Top tips for potty training

When the time comes to potty train your child, it can be a lengthy, complex process.

There is no one right way to potty train as every child is different, with individual needs and timelines. It’s important to remember that learning to use a potty is a new skill for them to master, so try to be patient with your little one. Here are some top tips to help you navigate this process.

When should you start potty training?

Children are able to start controlling their bladder and bowels when they’re physically ready. This age will vary from child to child, but typically this is around eighteen months to two years old. If your toddler is able to comprehend that they have a dirty nappy, know they need to wee/poo, or even communicate their toileting needs to you, this may be a sign they’re ready to start potty training.

As a parent, it’s important to consider life events and routine when beginning potty training. For example, if your family will be undergoing change such as moving house, this might not be the right time for you to introduce potty training. When you have established a stable, consistent routine and environment, this is a better time to start the process.

Potty training should be started gradually. This can be as simple as communicating with your toddler, so they understand the association between a wee, poo and the bathroom. Overall, try to keep this whole experience fun and positive with regular encouragement!

Our top tips

Positivity

Making the process of potty-training fun and exciting can help your child transition more easily. Some ways you can do this is by getting your child involved when choosing their new potty, or by role playing with a teddy or doll to show them how to use a potty.

Using a sticker chart or giving lots of praise when your child successfully uses their potty is a good way to show them positive reinforcement. However, incentivising with other treats such as presents or sweets can set a bad precedent for the future, so be careful with this. If you have a boy, when they’re learning how to wee standing up, using a target practice can also provide positive reinforcement when they successfully hit the target.

Go slow

It’s important to let your toddler set their own pace, however slow that might be. If they need to go to the toilet, you can encourage them to use their potty, but making a big deal out of it might dissuade them from continuing.

Relaxing during the process is also important, so giving your child a book or singing with them while they sit on the potty can work well.

If you know that your little one poos around the same time each day, then you can trial leaving them in no nappy and seeing if they want to use the potty. However, if it doesn’t work, remain patient and try this process again the following week.

For boys, it’s recommended to teach them how to master a sit-down wee first because they may not have the ability to understand if they need a poo or a wee yet. If they’re pushed to try to stand-up wee prematurely, they might forget about pooing. This can lead to constipation, so it’s important to sit them on the potty at least once a day just in case. Once they’re comfortable with sit-down wees and are able to differentiate between a wee and a poo, you can teach them how to take their aim standing up!

Where to put the potty

If your bathroom is located suitably in your home, consider putting the potty in the bathroom. This can also help your child to associate the bathroom with the action of going to the toilet. If the bathroom is further away, it might be helpful to place it in their bedroom or playroom instead. It can also be useful to have more than one potty, for example downstairs, upstairs and one in the car.

Some children might respond better to using the actual toilet instead of a potty as it might be seen as more grown-up. If this is the case for your child, it’s fine to encourage them to use this instead of a potty.

Get naked

Firstly, dressing your little one in clothes that are easy to remove can help if they are potty training. Having ‘naked time’ is also a great way to make using the potty convenient. Letting your toddler see their wee as it comes out can help them to link the sensation to the word.

As a parent, it is also good to train by example. So, next time you use the toilet, take your toddler with you so they can watch you and use simple language to explain the actions. Typically, mums showing girls and dads showing boys can help, but there are no rules!

Getting scared

It’s completely normal for your child to be scared of pooing, as sometimes passing a stool can be painful. For your toddler, this can be a frightening experience that might lead them to associate pooing with pain. Ways you can avoid this are by trying to help them relax and have fun with songs or a book. Ensuring they have sufficient fibre in their diet can reduce the chances of a painful poo too. Lastly, it’s okay to let them try again later if they are fearful or if they’re struggling to pass the stool.

Also, the flush is often scary to some children as it can be very loud to their little ears. Making this into a game or giving them the chance to push the button can help reduce this fear.

Night-time potty-training tips

You shouldn’t introduce night-time potty training until your toddler is using their potty or toilet during the daytime. Typically, this is by the age of four years old, but age will vary with every child. A sign they’re ready for night-time without a nappy could be if your little one wakes up with a dry or only slightly damp nappy in the morning.

When you do start potty training at night-time, it’s a good idea to encourage your toddler to sit on the potty or toilet right before they go to bed. Accidents can still happen, so you might consider investing in a waterproof sheet for your child’s mattress.

Overall, potty training can be an up and down journey, but the end goal is extremely rewarding! No child is the same, so don’t be discouraged if yours isn’t ready for potty training yet. The best thing you can do for your toddler is to stay positive and patient throughout the process. Additional pressure won’t speed things up and might hurt their progress in the long run. Be prepared for setbacks, periods where potty training doesn’t work at all, or even potty-training regression.

Every time you need to clean the potty or if any accidents happen, Milton’s plant-based hygiene range is ideal for quick clean ups to make sure your home is bacteria-free!

At Milton, we provide sterilising products and help for parents, both breastfeeding and formula feeding. Our website has a range of advice that can help you navigate parenthood.

Shop the Milton range at Woolworths, Coles, Chemist Warehouse, BIG W, Baby Bunting, IGA and other major supermarkets.