TinyStepper
Boy sitting cross-legged on a teal cushion blowing a pinwheel with fairy lights above

Potty Goes to the Bedroom

Move the potty into the bedroom for night and morning use, so the toilet stops being the scary destination — meet your toddler where they already feel safe.

Activity details

2y–3y5 minslowindoorPicture BooksTowels

Instructions

Get ready
  • Pick a corner of your toddler's bedroom that has a clear floor and is easy to wipe.
  • Move the potty there in front of your child. 'Potty is moving in with you.'
  1. Pick a corner of your toddler's bedroom that has a clear floor and is easy to wipe.
  2. Move the potty there in front of your child. 'Potty is moving in with you.'
  3. Place a small basket of two or three favourite books beside the potty.
  4. Add a soft mat under the potty to catch any drips.
  5. Show your toddler: 'You can use this potty in the morning when you wake up, or before bed.'
  6. Try the first sit at a low-pressure moment — pyjamas off, books in hand.
  7. Stay nearby but don't hover. Let them choose how long to sit.
  8. Empty the potty into the bathroom toilet together afterwards. 'Bye bye wee!'

Parent tip

Set out picture books and towels before inviting your toddler in so the first minute feels smooth.

Relaxed child lying on a floor cushion with blanket and pinwheel in a cosy calm corner

What success looks like

A few quiet minutes together without pressure. If your child relaxes even slightly, that’s self-regulation building.

If your toddler resists the bathroom potty, bring the potty to them. Move it into the corner of their bedroom where the surroundings are familiar and warm — the same toys, the same smell, the same security blanket. The bedroom potty is the bridge between nappies and the bathroom, and many toddlers will sit on it readily because it's no longer in the cold, echoey, stranger-soap-smelling room they associate with strange grown-up routines.

Why it helps

AAP HealthyChildren guidance on potty training resistance specifically lists putting the potty in the child's bedroom as one of the most effective compromises when a toddler resists the bathroom — it removes the unfamiliar setting from the equation entirely. ERIC's potty training method takes the same line: meeting the child where they feel safest is more important than insisting on adult bathroom etiquette, and the bedroom potty gives the toddler a foothold of confidence that can be moved closer to the bathroom over time.

Variations

  • Use a second potty downstairs at the same time so your child has two potties available.
  • Once the bedroom potty becomes easy, gradually move it closer to the bathroom door each week.
  • Pair with the bedside comfort tour ritual so the potty becomes part of the bedroom comfort kit.

Safety tips

  • Use a wipeable mat under the potty to protect the bedroom carpet.
  • Empty the potty promptly to avoid odours overnight.
  • Don't leave a full potty within reach of younger siblings or pets.

Want to try another?

Bedside Comfort Tour

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