you must prepare your kid mentally that he is going to try something new. It would provide them with joy and positivity. 

● Normalize going to potty- Before taking the initiative, make sure your kid takes it as a normal and natural to use the potty. 

Give a name for the potty time– Your kid might get the word “potty” as an extreme sport because of the seriousness of the training. Every time he felt the urge to use the potty, he would naturally mention that name. So you should give a cool name to it and let your child also call it that.

● Make a constant timing- As I said earlier, this will be a lengthy process. So you have to clear your schedule before and never skip a single day; otherwise, your kid might get confused.

● Make a routine- Make a proper routine of going potty, like before sleeping and right after waking up. 

Carry the potty chair everywhere- Every time you travel somewhere, always carry the potty, so your kid knows that he has to use it everywhere. 

Encourage every time and celebrate the progress- The best you can do as a trainer is to encourage your child every time he makes progress. You should celebrate every little success. 

● Use the right gear- Using a colorful and comfortable potty chair would make your work easier. Spend wisely on the right equipment. 

● Make a convenient environment- Set the potty chair in a good place, where your child feels the privacy and enjoys sitting there. Read them their favorite stories or let them read their favorite books while using the potty.

how to potty train a 1 year old

How do you know that your kid is ready to use the potty chair

To potty train your toddler, the most challenging job is to know the exact time when your child is ready to leave the diaper.

So, according to some pediatric specialists, I am mentioning some average activities of children, so you can decide How to potty train your toddler.

By the age of 1, your toddler stops doing poop at night. By the age of 2, your child is dry during the day, he already can hold his pee for two or three hours, but it’s kind of early to be so sure to say. When a baby is 3, they are dry most of the day, but sometimes they can’t hold it when they are excited, upset, or angry. By the age of 4, they already get the whole potty thing and make it their habit. They know their urge to poop or pee by then. 

This was an average study on the children. But of course, your child can be different from this. So before you take a step toward potty training, make sure your toddler can sit on his back for at least three to five minutes. And before you say goodbye to the diapers, make sure your child can hold their pee for at least three hours.

Things to remember

Before starting potty training your child, there are always some essential things to take care of before starting potty training. Let’s see what these are:

● Patience

As I said before that this could be a lengthy process, so you have to be patient enough and try several times without losing your temper. Your child might not respond at first, but you have to take him to the potty at least three times a day.

● Accidents

This would be a whole new experience for your child, and he could get hurt by the potty chair or fall from it. So, always be careful and place the potty chair in a safe place with less chance of getting hurt. 

● Consult a pediatrician.

Keep an eye on the poop and pee of your child. Your kid might be in constipation or have difficulties peeing. Notice that and talk to a pediatrician about any kind of changes. 

● Stay positive

Always stay optimistic about your kid’s behavior about sitting in the potty. If he is stubborn about not sitting in there, do not force it. Make progress gradually, and keep trying. 

Frequently asked Questions

Being a new mom is a lot of hard work and many new things to learn. There is a lot of confusion and tons of questions. Let’s answer some of it, and you might get some valuable How to potty train a 1 year old.

1. Is age one too early to start potty training?

Age 1 is not that early. By that age, your child already stays dry during the day. So you can think of starting and make a whole plan for the training. And get yourself prepared too.

2. How long would it take to potty train a toddler?

It depends on your kid’s response. Every child is different and does not respond equally. But on average, it takes five to seven days to familiarize your child with the process.

3. How do I know that my kid is ready?

If your kid can sit for at least five minutes and walk some steps, you know that your kid is ready to have a new experience.

4. What is the best age to start potty training?

According to some pediatricians, it is best to start the training within 12 to 18 of months. By then, they have become quite active so you will make significant progress.

5. What if my kid is not ready to use the potty?

Encourage your kid and normalize using the potty chair by showing them some pictures or videos. It is quite normal that your kid might not respond positively, but you can’t be hopeless. You have to try after some days and never stop trying.

6. What should I avoid while training my kid?

It would be best if you were not pessimistic and not lose your temper in the process. Try to understand your kid’s issue and put your effort there.

Final Words

Most Asian moms, especially Chinese moms, start potty training their kids at 3 months. Being a western mom, it might surprise you. But do not worry, you can already give a try to your 1 year old. 

There will be a lot of difficulties in the beginning but it will be easy for you and your child with time. Keep learning and explore some new methods to make it convenient for your child, and you will be a success soon. 

So I hope this writing about How to potty train a 1 year old was fruitful for you. 

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