Potty training in children: everything you need to know!

In the day-to-day life of new parents, the question of potty training inevitably comes up. This stage gradually makes its way in, sometimes without warning — as diapers start piling up, the first interest in the potty appears, or little comments from those around you start to add up. And with it often come doubts: is it too early, too late, is everything going normally?

Between diapers, bedwetting, hygiene learning, and very free explorations of the world (yes, even those infamous metro handrails being licked 🚈), it’s very easy to feel a bit lost. Yet in most cases, all of this is part of a very gradual process, closely linked to a child’s overall development.

The goal is therefore not to see potty training as a stage to “succeed” at, but rather to understand how it gradually develops. And above all, to be able to support this stage calmly, without unnecessary pressure or comparison.
La propreté chez les enfants, on vous explique tout !

Diapers and the path to potty training 🚼

Before even talking about potty training, it’s important to accept a sometimes unsettling truth for adults: children don’t follow an internal timeline that matches external expectations. The move from diapers to the potty, and from the potty to the toilet, isn’t about performance — it’s about the overall maturation of the body and brain.

It’s important to understand that this natural development involves several layers at once. A child first needs to be able to feel their bodily signals, then identify them, and finally learn to anticipate them. This is what’s happening when your child starts becoming aware that they are pushing to poop in their diaper, whereas before it went unnoticed.

In short, this process unfolds differently for every child. It can happen quickly for some, very gradually for others, and sometimes even seem to stall before moving forward again.

And that’s exactly why support matters more than rushing. As an adult (and parent), your role is to provide guidance and a reassuring framework — one in which accidents are not mistakes, but simply normal steps along the way.
fr:Charlie porte une taille 1-2, en:Charlie wears a size 1-2, de:Charlie trägt Größe 1-2

Supporting potty training, always without pressure

Potty training is deeply shaped by the emotional environment in which it takes place. A child who feels rushed, compared, or made to feel like they’re failing will often slow down or withdraw, whereas a calm, supportive setting encourages exploration and independence. That’s why it’s important to guide without too much rigidity and to value attempts just as much as successes. In short, what children need most is an environment that invites them to explore without fear.

There are also a few signs that may show your child is ready to move on to the next stage:

  • Your child starts to undress themselves without help to go to the toilet
  • They express discomfort when their diaper is soiled
  • They begin to verbalise bodily needs (not only for toileting, but also hunger or thirst)
  • They move away or hide when they are about to pee or poop in their diaper
  • They start to show curiosity about the potty on their own initiative

These signs are mainly there to show that your child is developing awareness around toileting and making progress. So there’s no need to worry about going too fast or too slow — the key is to observe their behaviour and support them without pressure.

It’s also worth noting that potty training can sometimes come with resistance. A child may refuse the potty, regress after a period of progress, or seem uninterested again after some time. These phases can feel confusing, but they are completely normal.

Bedwetting: a common (and completely normal) stage 🌙

Bedwetting is often one of the situations that worries parents the most, especially when a child is already dry during the day. Yet it’s a very common phenomenon that can continue even once daytime toilet training seems fully in place.

From a physiological point of view, this happens because the brain doesn’t always perfectly coordinate deep sleep with the signals sent by the bladder. This is known as nocturnal enuresis. During these moments, the child simply doesn’t “wake up in time” — not because they aren’t trying, but because this mechanism is still developing.

What really matters here is how you support your child through it. The more these episodes are kept in perspective, the more calmly the child can move forward. On the other hand, it’s important not to add pressure, shame, or guilt, as this can make a stage that is usually temporary and self-resolving feel much more difficult than it needs to be.

Everyday hygiene: a sensory learning experience 🧴

Hygiene isn’t just about habits learned mechanically. For children, it’s part of a much broader relationship with the world, where the body becomes a constant tool for exploration. Touching, tasting, observing things up close… everything happens through the senses.

In this context, certain behaviours that often surprise adults become easier to understand — like putting different objects in their mouth or touching public surfaces without hesitation. These moments can naturally raise hygiene concerns, and this is where adults play an important role: guiding children, redirecting them when needed, and gradually helping them build healthy habits.

A very common example of this stage is hand, foot and mouth disease, a viral infection frequently seen in young children. It spreads precisely through this phase of oral exploration and close contact between hands, objects, and the mouth. Symptoms often include a mild fever and small sores in the mouth or on the hands and feet, reminding us that this period of discovery is also a time when children slowly begin learning about hygiene.

That said, the goal isn’t to limit a child’s natural curiosity, but rather to guide it toward more appropriate habits over time: washing hands regularly, learning that some objects don’t belong in the mouth, and gradually understanding the difference between what is “clean” and “less clean.”

A final thought 🫶

Rather than seeing potty training as a milestone children need to “achieve,” it’s more helpful to view it as a process they move through. It develops gradually, with moments that feel easy and others that come with hesitation — all at a pace that belongs entirely to the child.

Between diapers, bedwetting, hygiene habits, and sometimes surprising sensory discoveries, every part of this stage contributes to the same journey: growing up. And throughout it all, the adult’s role remains the same — to guide with patience, provide a reassuring environment, and give children the space they need to grow at their own pace. 💛

-

Written by Bertrand Lamy
@tajinebanane

Sources : 

Ameli : https://www.ameli.fr/assure/sante/themes/syndrome-pieds-mains-bouche/definition-symptomes-evolution