If your toddler goes to daycare, potty training is a team sport. Your child spends a big chunk of the day with someone else, so if home and daycare aren't doing the same thing, progress slows down fast.

We've had it go great and we've had it go badly. Here's what made the difference.

At our first daycare, the teachers offered to help. We told them two things:

1. Our child's cue. What our kid did right before they needed to go.
2. The words we used. "Let's go potty."

That was it. They watched for the cue, used the same words, and our child got the same message all day long. It worked.

After we moved, our daughter started a new daycare that had different rules and didn't work with us on the routine. She had a slight regression. Nothing dramatic, but the mixed messages set her back until things were consistent again.

The lesson: consistency beats everything.

Keep it short and simple. Teachers are busy, so give them exactly what they need:

• Your child's cue (hiding, squatting, going quiet, holding themselves)
• Your exact words ("Let's go potty," "Pee and poop go in the potty")
• How often to offer the potty (for example, after meals and naps)
• What you do for praise (a "good job" and a high five)
• How you handle accidents (calm, no shame)
• Naps: whether your child wears training pants for naps

A one-page handoff sheet makes this easy. Hand it to the teacher on day one and ask them to keep it near the classroom bathroom.

Daycares often have set potty times and rules. Ask:

• When do they take kids to the potty?
• Do they allow underwear, or do they require pull-ups at first?
• How will they let you know about accidents?

Then try to match their schedule at home on weekends. Meeting in the middle is better than two different systems.

• 2 to 3 full changes of clothes, including socks
• A wet bag for soiled clothes
• Easy pants your child can pull down themselves (skip the overalls and tricky buttons)

A quick "How's potty going?" at pickup keeps everyone aligned. If there's a sudden jump in accidents, compare notes. Something may have changed.

Some centers have strict policies. If yours won't follow your routine, focus on making evenings and weekends rock solid, and consider starting during a long weekend or a week off when your child is home with you.

Our free Daycare Potty Kit includes a cue tracker you can share with teachers. The Prep-First Potty Plan includes a ready-to-print Daycare Handoff Sheet.