How to Get a Child to Sit on the Big Toilet

Once your child is regularly going on the potty, you're ready to celebrate. However, your little one might be using a kid-sized toilet, one that requires you to clean up his messes. You're ready to make the transition to the big toilet, but your child might be wary. Use several techniques to coax your child to climb onto the big toilet, leaving you with one less thing to clean up every day.

Things You'll Need

  • Toilet seat attachment
  • Stepping stool
  • Rewards

Instructions

    • 1

      Attach a kid-sized toilet seat onto your big toilet. Your child might fear falling into the toilet -- and for good reason, as it's entirely possible depending on your little one's size. A child-sized seat attachment reduces the size of the opening, creating a more comfortable spot for a tot to use the bathroom.

    • 2

      Place a stepping stool in front of the toilet. Make access to the toilet as easy as possible for your child, who might be afraid of the larger toilet. He can use the stool to climb up onto the toilet seat, to rest his feet when he's sitting down and to climb down from the toilet. When the toilet is more convenient, your child will be more likely to use it.

    • 3

      Allow older siblings to model appropriate potty behavior. Talk to your child about how her older siblings use the big-kid toilet, and encourage her to do the same. Have the siblings talk about using the big toilet without fear, which can motivate your little one to follow in their footsteps.

    • 4

      Set up an activity basket next to the toilet. While you don't want your child sitting on the toilet all day, you might need to get him to settle down and conquer the big toilet. Fill a basket full of his favorite books and small toys, and encourage him to play with them while he's sitting on the toilet for brief stretches. These activities can distract him from any fear associated with going on the big toilet.

    • 5

      Offer incentives. Even though your child might be potty trained, she might need some rewards to push her to use the big toilet, much like she did when you first started the potty training process. Let your child choose a prize out of a reward bag filled with small items such as stickers, candy or inexpensive toys, every time she successfully uses the big potty.

    • 6

      Praise your child for using the big toilet. Your support and words of encouragement can push him to conquer his fear and climb atop the big toilet. Celebrate your child's successes with words of praise when he uses the big toilet.

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