1. Establishing Good Routines and help with Toilet Training

2. Children are able to control their bladder and bowels when they're physically ready and when they want to be dry and clean. Every child is different, so it's best not to compare your child with others.

3. Bear in mind the following:
•most children can control their bowels before their bladder
•by the age of two, some children will be dry during the day, but this is still quite early
•by the age of three, 9 out of 10 children are dry most days – even then, all children have the odd accident, especially when they're excited, upset or absorbed in something else
•by the age of four, most children are reliably dry

4. When to start potty training
Most parents start thinking about potty training when their child is around 18 to 24 months old, but there's no perfect time.

5. You can try to work out when your child is ready
You can try to work out when your child is ready. There are a When to start :
•they know when they've got a wet or dirty nappy
•they get to know when they're passing urine and may tell you they're doing it
•the gap between wetting is at least an hour (if it's less, potty training may fail and at the very least will be extremely hard work for you)
•they know when they need to pee and may say so in advance

6. How to start potty training
•Leave a potty where your child can see it and can get to know what it's for. If you've got an older child, your younger child may see them using it, which will be a great help. It helps to let your child see you using the toilet and explain what you're doing.
On the first days, everything off from the waist down and try to stay at home if you need to go out make it a short trip and no nappy or pull up.

7. •If your child regularly has a bowel movement at the same time each day, leave their nappy off and suggest that they go in the potty. If your child is even the slightest bit upset by the idea, just put the nappy back on and leave it a few more weeks before trying again.

8. •As soon as you see that your child knows when they're going to pee, encourage them to use their potty. Every 20/30 minutes on the first day to remind child to visit the potty is a recommendation. If your child slips up, just mop it up and wait for next time. It takes a while to get the hang of it. If you don't make a fuss when they have an accident, they won't feel anxious and worried and are more likely to be successful the next time.

9. •Your child will be delighted when he or she succeeds
•Your child will be delighted when he or she succeeds. A little praise from you will help a lot. It can be quite tricky to get the balance right between giving praise and making a big deal out of it, which you don't want to do. Don't give sweets as a reward, as that can end up causing more problems. When the time is right, your child will want to use the potty and they will just be happy to get it right

10. Common potty-training problem
1.My child isn't interested in using the potty at all.
Try not to worry. Remind yourself that sooner or later your child will want to be dry for their own sake. If they start to see potty training as a battle of wills with you, it'll be much harder .

11. 2.My child keeps wetting himself
You've got two options: you could go back to nappies for a while and try again in a few weeks, or you can keep trying now, but be prepared to change and wash clothes a lot.
Whatever you decide, don't let it get you or your child down and don't put pressure on them. Talk to other parents about how they coped. You also don't want to confuse your child by stopping and starting too often. If you do stop, leave it for a few weeks before you start again.

12. 3. Just when I think things are going well, there's an accident
Accidents will happen for a while, when your child does use the potty or manage to stay dry, even if it's just for a short time, let them know how pleased you are.
Even though accidents can be very frustrating, try not to show your child that you are frustrated. Explain that you want them to use the potty or toilet next time. If your child starts to worry, the problem could get worse.

13. 4. My child was dry for a while, but now they've started wetting themselves again
If your child has been dry for a while, either at night, during the day or both, and then starts wetting themselves again, it can mean they have a bladder infection, constipation, threadworms or type I diabetes. Ask your GP for more advice.
Alternatively, there may be an emotional reason. Disruption – such as moving house or a new baby arriving – or a change of routine can often have an effect.
The best thing you can do is be understanding and sympathetic. Your child will almost certainly be upset about the lapse and won't be doing it on purpose.

14. 5.My child is about to start school and is still not dry
By this age, your child is likely to be just as upset by wetting as you are. They need to know that you're on their side and that you're going to help them solve the problem.
Talk to your GP or health visitor to get some guidance. They may refer you to a clinic for expert help.

15. Children (and many adults) feel happier, safer and more confident if they have a regular routine. Exact timing is not important but the order of things is. Learning a regular pattern helps your child to be confident they will get what they need throughout the day. A child who is not confident that her/his needs will be met will take things into their own hands – which is often where problems for parents or carers begin.

16. Giving Advance Notice
Children feel secure when they know what is coming next.. Talk through the day ahead with them, telling them the order that you will be doing things in. E.g. “After breakfast we are going to Nanny’s house, we will stay there for lunch then walk to nursery. After nursery we can go to the park for half an hour then we will need to get home for our tea” Give your child warning when one activity is about to finish and a new one is about to start. E.g. “You have 5 more minutes to play with your Lego then it will be time to wash your hands for lunch.” “ When this programme finishes we are going to switch the TV off and you are going to put your shoes on so we can go shopping”

17. We all know the most important basic needs for our children – food, loving attention, and sleep. However, fitting them into the day is not always simple. 3-6 year old children need hours sleep day. We recommend that children at this age should be in bed by 7.00 p.m.

18. Sample of a routine :
About 7.00 a.m. - Get up, wash hands and face, clean teeth and go to the toilet
First.... Have breakfast together if you can. Get a fix of food and loving attention before the hard work of getting dressed (It is hard work for a child pulling on clothes buttoning up and getting them round the right way!– it would wear you out!).
Next.... Get dressed and ready to go.
You might swap the order of breakfast/dressing – but remember that the needs that your child will be thinking about are food and attention. Dressing is a convention which adults find important, but children may not and this may therefore be a time of conflict. Allow a good ½ hour for each of these activities.

19. Go to the toilet before you leave for nursery or start your morning activities.
About 8.30 a.m. - Travel to school for the morning session or get busy with work/play if your child attends the afternoon session.
Mid-morning have a healthy snack - At school an option of milk/water and fruit is offered.
Snack time -Remember to make it a special time together for attention if you can – even if it is only for a few minutes. The average 3-4 year old laughs 400 times a day but an adult laughs only 4 times. Try and share laughter here if nothing else.

20. Go to the toilet before lunch
Lunchtime - At school children may have this is quite early at a.m. If not at nursery then at home between and 1.00 p.m. is a good time. The important thing is that this should also be a time of shared positive attention. At Nursery/School the staff sit down and talk with the children even if they are not eating food.
Go to the toilet after lunch

21. Go to the toilet before evening meal
Evening meal - Fit this in between 5.00 and 6.00 p.m. If you eat earlier your child may need a drink of milk later on. If you eat later they may only need a drink of water before bed. Eat together as a family if you can – it makes a huge difference to children’s language learning.

22. Get ready for bed - Start this early at about 6. 30 p. m
Get ready for bed - Start this early at about 6.30 p.m. (if you eat late you will start soon after finishing food). Although children need their hours’ sleep, they will put their need for loving attention first at this time. Your child may also need a last drink before brushing teeth. They will enjoy sharing a book with you – it is about attention again. It doesn’t need to be a story, some children prefer a more factual book which is good too - as long as you can read or talk a little about what is in the book.
Go to the toilet before bath and before bedtime.
Brush teeth before bed and sleep
At about 7.00 p.m. a regular bedtime song will send a clear message that it is time for sleep again.

23. consistency
The most important thing about routine is that it is consistent. If you say something is going to happen ensure that it does happen

24. Useful website www.eric.org.uk
NHS Choices