FOR NEWBERN & DYER COUNTY PARENTS · AUGUST 2026

Potty Training and Daycare: What Newbern TN Parents Need to Know

A calm, practical guide to navigating the potty training milestone when your toddler is in childcare

The Question We Hear All the Time

"Does my child have to be potty trained to go to daycare?" It's one of the first questions parents ask when they call Smarty Tots Too. The short answer: no. The longer answer is worth understanding — because how you handle potty training while your child is in care can make the whole process faster and a lot less stressful.

At Smarty Tots Too, located at 625 W Main St C in Newbern, TN, we work with families every day through this milestone. Here's what we've learned, what we recommend, and how you and our caregivers can work together to make it click.

What Age Do Kids Start Potty Training?

Most children start showing signs of readiness somewhere between 18 and 36 months — but that window is wide for a reason. Every child develops at their own pace, and pushing training before a child is developmentally ready almost always adds time, not saves it.

What matters more than age are readiness signals:

• Staying dry for 2 or more hours at a stretch
• Showing curiosity or interest in the bathroom
• Pulling pants up and down (mostly) independently
• Communicating — even just with a gesture — when they've gone or need to go
• Discomfort with wet or dirty diapers

If your toddler is hitting most of these, they're probably ready. If they're hitting none of them, waiting a few more weeks costs you nothing.

How Smarty Tots Too Supports Potty Training

Our caregivers are experienced with toddlers at every stage of potty training — from children who've never sat on a toilet to kids who are nearly independent but still having the occasional accident. Here's what we do:

• Regular bathroom prompts. We offer potty opportunities every 1.5 to 2 hours during the training window — not waiting for kids to ask, because most won't.
• Positive, calm responses to accidents. We never scold or shame. Accidents are information, not failures. We change children quickly, note what happened, and move on.
• Daily parent communication. We tell you at pickup how the day went — how many successful trips, how many accidents, any patterns we noticed.
• Coordinating with your approach. Whatever language, schedule, or reward system you're using at home — tell us, and we'll match it at the center.

The fastest potty training outcomes we see happen when parents and caregivers are running the same playbook. Consistency between home and daycare is the single biggest factor.

What You Can Do at Home

Your role during daycare hours is to set your child up for success when they're back with you. A few things that help:

• Use the same words. If we say "potty time," use that phrase at home too. Toddlers don't generalize easily — hearing different language in different places adds confusion.
• Keep the schedule going on evenings and weekends. Don't revert to diapers on days off unless there's a specific reason. Every regression costs you time.
• Celebrate without overloading. Simple, calm praise works better than a big performance. Some kids get overstimulated by intense reactions and start performing for the reward rather than developing the habit.
• Pack extras every day. Two changes of clothes minimum during the active training period. It makes accidents at daycare easier for everyone to handle quickly.

Common Potty Training Myths at Daycare

Myth: "Daycare makes potty training take longer."
Reality: For most children, being around peers who are using the potty actually accelerates training. Toddlers are natural imitators, and seeing other kids go to the bathroom is a powerful motivator.

Myth: "My child has to be fully trained before daycare will take them."
Reality: Smarty Tots Too accepts children who are in the middle of training. Call us at (731) 627-4900 — we'll talk through where your child is and how we handle it.

Myth: "Pull-ups are better than underwear at daycare."
Reality: Neither is universally better. Pull-ups feel enough like a diaper that some children don't notice wetness. Underwear creates more sensation and can speed training — but it also means more accidents. Talk with your child's pediatrician and let us know what you decide; we'll support either approach.

Readiness Checklist — Is Your Toddler Ready?

Run through this quick list. If your child is hitting 4 or more of these consistently, it's a good time to start:

• ☐ Stays dry for 2+ hours
• ☐ Has regular, predictable bowel movements
• ☐ Dislikes being wet or dirty
• ☐ Shows interest in the potty or in what adults/older kids do in the bathroom
• ☐ Can pull pants up and down (even partially)
• ☐ Follows simple 2-step instructions
• ☐ Can communicate (words, signs, or gestures) that they need to go

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Smarty Tots Too require children to be potty trained before enrolling?

No — we accept children who are not yet potty trained. We serve infants from 6 weeks old through preschool age and support each child's development at their own pace. Call us at (731) 627-4900 to discuss your child's specific needs and our current enrollment openings in Newbern, TN.

How does Smarty Tots Too handle accidents at daycare?

Accidents are a normal part of the process. Our caregivers handle them matter-of-factly and without making a child feel embarrassed. We ask parents to send a change of clothes (or two) daily during the training period. Staff communicate with parents at pickup so home and center routines stay aligned.

Should my toddler wear pull-ups or underwear at daycare?

This depends on where your child is in the process. Many experts recommend underwear once a child is showing consistent readiness — pull-ups can feel too similar to a diaper. We work with whatever approach you and your pediatrician prefer. Just let us know at drop-off.

What age do most kids start potty training in daycare?

Most children show readiness signs between 18 and 36 months, but the range is wide. Readiness is about developmental signals, not a specific birthday. Forcing training before readiness can backfire; watching for the cues above and starting then tends to produce the fastest results.

What if my child regresses in potty training after starting daycare?

Regression during big transitions — a new childcare center, a new sibling, a move — is extremely common and almost always temporary. Keep routines calm and consistent, avoid punishment, and let us know so we can offer extra encouragement here. Regression resolves on its own once a child feels settled, typically within a few weeks.

Does it help to tell daycare staff when we start potty training at home?

Absolutely — we really appreciate it. The more our caregivers know about what you're doing at home, the better we can reinforce it here. Tell us the words you're using, whether you're using underwear or pull-ups, and roughly how often your child is succeeding. A coordinated team approach is the fastest path to full training.

How can parents reinforce potty training at home when their child is in daycare?

Consistency is key. Use the same words your child hears at daycare. Offer potty opportunities at the same intervals — about every 1.5 to 2 hours. Celebrate successes calmly and don't make accidents a big deal. Ask your Smarty Tots Too caregiver what your child is doing during the day so you can mirror that routine at home evenings and weekends.

Smarty Tots Too — Licensed Childcare Center — Newbern, TN 38059 | smartytotstoo.com