12 Tips from healthychildren.org

1. Choose positive words your family will use to describe body parts, urine and bowel movements. Avoid words that are negative, like dirty, naughty or stinky.

2. Pick a potty-chair with a removable container underneath to collect pee and poop. Books or toys for "potty time" can help make this time more fun.

3. Be a role model. Let your children see you use the toilet and wash your hands afterward.

4. Look for grunting, squatting or freezing. Children's faces may turn red while pooping. Explain briefly to your children that these signs mean a poop is about to come. If your children tell you about a wet diaper, praise them for "using their words." It may take longer for children to notice the need to pee than the need to poop.

5. Think of toilet training as toilet mastery. Invite your child to take over their toileting. Read children's books about using the toilet to help the process make sense and seem inviting and exciting. 

6. Make a habit of seating your children onto the potty-chair first thing in the morning. 

7. Expect hesitancy. Taking over toileting is a big step. Gently help them overcome their hesitation and help them stay in charge.

8. When toilet training starts, switch to big-kid underwear. Talk with your children about taking control and toileting into the toilet and not their underwear. 

9. Teach your children proper hygiene habits. Show your children how to wipe carefully. Girls should spread their legs apart when wiping. They should wipe thoroughly from front to back. This helps prevent bringing germs from their rectum to their vagina or bladder. Make sure both boys and girls learn to wash their hands well after using the toilet.

10. Be precise with praise—"I am so proud you are able to use the toilet so well," for example. Achieving mastery is the best reward for toilet training success. Avoid treats and punishments. 

11. Children at toilet training ages are becoming aware of their individuality. They look for ways to test their limits. Avoid a power struggle and try to stay calm about toilet training. 

12. Some children believe that their pee and poop are part of their bodies. They may be scared the toilet will flush parts of them away, or that they will be sucked into the toilet while they are sitting on it. To give them a feeling of control, let them flush the toilet.