Free printable potty training chart and how to use it

A toddler placing a star sticker on a potty training chart taped to the bathroom wall

Looking for a free printable potty training chart you can use today? We made one: a single page you can print at home, with room for a week of tries, a sticker for each day and a small celebration at the end.

Download the free potty training chart (PDF)

Below you will find what is on the page, how to set it up so it helps rather than adds pressure, and a few ideas if you would rather use a ready-made chart with stickers. Charts are optional. If your child does not take to it, a plain routine and warm praise work just as well.

What is on the free printable potty training chart

The chart is one page, sized for A4 or letter paper, so any home printer will handle it. It is laid out so a toddler can follow it with a grown-up's help:

  • 7 days across the week. One row for each day, Monday to Sunday.
  • 6 potty tries per day. Six circles in each row. A try is any time your child sits on the potty, whatever happens.
  • A sticker column. One sticker at the end of each day for showing up and trying.
  • A "big win" row. A larger box at the bottom for the end of the week, where you add a bigger sticker and a small celebration.
Preview of the one-page potty training chart: seven day rows, six circles per day for potty tries, a sticker column on the right and a big win row at the bottom
The free chart: 7 days, 6 tries a day, a sticker column and a big win row for the end of the week.

It prints fine in black and white, and your child can colour it in if she likes. Use stickers, stamps or a pencil tick if you do not have stickers at home.

Why the chart counts tries, not dry pants

This chart rewards the effort, not the result. Sitting down, staying for a moment and washing hands are all things your child can do on purpose. Staying dry is still developing and is partly out of her control, so a chart that counts only dry pants can feel like a scoreboard that she keeps losing.

That is why there are six circles a day. They give you room to mark each sit without worrying about how many were "successful". Some days she may do two tries, and other days all six. Both are fine.

If you are not sure your child is ready to start, read potty training readiness signs parents commonly watch for first. The Canadian Paediatric Society notes that children learn at different ages, so there is no deadline to hit.

How to use a potty training chart for toddlers

A chart works best when it is simple and takes about five minutes to set up. Here is a routine many families find manageable.

Four steps for using the potty chart: print and hang it low, offer a try, add a sticker right away, then celebrate the big win and retire the chart
A simple weekly routine for the chart. It is fine to put it away if it adds pressure.

1. Print it and hang it low

Put the chart at your child's eye level, close to the potty, so the sticker goes on right away. The link between the try and the sticker is what matters, and a chart on the far side of the house loses that link. Use tape or putty that is safe for your paint, and keep it away from splashes.

2. Fill in tries as they happen

After each sit, let her place the sticker or mark the circle herself. Keep the words short and specific: "You sat down and tried. That's a circle." There is no need to react differently to a success than to a try.

3. Add the day's sticker at bedtime

The sticker column is for the end of the day. Let her choose the sticker, then put it in the row together. It makes a nice bedtime ritual and keeps the day from being tied to a single moment.

4. Plan the big win in advance

Decide on a small treat for the end of the week before you start. It could be a park trip, an extra story or a special breakfast. Make the "big win" row about the whole week of effort, not a perfect score.

5. Retire the chart when it becomes routine

When trips to the potty are part of the day and she no longer needs the prompt, let the chart fade out. Our guide to potty training reward charts: how to set one up and end it walks through how to wind it down kindly.

Download the free potty training chart (PDF)

Printed chart or sticker chart? A quick comparison

Some children enjoy peeling a sticker and others prefer a pencil mark. A few things to think about when choosing:

Option Good for Keep in mind
Free printable chart Trying a chart for a week before buying anything Needs a printer and some tape
Ready-made chart with stickers Children who like a bright, themed board Check which stickers come in the pack
Sticker packs Use with the printed page, or on a calendar Keep a few in your bag for outings
Magnetic reward jar Children who like to place something in a jar Magnets can be small, so supervise young children

Potty training chart ideas that keep it fresh

If interest drops after the first week, small changes can bring it back without making the chart bigger.

  • Let her pick the stickers. A new pack with favourite characters or animals can be motivating on its own.
  • Add a goal slowly. After a few days, add one new step, such as pulling pants up or washing hands, to the same circles.
  • Try a stamp. Some children prefer a stamp, and it is less fiddly than peeling stickers.
  • Keep the bad days gentle. If the day was rough, still mark any tries and move on. Never take a sticker away.

If you want ideas for rewards beyond stickers, see potty training rewards that are not candy.

What to have next to the chart

A chart is only a record, so it helps to have the basics in place around it. Our potty training supplies checklist covers what to have before day one, and potty training methods explained compares four common approaches if you are still choosing. A small potty, or a toilet seat with a step stool, can make it easier for the sit to happen at all. You can see more in our potty training collection.

How long this takes varies a lot from child to child, and our article on how long potty training takes explains why. If you are worried about constipation, pain when going or a child who is afraid of the toilet, talk to your doctor or public health nurse.

Free potty training chart: common questions

Is the potty training chart printable PDF really free?

Yes. You can download the PDF from the button on this page and print as many copies as you like for your own family. You do not need to sign up for anything to use it.

What size paper should I use?

The chart is designed for one page of A4 or letter paper, so it prints at the right size in Canada and elsewhere. If your printer asks, choose "fit to page" so the edges are not cut off.

What do I put in the sticker column?

One sticker at the end of each day, whatever the number of tries. It rewards showing up, not a set number of dry pants. The bigger box at the bottom is for a larger sticker at the end of the week.

What if my child loses interest in the chart?

That is common, and it is fine to put it away for a while. Try new stickers, hang it somewhere new, or stop using it and rely on routine and praise. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests following your child's lead and avoiding pressure.

When you are ready, print the chart and try it for a week. If it helps, keep going. If it does not, nothing is lost.

Download the free potty training chart (PDF)