Toilet training: a survival guide

It's probably crossed your mind that the lockdown is a perfect time to give potty training a go. All this time at home to dedicate asking "do you need a wee wee" every 45 minutes is an opportunity we rarely get, so maybe it's chance to go for it and ditch the nappies once and for all.

Getting started with the potty can be a messy business. With accidents bound to happen, you have to be prepared for every potential misadventure. At Little Pioneers, we help children to make this step every day. So we've put together a few tips to give you the confidence you need to survive and thrive during potty training, without too much mess.

When to start toilet training

The starting point for toilet training is a matter of science as well as your child's confidence. Your child won't physically be able to control their bowels and bladder until a certain point in their growth. That's why it's important not to force your child to start using the potty before they're ready and every child is different.

There's lots of ways to know when your child is ready to move on from nappies:

• They'll know when they've got a wet or dirty nappy

• They'll know when they are ‘going' (and may tell you they're doing it)

• Once they've finished, they won't need to go again for at least an hour

• When they need to go, they'll fidget or go somewhere quiet or hidden

• They know when they're ready to go and will tell you before they do so

Once they're showing most or (ideally) all of these signs, you can be pretty sure that it's a good time to introduce the potty.

Making sure that you're feeling happy and confident is also important before starting out. Putting aside enough time to support your child and picking a time where you're around to help will make the change as stress-free as possible for you both.

What can I buy to help my child?

To get your child used to the idea of using a toilet, we'd recommend buying a potty. However, your child might be very confident and be happy to use a training seat straight away. Whichever you choose, making sure that your child has a step or block to rest their feet will make it easier for them.

When it comes to buying big girls' or boys' pants, go with your child so they can pick their own. This will make them more likely to want to wear them (and more likely to use the potty). Buying them clothing that is easy for them to undo will also encourage them to use the potty independently.

Thinking about toilet training

Getting your child to use a potty is a good starting point. If they already have regular bowel movements, encouraging them to sit on the potty during those times will get them used to the idea of going to the toilet.

We'd also recommend getting your child to sit on the potty after meals. They may have an urge to go after eating, so again, this will help them to get familiar with the potty.

Boys and girls

Boys and girls bits are different. But making sure that they're using the right words for them from the start is important. It might seem a bit adult for them now, but it'll avoid embarrassment or awkwardness later on.

When you're getting them started, it's important to sit both boys and girls on the potty whenever they go. Once boys are more confident, getting them to follow dad or another male family member will start to show them what to do. The support of this family member will also make the change easier for them.

Another fun tip for boys is to put blue food colouring in the bottom of the toilet bowl. When they start to wee, the blue will change to green, and make weeing standing up more fun.

Use toys as demos

Encouraging your child to follow either mum or dad into the toilet will show them how to get started. Explaining to them what's happening when you're on the toilet is also helpful when they're getting started.

If you don't feel comfortable with this, using their special toy as a demo can be another alternative. Getting a mini potty for their teddy whilst your child is sitting on theirs will help to keep them happy when they're sitting there.

Let them run free

Once they've got some awareness of when they need to go to the toilet, taking their bottoms off around the house can encourage them to head to the potty when they need it (as they'll have nowhere else to go).

If you decide to do this, be prepared for accidents. Hard floors are easy to clean, but you may want to put something down to protect it, and certainly do so on a carpet.

Outside the home

Have spare potties in the car or in your travel bag. That way you can continue your hard work in the home when you're out and about.

Once your child has gotten used to using the potty, resist the urge to put them back in a nappy when they go out. This will confuse them and make them unsure and anxious about what to do.

Be encouraging and reward success

Having stickers to reward them with when they succeed will encourage the same behaviour.  And to help you get started, you can download our free potty training reward chart.

Keeping your tone encouraging and supportive when you're talking about going to the toilet will also make sure that it's a positive, happy experience for your child.

Hand washing

By introducing hand washing from the beginning, you'll get them into the habit quickly. Buying nice smelling soaps and showing them how to wash their hands properly will also encourage them to do so each time they go.

Thinking about night time

Even if your child is fully confident at using the potty or toilet in the day, it may take them a while to stay dry at night. Some children still wet the bed when they get to double digits, so don't worry if this is the case.

Get them to use the toilet before they go to bed and keep a potty nearby when they sleep. Once they start to stay dry in their nappy overnight, start using the same tips that you'd use in the day time and they'll soon be fully toilet-tastic!

What we do to help at Little Pioneers

At Little Pioneers, there are lots of ways that our nursery practitioners can support your child when they're starting out with the toilet. To find out how we can help, get in touch with your Key Person at your local nursery.