How to Potty Train Your Toddler
A Parents' Guide To Toilet Training - When is Your Child Ready?
Jul 5, 2008
According to recent story in the Daily Mail some parents are leaving potty training until their children are at primary school. The recommended age is between 18-24 months but it’s not uncommon for three or four year olds to still be in nappies. Recent studies* have shown that keeping children in nappies for too long is detrimental to their health and can lead to urinary tract infections and bladder troubles. So what is the best way to toilet train your child and when is a good time to start?
When Should You Start Potty Training?
The general view is that children have the physical and mental development for potty training at 18-24 months. All children are different though so don’t force it. Look for signs that he is ready such as very wet nappies, an interest in the potty (leave it lying around to tempt him), or watching you when you go to the loo. Summer is a good time to start as children wear less and can be outdoors more often.
How To Potty Train Your Child
Here are some tips from Action For ASD: -
- Buy clothing that’s easy to remove and make sure you have plenty of spare pants.
- Buy a couple of potties or a special training seat. Get into the habit of taking the potty with you wherever you go (you can buy travel potties).
- Once you start, keep at it. It can be confusing for a child if you put him back into a nappy at night. Instead, buy a mattress protector and keep the potty by his bed. Leave the light on and keep fluids to a minimum before bedtime.
- Create a special sign that means ‘toilet, please’.
- Take him into the toilet with you so he can watch what you do.
- Note the times of day when he usually goes and put him on the potty then. Try to create a routine, e.g. use it first thing in the morning, after lunch and last thing at night.
- Praise him lots when he uses the potty – even if it’s only a dribble!
- When he has an accident put his poo into the potty to show him how it is done. Then take him to the toilet to empty it, let him flush the loo and show him how to wash his hands afterwards.
- Don’t make a big fuss if he has an accident – he will take it as encouragement to do it again.
- Potty tricks – if you’re having difficulty getting your child to sit on the potty, buy a musical or magical one, that sings or lights up and turn it into a game.
- Keep a goody bag so he gets a special treat each time he uses the potty.
Whenever you decide to start potty training your child, make sure it’s a good time for you - that you are not stressed and things are settled at home. All children are different so be patient and accept that it may take some time. Using training pants gives your child some control over when he wants to go, and may help encourage him to use the toilet more often. Always praise him lots - even if it's only a dribble! Children also love to flush the toilet and wash their hands with mummy and daddy so this is one way to turn it in to a good routine.
Resources
*A study into the link between late toilet training and long-term bladder problems was published in the Scandinavian Journal of Urology & Nephrology, E Bakker, 2001, Taylor & Francis Group.
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