Toilet Training

Here at Busy Bees, we have been supporting children and families with toilet training for more than 40 years!

We understand what a big milestone this is for children, and parents are often worried about whether their child is ready and how to start the process.

We've been working alongside ERIC, the children's bladder and bowel charity, to understand the latest research regarding when the best time to toilet train is. Guidance has recently changed from waiting to signs of readiness, to supporting your child to be out of nappies between 18 and 30 months.

Below you will find our approach to 'toilet learning' and our top tips and handy hints to support you and your child.

Little girl learning to sit on a potty

Here at Busy Bees, we have been supporting children and families with toilet training for more than 40 years!

We understand what a big milestone this is for children, and parents are often worried about whether their child is ready and how to start the process.

We've been working alongside ERIC, the children's bladder and bowel charity, to understand the latest research regarding when the best time to toilet train is. Guidance has recently changed from waiting to signs of readiness, to supporting your child to be out of nappies between 18 and 30 months.

Below you will find our approach to 'toilet learning' and our top tips and handy hints to support you and your child.

White Curve

Toilet Learning

Learning to use the potty or toilet is like any other skill; it takes time, so it is important to view it as a process rather than a one-off event. In the same way you support your child to develop in other areas of learning, the best approach is opportunities to practice. This links with the approach in our Bee Curious curriculum of 'rehearse and retrieve'.

Toilet learning means helping children use a potty or toilet as part of their overall learning. ERIC, the children's bladder and bowel charity recommend their 3 step evidence based approach to potty learning:

  1. Preparing to use the toilet
  2. Practicing skills
  3. Stopping using nappies

At Busy Bees we have also included 'Playful toilet teaching' that is offered throughout the approach.

By starting the process early and gently, when the time comes to stop wearing nappies, your child will already have some skills to make this transition much easier. At nursery, we start the toilet learning process from when children can stand.

Preparing to use the toilet

  • When your child's nappy is wet or soiled, try to change them as soon as possible. This helps your child understand that it is normal to feel clean and dry.
  • As you change your child's nappy, always talk to them about what you are doing and why, for example "Your nappy is wet, we're going to change you, so you are clean and dry"
  • Avoid using negative language about what is in your child's nappy, for example, don't describe poo as stinky or smelly.
  • From when your child can stand, you can change your child's nappy with them standing up on the floor wherever possible to support with the transition from nappies to using a toilet.
  • Involve your child in the process of nappy changing if you can. For example, if they are wet, you could provide them with their own wipe to help clean themselves. Teach them to wipe themselves from front to back (this is especially important with girls)
  • Where possible, flush poo from a soiled nappy down the toilet and talk to your child about what you are doing so they begin to understand where wee and poo goes and how we use the toilet.
  • You may wish for your child to have short periods at home without their nappy on to help prepare for how it feels without one on. At nursery, children will always wear a nappy to protect their dignity.

Practicing skills

  • Encourage your child to practice sitting on the potty without their nappy on. Good times to do this may be after a mealtime, shortly after they have woken up from a sleep or when you recognise that they need to go.
  • Invite your child to start to manage their own clothing, for example, pulling down their own trousers and pulling them up again afterwards.
  • Continue to support your child to try other elements of the process, for example helping to wipe themselves.
  • Support your child to wash their hands after they have sat on the potty or toilet

Stopping using nappies

  • Research shows that it is best for children's bladder and bowel health to stop using nappies between the ages of 18-30 months. However, it is important to find the right time for you as a family, for example, avoid starting when there may be many disruptions or changes in routine such as a new baby or moving house. Make sure you tell your child's key person when you are planning to stop using nappies, so they are best able to support.
  • Ensure that your child is not constipated before stopping using nappies. Ensure they are eating a healthy diet including fibre and they drink enough fluid throughout the day. Aim for 6-8 drinks per day; this supports healthy bladder and bowel function.
  • When you are ready, explain to your child that they are going to stop using nappies and start wearing pants or knickers, and now they will wee and poo on the potty or toilet.
  • Dress your child in clothing that is easy for them to manage themselves, such as loose-fitting joggers or shorts. Encourage your child to choose which pants or knickers they would like to wear.
  • Look for signs that your child wants to go to the toilet, for example, they may tell you, they may fidget, hide or go quiet or crouch down and strain.
  • Try to avoid asking your child if they need to use the potty too often.
  • Encourage your child using simple language to use the potty or toilet for example "Time for the potty now" and take your child at regular intervals during the day.
  • Give your child lots of praise and encouragement when they use or attempt to use the potty or toilet or have been dry for a little while.
  • Encourage boys to sit down to wee especially while they are potty training. It helps them feel more relaxed and if they also need a poo, it will encourage them to go.
  • When accidents happen, stay calm and keep an encouraging tone of voice. Never express any disappointment.
  • Support your child to be as independent as possible, while supporting them to wipe themselves so they are properly clean.
  • Ensure that you provide lots of changes of clothes, including socks and shoes for your child's day at nursery.

Playful toilet teaching

At Busy Bees we support children's toilet learning through our playful teaching, for example:

  • Sharing stories about using the potty or toilet
  • Role playing with toy potties and teddies or babies in the home corner
  • Our toilet learning games; puzzles, matching pairs and sequencing
  • Dressing up games to support children manage their own clothing

Additionally, we support children in all elements of their independence such as managing their own clothing and washing their hands.

Playful toilet teaching at home!

Sharing stories and songs

Share stories about using the toilet such as 'I want my potty' by Tony Ross or 'Pip and Posy: The Little Puddle' by Axel Scheffler. You could also go to the library and choose special books for reading while sitting on the potty.

If your child enjoys singing, share songs and rhymes while they are sitting on the potty. You could also sing songs about going to the toilet for example "wee, wee, wee, on the potty, when you need a wee, then you need to wash your hands, so they're nice and clean!" to the tune of 'Row, row, row your boat' or "I need a poo, I need a poo, on the potty, on the potty, then I wipe my bottom, then I wipe my bottom, and wash my hands, wash my hands" to the tune of 'I hear thunder'.

Find out more

Busy Bees parents can access more great activities to share with their child to support the toilet training journey on the Busy Bees App!

Downloads

Download our activities to try at home!

Find the pants

Teddy needs a wee

Wet or Dry

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Approximately 8 million disposable nappies are thrown away each day in the UK.

Every year the UK is estimated to get through 3 billion disposable nappies, weighing 700,000 tonnes and costing around £100million to dispose of. These figures are huge and so is the impact on our environment.

By focusing on supporting educators and parents to help children to toilet train at an appropriate time, we have the potential to reduce the number of nappies we use which will in turn begin to reduce our environmental impact.

We have a long way to go on this journey. However, together we can start to make a difference.