When should a child start toilet training?
The best time to start toilet training is when your child can sit without support for short periods and has developed an awareness of passing urine or doing a poo. They may also let you know if they are wet or have soiled their nappy.
Skills they will need to develop include wiping their bottom correctly, flushing the toilet, washing their hands etc.
If there is a major change about to happen that will affect the child’s life such as moving to a new house, arrival of a baby, or other change wait until you have the time and energy to spend successfully toilet training your child.
What equipment and supplies are needed?
This could range from a hug, “high five” or enthusiastically praising your child to additional rewards such as a reward sticker chart, ink stamp, or a small toy or lucky dip. Some families will use rewards like a trip to the park, or an activity they can do together – it is best if these types of rewards can be done the same day to maintain the child’s motivation. Some parents will use food treats such as a small lolly. It is not recommended to remove rewards from the child if they later have an accident or a setback.
Try and ensure that the toilet is not a scary place. It may be helpful to have a few of your child’s favourite cartoon characters on the walls and to check that there are no spiders.Keep fragrances in the toilet to a minimum so that the child is not put off by bad odours or overpowering fragrances.
What do parents and caregivers need?
Positive attitude – avoid making a fuss regarding bowel actions. If parents convey the messages that poo is dirty and disgusting it becomes hard for the child to associate this with the fact that passing bowel motions is a normal, healthy thing to do.
It also helps to have an open-door policy so that the child understands that using the toilet is something that the whole family does. It can be helpful for fathers to show their sons how to stand and pass urine into the toilet.
Praise the child when they achieve a skill. At first it may be praising the child for successfully sitting on the toilet or potty for a few minutes, and progressing to sitting and emptying their bladder and/or bowels while sitting on the toilet.