Potty Training Essentials Checklist (2026)

Signs they are ready

Dry for two hours at a time, interested in the bathroom, able to pull trousers down, and able to tell you afterwards that something happened. Age matters less than this list.

Starting during a house move, a new sibling or a nursery change usually costs more time than it saves. Wait for a calm fortnight.

The seven-item kit

One potty or toilet seat the child chooses themselves, a stable step stool, thick training pants, a travel potty for the car, a waterproof mattress protector, a reward chart, and far more floor cleaner than feels reasonable.

Skip the musical potties. They turn the toilet into a toy and slow the transition to a real one.

Potty or toilet seat?

A floor potty is less intimidating and lets a toddler go alone. A toilet seat with a ladder skips the transition stage but needs more confidence at the start.

Many families buy one of each: potty downstairs, seat upstairs. That is cheaper than the arguments about carrying one around.

The first fortnight

Stay home where you can, use loose clothing, and set a gentle two-hourly reminder rather than asking constantly.

Accidents are data, not failure. If you get past two weeks with no progress at all, stop, wait a month, and try again — that usually works better than pushing through.