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TOILET TRAINING
First steps to becoming indepentent

There are no hard and fast rules for starting toilet training and gradually moving your toddler from nappies to using the toilet independently. Toilet training is a major milestone for all children. Along the way, you’ll need plenty of patience, humour and support from other carers, plus the right equipment. Try not to compare your child with others. This isn’t a race. The key is to take the lead from your child. Be prepared for plenty of accidents. Dealing with them calmly is vital in building your child’s confidence. You may have to give up after a first attempt and then patiently restart the process.

At what age should potty training start?
There is no ‘right’ age – every child will progress at his or her own pace.

• Most toddlers develop the necessary physical and cognitive skills to enable toilet training to begin between 18 and 30 months of age. Some aren’t ready to start until they are four; this is nothing to worry about.
   
• Research shows that children can’t voluntary use the muscles, which control their bladder and rectum until they are at least 18 months old.
   
• By 3 years, most children have fairly reliable bladder and bowel control.
   
• Most children follow this sequence: night-time bowel control, daytime bowel control, daytime bladder control and, finally, night-time bladder control.
   
• Once your child starts to understand the connection between inner sensations and the physical reality of going to the toilet, you can start training.

Signs your child is ready to start toilet training your child:

• Can verbally communicate other sensations, such as hunger and understands simple requests.
   
• May show an interest in going to the toilet.
   
• Is getting more independent and can walk, sit and squat.
   
• Can pull own pants or trousers up and down
   
• Has the ability to imitate behaviour, i.e. copy an older brother or sister!
   
• May remove nappy when wet or soiled.
   
• Has regular, soft, formed bowel movements.
   
• Has a dry nappy after a daytime nap or has dry spells, which last at least three to four hours.
   
• May try and sit on the potty on his or her own, or go to the bathroom.
   
• Has own words for stools and urine – whatever your family names are.

Remember your child doesn’t need to do all the above before starting toilet training.

Stage 1: preparation
If you are planning to start toilet training, always have a potty available for your child to get used to sitting on.

Easy-to-manage clothing is important. Avoid dungarees which don’t have easy-access leg openings and tight in colder weather. Summer is a great time to toilet train, and bare bottoms can promote quick learning! Otherwise, choose clothing with an elastic waistband and quick-release Velcro® fasteners.

 

 

Stage 2: potty training
Once you’ve started toilet training, you’ll want to build it into a routine.

• Make a plan – discuss it with your partner and any other carers. Your child will need plenty of encouragement and praise for every effort he or she makes.
• For the first week or two, make a ‘potty time chart’, recording times of day when your child has a bowel movement.
• Try sitting your child on the potty at this time each day, with plenty of encouragement.
• It’s impossible, at this early stage, for children to ‘hold on’ to bowel movements. Suggesting that they wait until reaching a potty may be harmful, as bowel signals not promptly attended to will subside, possibly leading to constipation.
• Once your child has a dry nappy for between three and four hours each day, substitute nappies for pants or pull-ups.
• Returning to nappies can create confusion. Have a portable potty on hand wherever possible. Have plenty of spare pants and clothing, hygienic wipes and tissues to hand.
• You don’t want to put too much pressure on your child at this stage. Knowing that a nappy is going back on at bedtime can be comforting. If your child does not respond well, don’t worry. It’s far better to have a pause and try again at a later date.

Best time to try
You’re most likely to get a predictable bowel movement after breakfast. A full stomach stimulates the colon to empty around 20 to 30 minutes after a meal, so you could try potty sitting after each meal.

boys

• You can start boys’ toilet training by sitting on the potty, so avoid spray and dribbles on walls and floors. Obviously, seeing daddy standing will inspire him to do the same.
• Over time, you’ll need to show him how to stand and aim at the toilet bowl.

girls

• Most mums probably feel more comfortable training girls, for obvious reasons, especially as children learn by imitation.
• Little girls often respond well to toilet training and hand-washing routines, seeing it all as part of a game.

 

Stage 3: using a real toilet
Once your child uses a potty regularly throughout the day, you can move up to a real toilet. This can be daunting for a toddler, as adult toilets are too big and high for comfort and security. Take care when flushing the toilet at first – some children take time to get used to the noise of flushing.

We recommend that you use a special children’s toilet training seat – a child-size toilet seat which fits onto the adult seat, providing added comfort and support. It will help to prevent wobbling and reduce the fear of falling in. Also, try using a step-up stool, so that your child can stand on the stool which will allow him or her to reach the toilet or sink.

You may need to buy a couple if toilet are far apart, to save time when your child alerts you.

As children progress, you can teach them to wipe their own bottom and wash their hands after each visit to the bathroom. This really needs to be achieved before they start school at age 4 or 5.


Rewards can work at this stage. Place a sticker chart next to the toilet.

Stage 4: nighttime dryness
Being able to control the bladder at night is the final stage for your child. To help the process along, you can reduce liquid intake before bedtime and make sure that your child goes to the toilet immediately beforehand.

Start night-time toilet training when your child is waking up regularly with a dry nappy. This may be the stage where you need to have the most patience. A child of 2 or 3 years can’t hold urine for much more than 4 to 5 hours.

Research has shown that staying dry at night also has a lot to do with heredity. Check this out in your family if you are concerned. It is also important to be relaxed and non-critical throughout this stage. It’s important to continue building your child’s confidence in these new found skills. Bed-wetting is very common in children up to the age of 5, and boys are especially prone..



Make sure that you have spare bedding and mattress/sheet protectors to hand. Most children grow out of bed-wetting without any special help.

General toilet training tips

* Carry plenty of spare pants, nappy sacks, soft toilet tissue and baby wipes.
* Give small treats as rewards for success.
* Dress your child in easy-to-remove clothing.
* Plan ahead – take your child to the toilet before outings and ask whether he or she wants to go.
* Involve other carers, childminders or the nursery.
* Make it fun and not a chore.
* If training twins, don’t compare their progress
* Small children find it difficult to concentrate on more than one thing at a time, so gently encourage your child to use the potty or toilet.

 

What we sell at mothercare to help with toilet training

	Standard potty Suits boys and girls, designed with a comfy rounded seat, high back, carrying handle and splash-back.
	Potty Chair For taller toddlers, closer imitation of adult toilet, arm rests for leverage and added security.
	Reusable pants Reusable training pants to absorb those little accidents. Available up to 24 months with waterproof barrier and absorbent terry lining.
	Step up stool Allows child to reach the toilet or wash basin.
	Toilet training seat Use when potty confident, fits on top of most toilet seats for added comfort.
	Mattress protector For nighttime toilet training to protect mattress and bedding.