Toilet Training

This will only happen when your child is ready! She needs to know what doing a poo or wee feels like, to be able to tell you when she feels the need to go: and have the necessary bladder and bowel control to hold on long enough to get to the toilet. This may be any time between 18 months and 4 years. The first indication that she is ready may be that she starts pulling at her nappy when it is soiled. Staying dry at night may not be achieved until much later than daytime control. Toilet training doesn’t happen overnight so choose a period when you have time to devote to frequent visits to the toilet.

  • It can help if she watches you in the toilet, she’ll learn by copying
  • Summer is a good time to start – with less clothes to remove.
  • You may want to use trainer pants – easier to remove, and more grown up than a nappy!
  • Let her choose a potty or toilet seat.
  • Take her to the toilet frequently; don’t ignore any requests to go!
  • Praise her for even just sitting there for a short time.
  • Lots of praise and cuddles for a wee or poo.
  • The incentive of new underpants can be quite compelling.

It is normal for a toilet trained child to have accidents, or to revert to nappies, if for example, a brother or sister arrives in the family. Be patient and help her when she is ready again. You may need to check with your doctor that your child does not have a urinary tract infection Try not to take any notice of behaviour you don’t like or want. Words can hurt children. They believe what you say, so saying they are stupid doesn’t help them. Tell them it’s what they are doing that you don’t like, not them.Don’t expect too much of him. Toddlers are only learning to understand.Remember to teach hand washing after every visit to the toilet