Potty training: the process that works

Signs that your little one is ready include: taking their own nappies off, watching you go to the toilet, hiding to wee or poo, waking up with a dry nappy after a nap. You can start the process by taking your little one shopping to get some pants that they choose and then you will need a potty. 

Potty training seat

potty training seat

It can be a very difficult process learning how to potty train your child, and will likely be somewhat of a bumpy ride. There are many approaches but the way that we did it was easy, although you should expect a few accidents along the way. Put the potty around their toys. Also bringing it to the bathroom whilst you use the toilet can encourage them to go when you do.

Explain to them what it is for and if they need to go, they can use it. To start, get them to not have a nappy on for short amounts of time. Encourage them to use the potty, but not being overly pushy about it. They will do it in their own time and pushing them will only hold them back.

Developing their confidence whilst potty training

When you have the success of them even sitting on it, you should reward them with praise, after they have got used to it and are successfully using it. They can begin wearing their pants, which they will also have some little accidents. Just make sure you don’t get annoyed, they will learn. Over time it will get easier and then you can move on to the toilet training.

Rewarding your little one when they get it right is an important step in improving their confidence whilst potty training and a great way to do it is by using stickers.

Dino Potty Training Chart With Stickers

Dino Potty Training Chart With Stickers

Make potty training as fun as possible with this potty sticker chart. Finished with a glossy print, this chart is a great way to reward your toddler for successfully using the potty during their training. In total it has 125 star stickers, which can be used as part of the potty routine. For toddlers, the concept of the chart is extremely exciting, making use of dinosaurs and various bright colours for additional reinforcement. At the end of every potty routine, your little one can place a sticker of their choice in the box they achieved. This is a great way to reinforce actions and works as a physical form of praise. 

Once the chart is full and you want to start again, the a4 surface can be wiped clean with ease. The stickers themselves can also be peeled off and reused to prevent any waste. With 4 unique star colours to choose from, the chart is fantastic for both boys and girls, allowing them to track their own potty routine as they learn.

Disposable Potty Training Accident Sheets

disposable potty training accident sheets

It’s time to make potty training simple again with our blue potty training accident sheets. All sheets are suitable for both boys and girls and can be disposed of with ease after use. Sized extra large at 30cm x 60cm, they’re perfect for potty training being both absorbent and waterproof due to a plastic backing. 

While the process of potty training can be somewhat stressful at first, you can complete potty training in only 3 days. With the help of potty training sheets and good preparation, you can be ready for accidents that may occur, ensuring your floor remains stain free throughout the process. 

While these sheets are fantastic for absorbing mess, we do not recommend using them as a DIY solution for protecting your floors. They work as great protectors for any mess your infant may make, though should not be the only tool you use to protect your floor. In addition to this, they’re also not suitable as a fitted sheet for your child’s bed. Instead, use them only as a precaution for potty time to help improve both you and your toddler’s overall experience. Before you know it, your little one will be potty trained and well on their way to making no mess at all.

During the first few weeks of night training your child may have a few hiccups along the way so be sure to use a mattress protector in case they do not get to the toilet in time.

Mattress Waterproof Protector

 Mattress Waterproof Protector

As your little one grows up, they will go through a period in which wetting the bed becomes a norm. Whilst this is unavoidable, you can take action before it occurs with this Waterproof Mattress Protector. This helpful protector will ensure that the mattress of the cot (or bed) remains dry when your toddler has an accident. As a result, you won’t need to waste money on another mattress. Instead, you can simply remove the protector and wash it whilst your sheets remain dry. This helps to put your mind at ease and ensures you’re not up all night worrying about the mattress.

The large size Mattress Waterproof Protector has an extra deep skirt, ideal for keeping the mattress dry at night. It comes with instructions to follow to ensure that the cot remains dry and makes use of anti-allergy materials to ensure even the most sensitive skin is protected. This particular waterproof protector has received hundreds of positive reviews online, being a favourite amongst parents who were having trouble with their little ones wetting the bed. Buy your Mattress Waterproof Protector today, and help to protect your mattresses from the accidents that often occur throughout the night!

Alternatively, your little one can use pull up nappies that they can pull down to use the potty during the night or they can soil the pull up nappy whilst sleeping which will prevent mess whilst waking them up with the wetness. This will remind and teach them to use the potty as a wet nappy can feel uncomfortable.

Pull Up Training Nappies

Pull ups training nappies

Pull up nappies are the ideal solution for potty training. Suitable for both girls and boys, they can be used at home under supervision so that your little one can become comfortable using them. Once they have gained confidence, they can begin using them at nursery, working as a natural upgrade to traditional nappies. They are best used from the ages of 2-4, and introduce your child to the concept of using a potty and can also be used at night time to reduce any unexpected mess. Although this process can be somewhat difficult at first, pull up nappies are fantastic for training and can help to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. 

