Toilet training
Potty and toilet training is a big milestone for your child. There are lots of new and exciting skills for them to learn with your help.
To make this process easier there is an evidence-based 3 step Let’s Go Potty approach designed by ERIC (The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity).
It begins with preparation to use the potty, next is practising potty/toilet skills before eventually stopping using nappies as your child gains confidence.
Preparation
Starting the preparation stage early is important as it is a gradual journey you go on together. Most parents/carers find a good time to start helping their child learn potty skills is from the time they can sit upright, usually around 6-9 months.
Many children and particularly those with additional needs, will never give any signs that they are ready to potty or toilet train.
This learning stage means there’s no need to wait until your child is ‘ready’ and able to do everything on their own. See the points below on activities you can start with:
- Read books together about using the potty/toilet
- Use dolls or toys to show how to use the potty/toilet
- Talk about wees and poos as they happen so your child can start to recognise them
- Change nappies in the bathroom where possible and once they can stand do nappy or pull-up changes standing up, involving them in cleaning up and flushing. Talk to them whilst you’re doing it, so they begin to understand where wee and poo goes, the language we use for the toilet and how our body feels.
- Give regular nappy-free time of around 30 minutes after they have done a wee or poo.
- Encourage your child to practice sitting on a potty
Practice
Most children can be potty trained between 18 months and 2-and-a-half years old with research showing it is better for your child’s bladder and bowel health to stop using nappies between these ages.
What will you need?
You won’t need to buy lots of things to start training. You may already have some items. You may also need to borrow things or get what you need for free. See below some items:
- A potty, or if you’re using the toilet, a training seat, step and rail
- Pants or reusable training pants for when your child stops wearing nappies during the day
- Clothes that are easy to pull up and down
- Spare clothes for accidents
- Washable, absorbent car seat liner
Once you’ve got the items you need, remember, at the start your child may not always know when they need to wee or poo yet. So, make using the toilet part of your everyday routine. You could encourage them to go:
- when they get up
- after mealtimes
- before leaving the house
- before naps
- every time they are out and pass a toilet
- before bed
As your child’s body awareness develops their confidence in what they’ve learnt, they may start to show you when they need to go. When you notice these signs, gently encourage them to try using the potty or toilet. Then praise their efforts! When they use the potty or manage to stay dry, even if it’s just a short time, tell them how please you are.
Stopping using nappies
Whatever stage your child is on their potty/toilet learning journey, stopping using nappies is a big change for them.
See below some tips to help make this stage easier:
- Make sure it’s a good time for you as well as your child.
- When you are ready, tell your child it is time to stop using nappies. You may like to help your child to say goodbye to their nappies and explain that from now on, they will do all their wee and poo in the potty or toilet.
- Make sure your child is drinking at least 6-8 drinks a day. Water is the best drink but milk in moderation and well-diluted squash is OK too.
- If you have a boy, encourage him to sit down on the potty for both wees and poos especially in the beginning.
Once they have stopped using nappies in the daytime time, learning to sleep without a nappy on at naptime and use the potty when they wake up, will help prepare your child for being dry at night.
Managing nappy-free nap time tips:
- Prior to nap time, help your child use the potty or toilet, so they are more likely to stay dry.
- When you observe the nappy is staying dry at least some of the time, stop using a nappy at nap time.
- Accidents are common. Use a waterproof sheet or similar underneath your child, to protect their sleep area.
Many children need to use the potty when they wake so help them to do this.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
Almost all children can learn to be clean and dry. Children with special needs such as delayed speech, autism or a physical disability may find the stages more challenging.
The same three step approach is recommended, however, children with additional need often require more time or extra support when they’re learning.
For more information, visit:
Further Support and Information
If you would like more information please contact our duty line, attend a baby hub or discuss at one your child’s developmental review (4-6 Month Health Promotion Contact, 7-12 Month Developmental Review and 2 to 2-and-a-half years Developmental Review).
You may also find these other potty/toilet training resources helpful:
