Tarryn Dee and Renee Townson

Tarryn Dee and Renee Townson

When thinking about toilet training children it can elicit feelings of excitement about not needing to change nappies anymore. With that though, also comes some big feelings of nervousness about significant changes and a shift in Independence for some children.

There are many different approaches to toilet training. First and foremost success with toilet training requires the child to be ready from a physical and emotional perspective, not just based on their age. There are hundreds of helpful checklists available online to see if your child may be ready to start toilet training.

Before beginning toilet training we need to break down the steps to achieve this into smaller tasks:

  1. Can your child access the bathroom independently such as opening the door or walking to the bathroom on their own?
  2. Is your child able to remove their undies and clothing in order to access the toilet?
  3. Can they physically transfer onto the toilet seat without assistance?
  4. Are they able to remain seated on the toilet independently?

Next, we look at their emotional and physiological readiness to use the toilet:

  1. Does your child have predictable toileting habits such as regular times they have a bowel movement or how often they make a wee?
  2. Does your child tell you if they need to have their nappy changed after a wee or bowel movement?

Some tips to encourage toileting familiarity in preparation for toilet training:

  • Encourage your child to observe and watch you when you are using the toilet. Talk about what you were doing and make them feel positive about the experience
  • encourage your child to sit on the toilet or potty before bath time when they are already undressed
  • when possible encourage them to tip their poo out of the nappy into a toilet and flush it down
  •  praise them when they communicate if they’re making a wee or a poo even when wearing a nappy
  • I wearing underwear inside a nappy see your child is becoming familiar with the feeling when they are making a wee or a poo

Most importantly, from the perspective of an occupational therapist who sees lots of young children with toileting difficulties I encourage you to wait for when your child is showing clear signs of readiness. This includes their own motivation and eagerness to use a toilet. Attempting toilet training before a child is ready can result in some long-term difficulties and complications with using a toilet independently in their later years. If you attempt toilet training and you feel it is not working then give it a break for at least one month before retrying. 

Developing the skills of independent toilet training is a huge achievement for your child and the entire family. Try to make it as positive of an experience as possible and you will all reap the benefits together!