Toilet Training - your most asked questions

Potty or toilet training is an important milestone in your child's life and it can seem like quite a daunting task!

But we have been helping children out of nappies for over 40 years, so we've asked our experts to share their answers to our most frequently asked questions from parents, to help support you and your child on your toilet training journey.

What age should I start toilet training my child?

Every child is different, so there is no hard and fast rule at which age your child should be in pants and out of nappies. However; it is best for children’s bladder and bowel health to be out of nappies by 18 - 30 months. 

Shouldn’t I wait until my child is showing signs of being ready to use the toilet. 

Previous advice has been to wait for signs of readiness; however, research shows that it is best for children’s bladder and bowel health for them to be out of nappies between the ages of 18 and 30 months. Many children will not show signs of readiness until much later, however when supported, they are able to learn to use the toilet.  

Is it best to go straight to pants / knickers or use pull ups?

This is down to personal preference and we'll support your child with whichever approach you use.

Using pull ups can be helpful to use with your child before they properly start toilet training, to help them develop the skills for managing their own clothing.

However some parents find that as pull ups are absorbent, their children don't recognise the feeling of wetness and some children can become confused about whether they should be using the pull up or going to the toilet. 

What about using potties versus using the toilet?

Again, this is down to your own preference. Some parents find that children are a little scared of the big toilet.

If this is the case for your child, make sure you have a step so they can get on and off themselves and talk with them about the sounds the toilet makes.

Our toilets at nursery are ideally child sized so many children who don't feel happy using the 'big' toilet at home are perfectly comfortable using nursery ones.

Even if your child goes straight to using the toilet, you might find it helpful to have a potty as well to use on day trips out if you are not sure what facilities will be available. 

What should I do if my child has an accident?

All children will have accidents when they are toilet training; it is like any other skill that takes time and practice to master.

Stay calm and avoid showing any frustration; they are not doing it on purpose and they need to know you are not cross with them. Be reassuring in your body language and tone of voice.

Help minimise accidents by reminding your child regularly and dressing them in clothing that is easy to manage such as trousers with an elasticated waist.

If you are going out for the day, think ahead about how you will manage this, for example checking where the nearest public toilets are or taking a potty with you.

If your child is at nursery, please provide lots and lots of changes of clothes, including shoes.

Should I use a sticker chart? 

Some parents find that their children respond well to the motivation of a sticker chart, however research shows that this wears off quite quickly and most children are motivated by praise and encouragement. 

Ultimately, you want your child to learn to use the toilet because this is the right thing for them to do, rather than to get a reward. When praising your child, be specific about the behaviour you are praising, for example rather than saying "Good boy", say "Well done for sitting on the potty" or "I'm proud of you for pulling down your pants by yourself". If you are using a sticker chart, keep the reward as getting the sticker rather than building up a certain amount to get a treat and we advise against using food as a treat or reward. 

Should I book the week off work to toilet train my child?

While it is your choice if you would like to take some time off to toilet train your child, this isn't something that we would recommend.

Toilet training is a skill that takes time to master and you may find that you end up putting more pressure on yourself and your child if you are trying to achieve this within a set time frame.

We also sometimes find that when children return to nursery they can take a step backwards even if they have been dry at home as there will be more distractions for them. This may make your child feel demotivated.

My child just isn't interested, what should I do?

If your child isn’t showing an interest, avoid putting pressure on them to use the toilet, but keep the conversation around toileting open and frequent. Talk to your child about going to the toilet in simple terms for example "When you're ready you will use the toilet / potty". Share lots of stories about using the potty or toilet to provide opportunities to talk about it together.  

I don't have the time to toilet train my child, can nursery do it?

There are lots of reasons why parents can be reluctant to take on toilet training; it can seem like a daunting thing to do when our lives are already so busy and it may cause you to feel really emotional - your baby is growing up! 

However, toilet training is really important for your child’s bladder and bowel health as well as their independence. Their key person at nursery will absolutely support you both and provide you with advice and reassurance but it is important that there is a consistent approach so if they are starting to use the potty or toilet at nursery, make sure you are also doing this at home.? 

What about night time? 

Day time toilet training and nighttime toilet training are two separate things. 

It can take much longer for children to be dry at night so don't put pressure on yourself and your child by trying to get them dry through the night at the same time as day. 

Support your child to work towards nighttime dryness by: 

• Encouraging them to use the potty or toilet just before they go to bed 
• Avoiding drinks an hour before bedtime 
• Having a consistent and calming bedtime routine  
• Avoid lifting them out of bed to go to the toilet during the night 

My child won't poo on the toilet; what should I do?

Many children take much longer to learn to poo on the potty or toilet. This is often as they don't like the feeling of it or they are scared.

The best way to support your child to feel comfortable is to be as calm and laid back about it as possible. Try distracting them while they are sitting there by sharing a story or singing a song together.

You could also offer some bubbles to blow as this may help them with their bowel movement.

If your child is able to, ask them to tell you what is worrying them about doing a poo.

Remind them that when they've done a poo, this helps their tummy to feel better and let them know that it's ok to feel scared and you are there to help them.

If your child becomes very constipated or this is an ongoing issue, seek advice from your GP or Health Visitor.

Where you do have outside professionals  involved, please ensure that you share any advice with your child's key person so that they can follow this at nursery.

My child was dry and is now having lots of accidents; what should I do?

Make sure you stay calm and let your child know it is ok. It can feel really annoying if you thought you'd cracked it, however you know that they can be dry and they will be again.

Have a think if there is anything that might be distressing your child for example has there been a change at home or at nursery? Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason as to why your child has regressed, take your time and keep trying. 

My child has a special educational need or disability; how can I support them with toilet training? 

Almost all children can learn to be clean and dry. Children with special needs including delayed development and physical disabilities may take a little longer and need more support. As with any child, at nursery, we will support them based on their individual needs. It is important to have a joined-up approach, considering advice and guidance from any outside agencies and professionals involved with your child and ensuring that you work very closely with your child’s key person. Some approaches that may support include:

• Using visuals such as Makaton signs, or photos to support your child's understanding 
• Having key phrases that everyone uses 
• Creating a social story for using the toilet  
• Considering children's sensory needs  
• Being consistent and patient in your approach 
• Regularly reflecting on the approach with your child’s key person and professionals to understand what is going well and what additional support is needed 

Do you have a question?

If you have a question we haven't answered, drop us an email at Bee.Curious@busybees.com and we'll come back to you as soon as possible. You can also talk to your child's key person at nursery, who will be happy to help.