When you think about toilet training, what comes to mind? Stickers? Accidents? Maybe a 3-day crash course or a Pinterest chart?
What often gets overlooked is the emotional side of the journey, the part where your child is learning to let go of something familiar, tune into their body, and try something completely new (and kind of weird!) for the first time.
That’s where attachment theory can make all the difference.
🧠 What is Attachment Theory?
Attachment theory, developed by psychologist John Bowlby and later expanded by Mary Ainsworth, is the idea that children thrive when they feel safe, seen, and supported by their caregivers. These early relationships shape how a child responds to change, challenge, and self-regulation — all essential skills for toilet training.
A securely attached child is more likely to feel confident exploring their world, managing big feelings, and learning new habits, because they know someone is there to guide, comfort, and encourage them.
🚽 So How Does This Apply to Toilet Training?
Toilet training isn’t only a physical milestone, it’s deeply emotional. It involves trust, vulnerability, and a huge leap in independence. Here’s how attachment theory helps make the process smoother and more successful:
✅ 1. Emotional Safety Before Success
Children are far more willing to engage in toilet learning when they feel emotionally secure. That means parents responding with patience, presence, and understanding not pressure, punishment, or shame.
When toddlers feel emotionally safe, they’re more open to new experiences like using a potty.
✅ 2. Trust Builds Confidence
Trust is at the heart of secure attachment. When a child knows their caregiver will meet them where they are physically and emotionally, they’re more likely to trust the process and themselves.
This trust leads to less resistance, fewer power struggles, and a stronger sense of “I can do this.”
✅ 3. Supporting Autonomy Through Connection
Attachment parenting isn’t about doing everything for your child, it’s about walking alongside them, supporting their choices, and encouraging independence in a way that still feels connected.
When toddlers feel a sense of control over when and how they start using the toilet, instead of being forced into it, the experience becomes far more positive and successful.
🌱 How We Apply This in Go Time, Potty Time
At My Binkie Bear, we designed Go Time, Potty Time to honour the emotional and developmental side of toilet training.
We’ve taken the best of attachment-based parenting and blended it with storytelling, sensory play, and step-by-step guidance, creating a system that feels more like a bonding experience than a chore.
With tools like:
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A storybook that explains the process in a toddler-friendly way
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A parent guide that helps reduce confusion and stress
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Playful sensory rewards like Wizzle Fizzles
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Sticker charts, certificates, and posters to track progress
We’re here to support both sides of the journey: the child learning something new, and the parent supporting them through it with confidence and care.
Toilet training doesn’t have to be a power struggle.
When rooted in connection and guided by emotional awareness, it can actually become a time of growth, pride, and joy — for everyone involved.
