When is the right time to start potty training your child? At what age will they be ready and what do parents need to get started? If you are looking for signs to ditch the nappies, we are sharing the common signs your child is ready and tips to help make potty training a little easier for the whole family.

Make sure they are ready...Learning to use the potty is a new skill. When your child starts to notice when their nappy is wet or dirty, or they tell you when they are about to do a wee or poo, they are ready! 

Take it slowly and go at your child’s pace. Children can control their bladder and bowels when they are physically ready AND when they want to be clean and dry. Remember, every child is different so please don’t compare your potty training journey to anyone else’s. 

It’s best to start potty training when there are no big changes expected to happen in the near future. Avoid starting when you’re moving house or expecting another baby. It is important to stay consistent and crucial to remain calm so you can both cope with accidents. 

Choose a quiet couple of weeks to start when you can stay close to home and make sure anyone who looks after your child knows your potty training plans. Staying at home for the first couple of days. If you do head out, take the potty with you so your child understands that they can use the potty every time they need a wee or poo. Also pack the essentials such as a change of clothes, wipes and disinfectant hand gel. Check that any other people who look after your child can help with potty training in the same way you are doing.

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Potty Training Essentials

Pourty is a comfortable, well proportioned potty with a unique pouring spout design. When your child has successfully mastered going to the loo on the Pourty, you simply pour the contents out the back using the handle at the front. It has a clever non-drip lip which prevents messy dribbles running down the outside.

Perfect for completing your little ones potty training, this toilet seat cover features a wide seat with splash guard and easy to grip no-slip handles perfect for even tiny hands. The extra wide step helps your child easily access your home toilet with ease and safety.

Join Bing on a toilet training adventure in this interactive sound book – perfect for encouraging young children to use the toilet with confidence.

Reusable potty training pants or disposable pants (also called pull ups) can give children confidence when you are working towards swapping nappies for “grown up” pants.

Potty training will require lots of underwear. Letting them choose their own underwear can help get them excited about wearing them rather than nappies! 

The Koo-di Wetec child seat protector will help travelling while potty training a little easier! It protects not only car seats but pushchairs and highchair seats should your little one have an accident. Quite simply, it keeps seats dry when baby's bottom is wet!

Keep a pack of antibacterial wipes in your bag in case of any accidents when you are out and about.

If you feel your child needs a little extra encouragement, reward charts can help your little one get excited about using their potty.

Ready to start potty training? Use these handy tips:

• Leave a potty where your child can see it and explain what it's for. The idea is to make sitting on the potty part of everyday life for your child.  Helping you flush the toilet and wash their hands is also a good idea.
• Some families find starting in the Summer easier as children can wear less clothes and washed clothes can dry quickly.
• Children learn by watching and copying. It helps to let your child see you or an older child using the toilet and explain what you're doing. 
• Put them in clothes that are easy to change. Avoid tights and clothes with zips or lots of buttons.
• When starting potty training, ask your child about every 40 minutes if they need to use the potty.
• Praise your child, even before they successfully use the potty. If they tell you they need to wee or sit on the potty, praise them for trying. Don't give sweets as a reward, but you could try using a sticker chart.
• As soon as you see that your child knows when they're going to pee, encourage them to use their potty. If your child has an accident, just clean it up and wait for next time. It takes a while for them to get the hang of it.
• If your child regularly does a poo at the same time each day, leave their nappy off and suggest that they go in the potty.

Staying dry at night

It usually takes a little longer for children to learn to stay dry throughout the night. Although most learn this between the ages of 3 and 5, up to 1 in 5 children aged 5 sometimes wet the bed.

Most children pick up potty training pretty quickly, especially if they are completely ready. Don’t worry if it takes longer than you expected, they will get the hang of it!

For more baby, toddler and parenting information see our Baby & Toddler Hub.

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