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It sounds like he has a lot of the building blocks for potty training, which is a great sign. But being aware and being interested are not always the same thing. Some toddlers can tell you when they are going, ask for a diaper change, and even use the toilet a few times, but still want the comfort and predictability of the diaper. That usually means the next step is more about helping the potty feel familiar, safe, and low-pressure.

A few things that can help:

• Create more positive exposure without making it a big event. Read potty books, keep an open-door bathroom policy when appropriate, and let him see potty routines as just part of everyday life. Sometimes that familiarity builds interest over time.

• Offer choices instead of pressure. “Do you want to try the little potty or the big potty?” “Do you want to sit before bath or before bed?” Choices can help toddlers feel more in control.

• Keep the tone light and encouraging. A little excitement is okay, but too much pressure can backfire. Calm, positive energy tends to work better than repeated prompting.

• Stay neutral when he says no. A simple “Okay, we can try another time” helps protect body autonomy and keeps this from turning into a power struggle.

• Consider a small reward system if that fits his personality. Around this age, some kids do respond well to a simple incentive like stickers or a small reward after they go, but it should feel supportive rather than like a bribe.

If he continues to resist, it is okay to keep preparing without fully pushing ahead right now. Potty training tends to go more smoothly when a child feels both capable and more emotionally on board.

If more support would be helpful, start with the PedsDocTalk YouTube video on common potty training mistakes, especially if you want help thinking through readiness, resistance, and how to avoid adding pressure. And for a deeper step-by-step approach, the PedsDocTalk No-Pressure Potty Training Course is a great next step.

A 4:30 or 5:00 am wake-up can feel so hard, especially when it starts becoming the pattern instead of just a random rough morning. At 14 months, early waking is often connected to schedule, sleep needs, or a developmental shift. Sleep in the early morning hours is lighter, so toddlers are more likely to wake from light, noise, overtiredness, or a routine that no longer fits them as well as it used to. And at this age, there is a lot going on developmentally, so sometimes sleep needs shift too. If this has only been happening for a couple of days, it may be a short-lived blip. If it has been going on more consistently, it is worth troubleshooting.

A few things to look at:

• Treat it like a night waking, not the start of the day. If the goal wake time is later, try to respond to 4:30 or 5:00 am the same way other night wakings are handled rather than fully starting the day then. Consistency really matters with early wakings.

• Look closely at naps. At 14 months, many toddlers are in that in-between stage of dropping from two naps to one. Early waking can happen when they are getting too much daytime sleep or when the first nap is happening too soon after that early wake.

• If a nap transition seems to be happening, move slowly. This age can fall into either a one-nap or two-nap routine, and the shift to one nap can be rocky. Rather than making a huge jump, gradually pushing the nap later in 15 to 45 minute increments usually works better.

• Consider an earlier bedtime. It sounds backward, but overtired toddlers often wake earlier, not later. During a nap transition especially, moving bedtime up by 30 to 60 minutes can help.

• Check the environment. Morning light, room temperature, or predictable sounds can all play a role, so blackout curtains and white noise may help if those are not already in place.

The biggest thing is to choose a plan and stay consistent with it for a bit. Toddlers do best when the response is predictable, and that is especially true with sleep. If more support would be helpful, the PedsDocTalk Toddlers & Tantrums Course includes a toddler sleep guide that walks through schedules, wake windows, nap capping, dropping to one nap, night wakings, and early wakings.

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