POTTY TRAINING

This page has been put together to help you and your child enter the exciting world where nappies are not needed! Much of the advice here is based on our own personal experience. If you have any hints and tips that worked for you, then email them to us and we will include them on this page.

When should I start potty training? The key to successful potty training is not to start until your child is ready. For most children this is around the age of 2 years, but every child is different so go with the flow (pardon the pun!) and don't worry if your child starts potty training later than their peers. Girls may be ready to potty train before boys. It is not worthwhile attempting to potty train before the age of 18 months as the nerve pathways and sphincter muscles are not fully developed. Years ago, parents used to plonk their children on the potty as early as 12 months, but any success was usually down to lucky timing rather than anything else!

How do I know when my child is ready? You need to look for signs that show your child is beginning to link cause and effect. For potty training to work, your child needs to recognise the physical sensations that mean "something is on the way". They may pull at their nappy, stop what they are doing for a few seconds to concentrate, or even tell you that they are doing a wee or poo. Anecdotal evidence suggests that children in cloth nappies make the "cause and effect" connections quicker than children in disposables.

Should I use a potty? Some children prefer to try using a toilet straight away, but most prefer a potty. Adult toilets can seem huge to small children, so a potty usually makes the transition easier. There are various colours and styles available and some children prefer a “potty chair” that has handles so that they can lower themselves securely onto the seat, rather than the “hover and dock” procedure required for a conventional potty. If you do decide to go for the big toilet straight away however, then make sure that you use a child seat and provide a step.

How do I start? Introduce your child to the potty, maybe even involve them in choosing one they like and encourage them to practise sitting on it. Explain that they can try to do wees and poos in the potty instead of their nappy and how clever and grown up they will be. If you are using a My Wee Friend sticker in your potty then you can explain that they will get a special reward of a magic smiley face when they wee in the potty! I suggest that initially you start the process at home, when the atmosphere is relaxed and you have plenty of time. Leave the potty close by, and leave your child without a nappy. When you recognise a sign that they are about to perform, encourage them to sit on the potty and see what happens! I think it is important to have the potty very close by at first, or maybe to have a potty in each room of the house in the initial stages, as children may only have a 1 second warning that they need to go!

Hints and tips once you have started. Make it a positive process. A positive parental attitude is crucial if potty training is to be a trauma-free process. Be consistent, calm and relaxed. Lots of praise, hugs and kisses when your child gets it right, but never punish accidents. Hopefully both of you will find the process fun and a great step towards independence. If however your child seems distressed by the whole idea then give up temporarily and try again in a few weeks.

Once your child is starting to get the hang of things, trainer pants might be useful for a while. Take a potty with you when you go out as well as a change of clothes. Do not leave your child in wet clothes as this will not “teach them to go to the toilet”. I used to find it helpful to pop my child on the potty or toilet before we went out, to minimize the chance of accidents. If you are out and near a toilet it might be worth popping in to see if they need to go, especially if they haven't been to the toilet for a while. My daughter would often think she didn't need a wee, but was happy to go and try to see if there was a "secret one" in there!