Has the time come when you are thinking about toilet training? Are you worried about how it’s going to go? Is it the right time? How do you start? What should you do?
These are questions we hear all the time in nursery and so we thought we would put together some handy hints and tips we have learnt over the years to try and support you as best we can!
Let’s start with the first question – Is your child ready?
If they are:
- Staying dry for hours at a time each day
- Staying dry through the night
- Taking an interest in the toilet and all things toilet related
- Falling into a pattern with their bowel movements (allowing you to predict them)
- Letting you know when they need changed when their nappy is soiled or wet
- Giving you visual clues that they are having a bowel movement
Then the answer is probably yes! Now would be a great time to start talking about using the toilet and practicing how to pull trousers up and down!
It might be a good idea to wait if you are:
- Expecting a new baby very soon
- Changing routines or starting childcare
- Moving home
- Transitioning from a cot to a bed
- Having troubles at home – with sickness or divorce
Learning to use the toilet can be a big deal for some children. If there are other big things going on in their little lives it is always best to let things settle down a little first!
How do you start?
1. Get prepared!
Decide if you are going with the potty or the toilet and make them as accessible, interesting, and exciting as possible. Choose a potty with your child, make it their favourite colour or character or buy some stickers and decorate the toilet!
Buy pants and lots of them!! We would always recommend going straight to pants from day 1! Yes you might need a pull up at night for a while – but call them night time pants and leave the nappy feeling behind!
2. Talk about it A LOT!
Talk about using the toilet or potty at every opportunity. Mention it when anyone else is going and casually ask if your child needs to go to. Build the habit and routine.
3. Don’t Panic!
There will be setbacks, it might take longer than you expect, you will get frustrated – try to stay calm, positive, and upbeat!
4. Be consistent!
Whatever way you decide to potty train – be consistent! Let nursery know what you are doing, and we will do it too! Stick with it through the setbacks and give it time. Dedicate a few days or even a week at home with no trips or reasons for putting a nappy on and really go for it!
Don’t forget to wash their hands – EVERY time! This builds the relationship between using the toilet and washing your hands from day 1.
5. Give LOTS of praise!
Whatever it is – if it is good make sure there is lots of praise!
If they tell you, they need to go on time to tell you they need to go too late – praise the fact they told you!
If the wee goes in the toilet or all around it – praise that they tried!
If the trousers don’t get all the way down or if they do – praise that they tried!
Try your best to make it as positive an experience as you can, it will make things less stressful for everyone!
In nursey we begin to talk about and encourage toilet training in the Flopsy Bunny and Timmy Tiptoes room. Children in this age group are usually beginning to show an interest in using the toilet so we will talk about it, read stories about it and have potties for the babies in the home corner so the children can role play.
When you are ready to start the process at home, let us know and we will make a plan together. Pack lots of changes of clothes and shoes and we will hit the ground running. Children regularly go to the toilet in small groups as this can encourage the not so confident ones to have a go and we go to the toilet every half an hour or so during toilet training times.
Children move down to Snug when they are around 3 years old, so it is important that we start preparing them for all aspects of this change which includes using the toilet by themselves.
Whatever happens we are here to help! Please ask any of the staff for some hints or tips that have worked for them in the past or just have a chat if things aren’t going how you had hoped! If we can help, we will!
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