Demonstrate

To help your child understand the purpose of a potty, show them how it is used. For example:

  • When you need to use the bathroom, bring your child with you and have them sit on the potty as you sit on the toilet. Talk them through the process and encourage them to use the potty like a big boy or girl.
  • Take the contents from your child's dirty diaper and drop it into the potty. Explain to your child that the potty is where pee and poo go not the diaper.
  • If your child is using a toilet instead of a potty, empty the contents of your child's diaper into the toilet and flush it away while they are watching.
  • Don't teach boys to pee standing up right away. It's messy and can be confusing. Master going potty sitting down first and then eventually transition to standing up.