Nine tips for potty training your toddler
Potty training. It’s not something that many parents look forward to.
But what techniques work best with least anxiety for the parent and the child?
Rebecca Mottram, a children’s nurse who runs her own company specialising in potty training, gave her advice to ±«Óãtv Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
1. Start young
"Research shows that using a potty at least some of the time, even as early as birth, has many benefits for your baby.
"From 18 months, most toddlers are developmentally capable of being independent from nappies. If they are already familiar with using a potty, making this transition is easier."
2. Ditch the nappies
"When you’re ready to potty train, ditch nappies completely in the daytime.
"Using nappies whilst potty training (even pull-ups) gives your child mixed messages and slows down the learning process because they don’t feel wet."
3. Be consistent
"When you commit to potty training, your toddler will benefit from clear, direct and simple instruction from you.
"The more consistent you are with your approach, the faster your child will start to get it."
4. Dedicate time to it
"Potty training is a big milestone for your child and they need your support to succeed.
"Committing a few days to teaching your child all the basics at the beginning of the process will pay off in the end."
5. Draw on inner motivation
"True motivation is developed internally, so if possible, try not to rely on things like stickers, bribery or sweets.
"For most children, the idea of being independent and grown up is enough.
"Once your child starts to succeed, use the reward of success itself to replace any external motivators."
6. Mind your language
"Don’t ask your child, 'do you want to go potty?'. Instead, learn their natural rhythms and use this to state what needs to happen at the right time.
"Using short verbal commands and positive words such as 'let’s go potty' is easier for toddlers to understand."
7. Allow your child control
"Give your child as much independence as they can manage, in line with their understanding and ability.
"The most common problem parents encounter during potty training is toddler resistance, so giving opportunities for them to do parts of the process themselves will go a long way to avoiding power struggles."
8. Be patient
"If your child has only ever known nappies as an option for wee and poo, you are changing the habits of a lifetime.
"Allow your child time to adjust and learn the skills they need to succeed and don’t expect things to fall into place in a day.
"Embrace accidents as part of the learning journey and never shame your child when they happen."
9. Be playful
"It’s easy to get stressed out about potty training and inadvertently put pressure on ourselves and our children.
"Finding ways to see the funny side by doing some pretend play and role-modelling (e.g. with dolls or other toys) can provide a useful outlet for negative feelings and worries."
More information and advice about potty training can be found on the .
The Woman's Hour parenting podcast is released every Wednesday.
You can listen to the podcast here or you can download it on the ±«Óãtv Sounds app.
