The wise folks say that mum knows best, and when it comes to the often-messy milestone of learning to use the loo, we reckon they’re right on the mark! So, if you’re getting ready to say goodbye to nappies and teach your tot about the ins and outs of toilet time, listen up – these mums who’ve been there, done that, have this handy, tried-and-tested training advice to share…
“Try a little pre-training preparation. The method we used involved getting Isabelle to ‘train’ her favourite doll. She’d pop little undies on her, sit her on the toy potty and talk to her about using the toilet. It worked a treat!”Adele Symons, mum to Kerensa, four
Many of the mums we spoke to also recommend having playtime on the potty before training starts and some kids’ books about using the toilet also rated high on the training-preparation list. A few of the titles mentioned were Where’s the Poop? (HarperCollins, $14.99), Liam Goes Poo in the Toilet (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, $14.99) and On Your Potty! (Walker Books, $16.99). Your littlie will love these!
“Wait for the right time. You can’t train a child who isn’t ready or interested in the toilet – believe me, I’ve tried! If you start and your littlie completely loses interest, it’s best to stop and start again when she’s ready.”Kimberley Harris, mum to Anika, six, and Atticus, four
This is tip-top toileting advice! While children are generally ready for toilet training between 18 months and two-and-a-half years, there’s no hard and fast rule, and every child is different. Some signs your child is ready to begin training:
- She’s interested in the toilet. For example, she talks about it and is fascinated when adults use the loo.
- She knows when she is weeing or pooing (or if she has just gone) in her nappy and can tell you so.
- Her nappy stays dry for long periods and then becomes very wet. This is a sign she can fill and empty her bladder completely.
- She dislikes wearing a soiled nappy. Be careful, she may also be prone to flinging it and its messy contents off!
- She can sit still for a few minutes at a time.
- She can understand and follow simple instructions.
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“Praise every little success because positive reinforcement goes a long way. We gave a round of applause after every wee or poo done in the potty and said lots of encouraging things even if our son just sat on the potty. He loved the attention and so loved using the potty.”Veronica Tuite, mum to Riley, three
Positive reinforcement and lots of encouragement was a top tip that many of our mums offered. Other parents reported using star charts (with and without rewards after a certain number of stars), calling Nanny and Poppy together to report on early successes and using lots of verbal praise and encouragement.
“Don’t make a fuss. Accidents happen – a lot!”Naseera Kapur, mum to Nadah, five
One of the key laws of the loo is to keep things positive, so avoid getting cranky over any spills or splashes on clothing, furniture or floors. Remember that mastering bodily functions can be a tricky process, so if your tot has an accident, reassure her that it’s okay, then calmly clean things up. Steer clear of yelling, placing blame or getting frustrated – you don’t want your littlie to become nervous about toilet time.
'''“Don’t expect kids to be dry at night right away. I now know from experience that this bit can take alot more time, and that’s okay.”'
Claire Murray, mum to Joshua, six, and Riley, two''
Even if your little one is mastering daytime dryness like a champ, nights can be a totally different story. It can take kids weeks, months and even years after becoming daytime trained to stop wetting the bed – in fact, one in five primary-school-age kids still have accidents at night. This is something your child doesn’t have conscious control over, but will eventually grow out of. The best advice is to remain calm, positive and reassuring (explain that bed-wetting is a common problem) and don’t forget to invest in a mattress protector! Make sure your child uses the toilet before bed and that she has access to the potty or toilet if she wakes during the night and needs to use it. If she starts wetting the bed after being dry
at night for some time, though, this can indicate stress or another underlying problem. Chat to your
child and your GP if you have any concerns.
“Know some events can throw a spanner in the works. We learnt the hard way that it’s best to plan around big things, like moving house, because they can be pretty disruptive!”Justine Foley, mum to Oscar, four
Other big events to take into account include changing childcare centres and welcoming new siblings. If you can, aim to get toilet training out of the way if you know any of these things are coming up, otherwise hold off on the potty until your little one has firmly settled into her new routine.
“You might want to try toilet training before toddlerhood. We started when our daughter was a baby with elimination communication.”Melanie Limberis, mum to Josie, two
Elimination communication is a way to remove or reduce nappies early on in bub’s life and can be begun any time from birth. It involves being ‘in tune’ with your littlie and watching for signals that she is about to do a wee or poo. At these times and at other regular intervals, you hold her (a popular position is with her back against your belly, your hands supporting her thighs from below, holding them slightly apart) over a potty, toilet or bucket and issue a verbal cue (such as “ssssss”). The idea is that bub will come to associate the position and sound with going to the toilet. With a little bit of practise, you’ll be well on your way!
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