Toilet training most frequently asked questions.

 

Is my child ready?

Your child may start to tell you when they have wet or soiled their nappy, they may even show interest in the toilet.

You may also

find that your child’s nappy is dryer for longer and their bowel movements happen around the same time each day.

 

How long does toilet training take?

Toilet training doesn’t happen overnight. It may take 3-4 weeks before your child stops having accidents and could be up to a year before they can stay dry overnight. It is easer to learn to wee on the toilet rather than poo.

 

How to prepare for toilet training

1. Decide if your child will be using a potty or the toilet, when deciding this think about how accessible your toilet is and will your child always need help to get on and off the toilet.
2. Let your child know they will not be wearing nappies during the day anymore. Taking your child shopping before this day to choose their own underpants is a really good idea and you will find your child will be less likely to have an accident and mess their undies that they have picked out.

 

Getting your child ready

The main thing to remember is, if the child isn’t ready then its not going to work. You cannot force a child to use the toilet/ potty.

Do not start training if your child is sick or if they become sick in the first few days you may have to stop and start again when they are well.

Before you start let the child become familiar with the potty let them sit on it even with a nappy on to become familiar with it. If you are comfortable with the idea of letting your child watch you on the toilet let them, children learn by watching others.

 

Some helpful training tips

When choosing a date to start try and find a week that you are going to be home a fair bit.

Explain to the child that they will only be wearing nappies at sleep time and is they need to go to the toilet then let mummy/daddy know, also ask the child every half hour if they need to go do this for at least the first week.

Make a star chart for the child, every time the child uses the potty/ toilet they get to put a sticker or star on the chart after 10 or so stickers they get a small treat.

Make sure you dress the child in clothes that are easy to take off and put back on.

When you child does go to the toilet give them lots of praise, if you have to get the child to call Daddy/ grandma and tell them what they have done the child will love the attention.

Always ask your child if they need the toilet when they are playing some children get so involved in games they forget to go.

Teach your child to always wash their hands after using the toilet even if they didn’t do anything.

If your child has an accident calmly say “your wet, lets get you changed” take them to the bath room and clean them up. Don’t make the child clean up their own mess, after you have cleaned up remind the child of the toileting steps.

After a few weeks of training reduse the amount of praise you give. Once they have gone a few weeks without an accident then you can reward them with a small present.

If training a boy it might be easer to teach them to sit down to wee because if you teach them to stand they may not understand to sit for poos. (and its less mess to clean when they miss)

Toilet training is a very frustrating process for both parents and child and it may seem like its not working, if the child becomes upset and refuses to use the toilet/potty stop and start again in a few weeks.

Thanks for reading Anita xxx

 

Good Luck!