If you’re nervous about starting the potty training process with your child, don’t worry—we’ve all been there! Potty training can be a tough journey for parents. This is why we teamed up with Kimberly-Clark for an exclusive Facebook Live Q&A discussing the must-know tips to help your child as they potty train and how to make the process much less daunting for parents.

Potty training is an important milestone on the path to becoming a big kid. Kimberly-Clark’s Potty Training Expert, Renee Booms, is the Senior Marketing Research Manager for the North American Baby & Child Care Division. She’s been studying consumer behaviour for almost two decades with a focus on potty training in the last four years. This mother of two young children is here to answer your top questions and comments on the strains (and joys!) of potty training.

4 signs your child is ready to potty train

Remember there is no “right” age to start! Every child is different and will start potty training at different times. As a parent, look for cues from your child’s behaviour. There are typically signs of readiness that start to show up around two years old, but don’t be too worried if your child waits until two and a half or three years old. A few notable cues to look for are:

1. Copying ‘potty behaviours’ of parents or older siblings—showing interest in the potty by flushing or asking questions
2. Having a diaper that’s dry for a longer period of time than usual or waking up dry from a nap
3. Tugging at a dirty or wet diaper, or verbally asking to be changed
4. Verbally asking to use the potty themselves

Know your child’s potty personality

As parents know firsthand, there’s no one-size-fits-all method for raising children. This extends to potty training too! Each child has a ‘potty personality’ and working with their personality is one of the keys to successful potty training. Take the Potty Personality Quiz by Pull-Ups to find out which personality your child most resembles.

• The Puppy: Ready, willing, and eager to please. A lot of energy but easily directed to what you want them to focus on. Once they learn the rules, they are quick to potty train!
• The Owl: Careful, detailed, and likes to follow direction. It’s important to lay out what the expectations are and they will learn very quickly. These children tend to resist a bit if pushed too hard.
• The Bear Cub: Independent, free spirited, and fun-loving. Usually busy playing with toys or eating food—too busy to be interrupted to use the potty! It’s important to make potty training fun and engaging. Try to be silly and change things up (plus: patience).
• The Turtle: Shy, nervous, and resistant to change. Comfortable with the status quo—they might be interested in potty training but are skeptical about what it means to them. They may seem stubborn, but they have a strong sense of preservation! Treat them with kindness and patience. Introducing potty training concepts gradually without pressure can help.
• The Squirrel: Driven, energetic, and highly distracted. Lots of energy and go from activity to activity—they can’t be slowed down to potty train! They may show interest but don’t take the time to pause and use the potty. Use games to keep things focused and make sure they get enough playtime to burn off some of that energy.

Learn so much more in the Facebook Live!

Watch the recap for more of Renee’s tips and tricks for potty training. She also covers how long potty training should take, nighttime bed wetting, and more tips to help along the entire journey. If you have any further questions about potty training, please let us know in the comments. Thanks for watching!