Potty Training – lets do this!

Potty training is a huge milestone for you and your little one and whilst it’s a big step for you both it doesn’t have to be a stressful one!

1. Preparing for the potty

It’s a good idea to get your toddler used to the idea of using a potty before they are showing signs of readiness:

• Keep a potty in the bathroom, near the toilet so that your toddler can get used to it and start to show an interest in sitting on it
• Let them observe you using the toilet and talk them through what you do
• Buy a book with a story about potty training in it to start getting them used to the idea

2. Getting ready – let’s go shopping!

When you think they are getting ready, it’s a good time to take a little trip to the shops

• Let them choose some pants and ask them to help choose the potty
• If you are going to use a training seat on the toilet, make sure you also have a step stool to help them get on to the toilet and make hand washing easier.

3. How will I know they are ready?

There is no right time to potty train, give it a go when you think your child might be ready (usually somewhere between two and three but all children are different).  The best thing to do is to look out for the signs and then give it a go. These can be:

• Regular soft formed poos during the day
• Dry periods during the day of one or two hours or a dry nappy after a nap – this means that your toddler’s bladder muscles are developed enough to store it
• Pulling pants up and down with minimal help
• Showing an interest when you go to the bathroom
• Showing an interest in using the potty
• Showing signs of discomfort when nappy is wet or dirty
• Showing awareness of having a wee or poo
• Starting to tell you that of a need to go to the toilet before actually going

Getting your little one to sit on the potty after a wet or dirty nappy can help to reinforce where this needs to go.  Training pants can often help as they can feel the wetness and they can be pulled up and down like grown up pants.

4. OK I’m ready let’s go!

Good luck! Here are some handy hints to help you no your way!

Keep the potty close by so it is always available.  Once your little one starts using it, you may not get much notice before she needs to go! 

The summer months are a popular time to start when your little one is wearing less clothes (which means less washing!)

Don’t worry, accidents will happen. Just clean up any mess calmly and without any fuss. 

If you are getting a lot of accidents or if your little one doesn’t seem interested in the potty at all, then they might not be quite ready so don’t worry, go back into nappies and give it a few weeks before trying again.

5. Will I ever be able to leave the house again?!?

When you feel brave enough to venture out and about it is best to make sure you are prepared. Always remember to take a couple of changes of clothes and pants with you as well as something for cleaning up any accidents and a waterproof bag for holding any wet clothes in. 

Travel potties can be a great help to have on hand should nature call in case you are not be able to reach a toilet in time!

You may find using training pants for short trips out can help avoid big puddles and if you are going out in the car or stroller, our car seat protector can help to give you peace of mind. Its fast wicking fleece insert makes light work of soaking up any unexpected accidents to keep the seat dry even when your toddler’s bottom isn’t!