Toddler Toilet Training Tips

How do you know when your child is ready for toilet training?

Here are my top tips...

• Can they verbalise 'poo' and 'wee'?

• Can they jump with 2 feet off the ground? (This is said to mean that they then have the bladder control for toilet training!)

• Do they show interest when you use the toilet and ask to go with you?

• Can they pull their own clothes down and back up again?

• Do they tell you when they have done a poo or wee in their nappy and ask you to change it?

• Do they tell you when they need to poo or wee or that they are doing one?

• Does your child have predictable bowel movements?

• Are you changing fewer wet nappies?

In my experience most children are ready to toilet train from around the age of 2 or just before but remember every child is different and it is important not to rush them. I usually just toilet train straight to the toilet using a toddler training seat and step and do not bother with a potty because I feel like then you just end up training them again to go from potty to toilet but you can use whatever works for your family.

It is vital to wait until your child is showing signs of being ready to toilet train and to not try and train them before. It can have a detrimental effect if they are not ready and it can mean having to leave a long gap before trying again.

My advice would always be once you have made the decision to toilet train, fully commit and stick with it! If your child is ready it should only take a week to 10 days.

- Take your child shopping and allow them to choose their own knickers/pants

- Do not go back to nappies, (only at night and nap times) just stick with knickers/pants

- Stay at home for the first week so that the toilet is always close by

- Praise praise praise

- Ask them every 15-20 mins for the first few days if they need the toilet and take them from time to time even if they say no (this can be lengthened once you are seeing progress in the time they can hold their wee for and they begin to take themselves to the toilet)

- Sticker chart or chocolate buttons are good for positive reinforcement to begin with when they successfully use the toilet (this can be changed of course dependent on your child's like and dislikes)

- Help them to clean themselves up if they have an accident and remain calm. Do not shout!

After the initial week at home, if training is going well and you start to leave the house more, I use a pottette (pictured below) in case you are caught short for a toilet.

Do not be concerned if poos are taking a little longer than wees for your little one to get the hang of, this is totally normal. Just keep reassuring and praising!

Good Luck!