1. Preparation for School
TOILET TRAINING
Preparation for School

2. Readiness & Expectations
Signs of Readiness:
Managing to stay dry for 1 ½ - 2 hours
Showing awareness of needing the toilet
Excited at seeing his wee make a fountain in the bath
Keen to have their nappy off and wear pants
Wriggles around when needing a poo or wee
Interested in what Mummy or Daddy does on the toilet
Understanding and responding to simple instructions
Able to get on and off the potty / toilet with only a little help
Realistic Expectations:
It will be a while before your child is able to wipe themselves independently – (girls should always wipe from front to back), or for boys to stand up and wee, & always encourage them to wash their hands.
Point 1: Staying dry for 1 ½ - 2 hours between each wee.
Point 2: Awareness of weeing or pooing by stopping & concentrating, or telling you what they are doing.
Point 3: This may not happen often though!
Point 4: Allow them to choose their own pants, so they have ownership.
Point 5: Your child may also show other signs ie. holding themselves.
Point 6: Take your child to the bathroom with you, to help normalise this activity.
Point 7: Ability to understand & follow simple instructions, such as ‘do you need a wee?’, or ‘find your potty’.
Point 8: To encourage their independence.

3. FEELINGS ABOUT TOILETING
FEAR
‘I’m scared of the toilet’
‘I’m scared of the splash from the poo’
‘I’m scared of letting the poo go’
‘I’m scared it will hurt to poo’
LACK OF CURIOUSITY
‘I’m not interested in the toilet’
‘I’d rather play with my toys’
CONFUSION
‘I don’t understand what to do on the toilet’
INDEPENDENCE
‘I don’t want to!’
TOO MUCH PRESSURE
‘I’m embarrassed’
Resistance: ‘I don’t want to do it!’
‘Why are they watching me?’

4. KEEP FOCUSED
Like any stage of a child’s development, your child will master bladder and bowel control at their own pace.
There is no right or wrong age to toilet train, but most are trained somewhere between 2 and 3 years old. However, this is now the time to re-focus your efforts in readiness for going to school.
Sometimes training can take a backwards step, especially if there is a new baby in the family and your child may start to have accidents again, but keep going.
Always ensure your child knows where the toilet / bathroom is when you are somewhere new. They then know where to go.
Point 1: Some children seem to potty train with ease, whilst others will take longer. If a child starts to potty train before they are ready, it is inevitable they will take longer & accidents will occur. If you feel your child isn’t ready, simply delay for a few weeks and then try again.
Point 2: Natural readiness does varies from child to child, but getting them ready for school is also important.
Point 3: Certain events can disrupt a child’s progress, but keep focused on the end goal, & try not to tell them off for having accidents. Remind them what they need to do & encourage & praise them as much as you can.
Point 4: As your child’s independence increases, still remember to give gentle reminders, as they can sometimes become so involved in an activity they forget about using the potty. By using prompts & gentle persuasion at these times, will help to overcome this hurdle.

5. KEEP GOING – YOU BOTH CAN DO IT!
POSITIVE
CONSISTENT
NURSERY
PRAISE
TIME
KEEP TOILETING TO THE TOILET
CALM
CHILD-MINDER /
EXTENDED FAMILY
BE POSITIVE about every step your child makes during the potty training process. Reward them for asking about the potty, or sitting on it. Don’t worry about whether or not they are performing on it initially – this will come in time. You just need them to be relaxed with the potty & happy to sit on it to begin with.
CONSISTENCY: Potty training in rarely mastered in just 1 day! Significant progress with take time, & it will be a while for your child to be able to use the potty without help. Life is obviously busy, but it is important to be consistent & ensure you have the time & flexibility to devote to potty training.
PRAISE: there will be accidents, & be prepared for regular changes of pants &/or clothes. Trying to remain calm & making potty training fun, ensuring to give lots of praise & encouragement, should make potty training a positive time for you both!
TIME: if your child runs away from the potty every time you try to sit them on, stay calm. Try to make this time special for you both, by singing favourite rhymes & reading stories. Always be positive when you talk about the potty.
NURSERY / CHILD-MINDER / EXTENDED FAMILY: ensure you let all your child’s carers know that you are toilet training & the way you are doing it, as this will provide consistency in all of your approaches. If your child is at Nursery / child-minder, think about using the same potty for home, which will provide familiarity. Or choose a potty / toilet seat with your child, so they are comfortable with it.
CALM: try to remain calm, no matter what happens! On occasions, your child may try to test you but try to ignore this behaviour, & if necessary carry on again the next day.
KEEP TOILETING TO THE TOILET: if you are using a potty with your child, ensure you keep it in the downstairs loo / bathroom, rather than in front of the TV, as sometimes the functionality of it can become confused & your child may start to think of it as a toy.

