These printable potty training sticker charts can help your toddler ditch diapers

What is a potty training chart?

Reward charts can be hugely motivating to the 5 and under crowd – especially when you're starting to potty train .

A potty training chart is really just a glorified reward chart, i.e. a printed visual of some kind with room for checkmarks, smiley faces, or stickers that keeps track of how often your child achieves a goal.

In this case, the goal is how often they successfully use the potty (or hit other potty-related milestones, depending on how far along they are in their training).

"Potty charts can be a great way to motivate your child to potty train and stay dry," says Dawn Rosenberg , M.D., a pediatrician and member of BabyCenter's Medical Advisory Board . "Many kids benefit from the visual of an actual chart that shows their progress and gives them a sense of accomplishment."

Potty training charts aren't required, but they can help make your child's introduction to potty training something fun and exciting. They can be as simple as a hand-drawn sign that hangs on the fridge or as elaborate as a magnetized board stylized to your child's favorite animated character, TV show, or color.

You can even use a basic printable calendar, if your goal is to keep track of accident-free days or nights . Whichever style you choose, display the chart somewhere visible and accessible so your kiddo can add to it themselves and see their progress in action.

Printable potty training charts

You can find tons of printable potty charts online with exactly what you're looking for (whether it's specific colors, characters, or rewards) – or you can use one of our free, printable charts!

We've created two options for you: one generic chart your child can use each time they use the potty to track their progress toward their next reward; and another with specific potty training goals for your child to meet.

Chart 1: Potty training goals

If your child hasn't done much potty training, it helps to reward them for small goals before advancing to any kind of potty proficiency.

For a beginner, telling you they need to use the potty is a big step! Rewarding your child for this, even if they didn't quite make it in time, can go a long way toward keeping potty training positive.

Similarly, it can be hard for a beginning potty trainer to stay dry all day, so choose a short period of time (like while watching a TV show or running a quick errand) and see if your child can meet that goal before advancing to a goal of staying dry all day.

This chart allows you to write in your own goals to meet your child's needs. Here are some goals you can use to get started:

• I said I had to use the potty
• I sat on the potty for one minute
• I went pee in the potty
• I went poop in the potty
• I used big-kid undies
• I put on my pull-up all by myself
• I washed my hands after going potty
• I stayed dry at the library/at the store/during dinner

My Potty Training Goals Chart Download this potty training chart to help you and your little one keep track of their weekly potty training goals.

Chart 2: Potty training rewards

This chart is for more experienced potty-trainers who can use the potty more consistently. Let them put a sticker on a bubble every time they use the potty until they reach the end.

You don't have to offer them a reward – sometimes heaps of praise is all it takes! – but if you think your child would be more motivated working for a small prize, feel free to choose one in advance or keep it a surprise.

My Potty Training Reward Chart Download this potty training chart to help you and your little one track their progress toward a reward.

How to use a potty training chart

Once your child is showing signs that they're ready to potty train , like pulling down their own pants and staying dry in their diaper for at least two hours at a time, you can give potty training a shot. (Just be prepared to back off if they resist , because you don't want to create a negative association with using the potty).

Many kids who are ready for potty training respond well to reward charts, but it's important to take the time to introduce your child to the potty training chart and explain how it works. Here's how to get started.

Choose the right type

There are charts that work well for beginners and younger kids, and ones that work better for older children or kids struggling with potty training .

If your child hasn't done any potty training before, start with an easy-to-interpret chart with simple goals, like saying "I think I need to use the potty!" or simply sitting on the potty, even if they don't actually go.

Also consider whether your child can read basic sight words yet or needs an illustrated chart, or if certain characters or colors are especially motivating for them.

Finally, some kids like to see their progress add up quickly across rows or columns, while other kids prefer to follow a visual goal, like a race car on a track or a baby bear walking through a forest to its mom.

Put it in a visible place

Your child will need to see their chart to be motivated by it, so make sure it's in an accessible spot. This might be stuck to the fridge, tacked to their bedroom wall, or hung over the bathroom sink or potty – it's up to you.

Show your child how to fill it in

Decide how your child is going to mark their progress on the chart – you can use stickers, check marks, smiley faces, or even color in the squares or circles with crayons – and show them how to do it.

Explain the goals and demonstrate

Spell out your potty training goals with your child before getting started. If all they need to do is sit on the potty, make that clear. If they need to actually go potty in order to advance on the chart, make that super clear.

To eliminate any confusion, you may want to walk through the process with your child once or twice: Have them sit on the potty or tell you they need to go, then make a notation or place a sticker on the chart with your help.

Choose rewards (optional)

If you're going to offer your child a reward when they reach certain milestones on the chart, think about whether you want them to have a say in what reward they receive or if you want to surprise them with something of your choosing.

You don't have to offer a reward at all, but rewards can help your child stay motivated so they don't get bored with potty practice every day. The rewards can be simple – here are some you can try:

• A small toy
• A special sticker, temporary tattoo, or stamp
• Quality time with a parent playing a game, reading a book, or making a craft
• A trip to the library, park, or museum
• A piece of their favorite candy

Some experts recommend that you don't use food as a reward – that can potentially create bad habits (like encouraging your child to eat when they're not hungry) or a poor relationship with food later in life.

Be prepared for ups and downs

At first, your child may spend all their time in the bathroom trying to collect new marks on their potty training chart… and that's okay! Embrace their excitement – it probably won't last, but it might help your child make quick progress in their potty skills in the meantime.

Speaking of their excitement not lasting, there's a good chance your child will lose interest in their chart after a period of time, whether they make potty progress or not. Feel free to change up their chart at this point so their goals are different or, if you're including rewards, find something new to offer that gets them interested again.

Benefits of using a potty training chart

If you're thinking a potty training chart is too much work, that's fair – it requires some time and effort to keep up with it, and depending on your child, you might need to continue finding new ways to keep it interesting.

Many kids benefit from the visual of an actual chart that shows their progress and gives them a sense of accomplishment. - Dr. Dawn Rosenberg, pediatrician

But there are some benefits to using a potty training chart that might make it worth your while, including:

• Positive reinforcement. If you have a child who needs the extra boost, rewards and reward charts can draw attention to the good things your kid is doing on or around the potty, and keep them motivated to continue practicing and improving their skills. A tangible chart makes it easier for parents and kids to stay consistent with potty training, a huge factor in overall potty training success.
• Sense of self. Around the time that many kids begin potty training, they're also making big leaps in understanding their identity. A potty training chart can show them they're making good choices and encourage them to feel proud of themselves. Plus, it gives them a way to show their progress to family and friends and for even more praise!
• Visual tracking. A physical chart may help your child connect the dots between using the potty and getting rewarded or praised, and can also help them see just how hard they've been working. It might be a useful tool for you, too. If your child is struggling with one goal more than others or only having accidents in certain situations, a chart can make it easier to identify problem areas.

Key Takeaways

• A reward chart can be super helpful when you're starting potty training – rewards are a great motivator.
• A chart is also a visual reminder of your child's progress and a great way to reinforce good behavior.