It is important to avoid rushing into toileting before your child is ready.  It can be difficult when friend’s children are toileted or you have the pressure of a special event, such as starting nursery.  Much of the frustration around toileting can be avoided by waiting until your child indicates they are ready.

Some of the signs to look for include:

• Your child telling you they are actually doing a wee or a poo.  With praise they will gradually begin to recognise sooner and sooner until eventually they are able to ‘hold on’ long enough to get to a potty or toilet in time.
• Taking an interest in going to the toilet with you.
• Pulling at or telling you they have a wet or soiled nappy or even telling you they no longer wish to wear nappies.
• Able to stay dry for extended periods.

Modern nappies often mean children do not feel as wet or soiled as they did in years gone by. 

By looking out for signs, you can make sure you do not wait too long, or start too early.

Once your child is ready to begin toilet training, decide:

• What language you would like to use.  For example wee wee, poo, toilet, potty.  If your child uses a signing or symbol system, choose appropriate signs.
• Would you like your child to use a potty or a toilet seat for young children?  Where will this be kept?
• Who else needs to know?  Make sure you let everyone who looks after your child knows that you are beginning toilet training and what you have decided about language and equipment.
• If possible, take your child to the toilet with you and talk through step by step what you are doing.  Ask them if they would like to try.
• Introduce the toilet or potty in a comfortable, safe way.  Make the experience fun by singing, playing games or reading a story.  Give lots of praise, even when the child does not ‘go’.
• Use a few drops of food colouring in the toilet bowl.  The yellow of the urine will change blue to green, and red to orange.  Use Cheerios in the bowl as a target for boys to aim.
• Expect accidents.  Try not to show you are disappointed, but deal with accidents in a ‘matter of fact’ way.

Use the checklist to help you decide if your child is ready for toilet training.  Not all of the items on the list will be appropriate to every child but the more items on the list that you have ticked, the more likely it is that your child will be successful.  Do not be disheartened if you have not been able to tick many of the boxes yet, simply wait a few weeks and consider again. A printable version of the checklist is available in our download section.

You may want to share this list with staff at your child’s early years setting or school if you are planning toilet training with them.

• My child is able to stay dry for an hour or more
• My child knows what a potty or toilet is for
• My child knows if he/she has a wet or soiled nappy on
• My child’s faeces are solid and well formed
• My child imitates the actions of others
• My child is able to concentrate on task for five minutes or more
• My child is able to indicate his/her needs (using words, signs or gestures)
• My child is NOT currently experiencing any particularly stressful situations