6. ENCOURAGEMENT
Encourage your child to sit on the toilet a short while after having a drink
Choose a toilet seat that’s right for your child
PIC 1: Try to sit your child on the potty every couple of hours, but for no longer than a couple of minutes at a time. If they ask to use the potty in between, that’s great, & if they have a regular pooing pattern, try to sit them on at these times.
PIC 2: When they do finally wee or poo, it’s a great cause for celebration & children enjoy the praise & fuss which follows. You’ll need to continue giving gentle reminders until your child is reliably dry & independent.
PIC 3: ensure you give reassurance, ie. cuddles, so your child knows they haven’t done anything wrong. Also give lots of praise after each success, so your child feels proud of themselves & their achievements.
PIC 4: Involve your child in the process of choosing a potty / toilet seat. Some children want to be like Mummy & Daddy or older siblings, by using the toilet. See what works for you.
When accidents occur, try to simply clean up without any fuss
Children enjoy being praised when they sit on the toilet, whether or not they have managed to wee or poo

7. CHALLENGES MOVING ONTO THE TOILET
Loss of interest in toilet training
Overcoming the need for a nappy to have a poo
MOVING ONTO THE TOILET
A potty is usually the best way to start toilet training for most children, as it is easy to get on & off, & can also be taken with you; with the aim for your child to use the toilet. However, if your child loses interest in potty training, try inspiring them afresh by helping them to use the toilet, with a colourful seat & step, put special pictures up for them & give reward stickers for every success. Ensure you still offer lots of praise, & think of ways to alter the routine so your child keeps their focus – perhaps sing song / rhymes or have a short story.
Your child may still ask for a nappy when they want to poo – this isn’t unusual, so don’t despair! If your child has a regular pattern for pooing, encourage them to sit on the toilet at these times. If not, look out for signs that they may be about to poo – wriggling or dancing about, or simply asking for a nappy. If you can, try & encourage them to sit on the toilet before offering a nappy.
If these suggestions don’t work, ensure that the nappies are kept & used in the toilet area. Try sitting your child on the toilet with his nappy on, & when he is happy to poo this way, try to take the nappy off. If reluctant to remove it, you could cut a hole in the back of the nappy, so the poo can drop through.
Once achieved, a poo in the toilet is a time of celebration, with plenty of praise & a wave ‘goodbye’ to poo, as it is travels down the toilet on its way to ‘pooland’!
For many, using the toilet is a natural progression, but with others it may take longer. To help your child to feel comfortable & independent in this process, they will need a step high enough to get up on to the toilet, & to rest their feet on whilst sitting on the toilet – this is especially important for pooing, & again use pictures, stickers, stories & songs to help your child feel as comfortable & relaxed as possible.

8. Choose Toileting Items Together
HINTS & TIPS
Choose Toileting Items Together
Pleasant Environment
Drinking & Diet
Out & About
Zips & Buttons
‘Wee’ & ‘Poo’
Allow your child to choose their own toilet seat, step & pants, as this will give them ownership of these items, & give them added independence. If they feel proud of their big girl/boy pants, they will be keen to keep them clean & dry.
Ensure you keep the potty in the same place – preferably the bathroom &/or downstairs toilet. Put some toys & books in there & ensure the environment is pleasant & relaxed – use pictures & stickers, tell stories & sing songs.
Encourage your child to drink 6-8 cups of drink per day – water-based drinks are best, but not too much milk as can cause constipation.
Eventually you will need to venture out, without the safety of a nappy. Take a few changes of clothes with you, & ensure your child knows where the toilet is when you arrive at your destination. Consider taking a collapsible potty, as they are discreet & easy to carry. Ensure you continue following your usual routines whilst out, asking your child regularly if they need the toilet.
Avoid clothes that are difficult for you or your child to remove quickly, such as dungarees or trousers with zips & buttons, & encourage your child (when able) to pull up & down their own pants, trousers, etc.
Decide what you will call ‘wee’ & ‘poo’, so that your child understands what you are talking about.

9. POINTS TO REMEMBER
Now is the time to conquer toilet training, so that you child is fully ready to start school.
There will be accidents, but be patient.
Be positive and reward your child for every step they make.
Be consistent and ensure you have the time and flexibility to focus on toilet training.
Make sure that toilet training is a fun and relaxed time for you both to enjoy together.
If not dry at night by age 5 years , get in touch with the School Nurse Team.