Huggies can be used up to around the age of 4, in which potty training should have become a norm. In this case, the transition from pull ups to pants can occur. Until potty training has been mastered, pull-ups work as the ideal option being both comfortable and easy to use for toddlers. As your little one begins to grow, you can reduce the amount of time they spend in their pull ups, eventually moving on to pants.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone, it is a really difficult thing that you will have to go through. Just remember that you will get there, and also know that you will probably still need to take them to the toilet. This is because you will need to be teaching them how to wipe afterwards, etc. Up until the age of 4 years old on average. It’s a long old process, but once they’ve got it, that’s it. You would have successfully learned how to potty train your child.

During the day time, we recommend avoiding nappies and pull ups unless you are going out and there will not be a toilet. Instead, opt for grown up kids pants that they can pull down themselves. This will teach them independence and will allow them to practise using the toilet in the real world.

Potty Training Pants (5 Pack)

Potty Training Pants (5 Pack)

Being both comfortable and water resistant, they give your little one the natural feel of regular underwear with protection similar to a nappie. They’re extremely absorbent but allow your child to feel the wetness which alerts them to use the toilet.

At the same time, the pants are designed to prevent clothes from getting wet. Once used, they can be washed with ease. They’re ideal for use during the last stages of potty training, in which they can quickly catch leaks if your little one fails to reach the potty on time or for when they are fully potty trained but are still prone to some accidents. (This may be extremely common).

They can also reduce the impact of accidents both at nighttime and during the day. The pants themselves are reusable, preventing you from having to buy plastic, uncomfortable alternatives. Once used, you can simply change the pants without having to wash all of the clothes involved in the mess. The pack includes 5 designs (white, blue and a unique rocket earth design) to also introduce your child to an array of colours. With 5 options to choose from, you can simply wash two to three pairs whilst the others are in use, making the pack as efficient as possible. 

The harsh truths of potty training

The harsh truths of potty training

Many people do not realise when they start the process of potty training what can actually happen. Our mission today is to be informative and let you know straight up that it is not all sunshine and rainbows. Whilst potty training could end up being a simple easy process for you. It will likely come with a ton of ups and downs. Successes and failures.

You must set your expectations now and understand that practice makes perfect. That, to learn any skill and do it well. You must fail first, second and even third! In regards to potty training, you can be the best parent, with the best patience, the best understanding, the best teacher and whilst those skills would be beneficial. Your child will still hopefully get it wrong a few times. If they don’t get it wrong, they simply won’t learn.

During the potty training process, you could expect your child to poo and wee on the floor a few times. It happens. You should also know that there is no magic formula for how many times they will get it wrong. Your job is to be understanding that these things take time. The way that you would express this, is by not getting angry when the accidents happen, and by not giving up.

You must be persistent and clear. Whilst you should not shout at them when they get it wrong, you should, however, tell them calmly that ‘we do not poo on the floor, we do it in the potty (or the toilet.) Constant encouragement is needed, appraise them when they get it right and guide them when they do it wrong. As a parent, let me just tell you honestly that I have enjoyed many of the child development phases with my children apart from teething, night feeds, the terrible two tantrums and potty training. 

    These were the worst for my first-born and then by the time you have your second. You just know what to expect, and even those become easier. But potty training is definitely a hard thing to get right. I would actually say that it is easier getting a cat to go toilet in the litter tray and then outside. This could be because children can be very sensitive and can feel shy when they need to go to the toilet, they don’t quite understand what it is that is happening or why.

    From the potty to the toilet

    Between the ages of 2 to 3, your child will learn to use the toilet. Prior to the age of 2, it is common for most children to learn how to use the potty. The potty is simply a smaller version of the toilet that your child can use prior to using the actual toilet. As a result, when it comes to using a regular toilet your child may become confused. This is a common issue for many parents, as many toddlers may act with resistance when it comes to using the toilet.

    However, it is crucial that your child learns to use the toilet both at home and away. It is so important as they will have to use a normal toilet while at school and when visiting other houses. Without learning how to do so, they could find themselves in some rather awkward situations. Before you begin the transition from the potty to the toilet. It is important that your child has an understanding of what exactly the toilet is. By helping them to understand, they may be less reluctant to use one when you eventually make the transition.

    For many parents, moving their child from the potty to the toilet has been described as just as difficult as getting their child to use the potty in the first place. If done incorrectly, it can become a stressful experience for both you and your child. Here are some tips to make the experience as stress-free as possible.

    How to make it stress-free?

    Before your child begins to use the actual toilet, place their potty next to the toilet. By doing this, your child will begin to feel comfortable around the toilet and within the bathroom. Over time, you can leave them alone so that they feel comfortable going to the toilet alone. Once your child feels comfortable in the bathroom by themselves, it is time to move them to the toilet.

    Child toilet seat

    Child toilet seat

    You can help them through this stage by buying a child toilet seat for your home toilet. This will help your child to feel more comfortable when using the toilet for the first time.

    Toilet training seats make toilet training a bliss. As they have a non-slip rubber seal, your child can comfortably and safely sit on the toilet without worrying about falling into the toilet or worse, off the toilet. Plenty of different colours available so you won’t be disappointed on choice. There is a storage hook to make putting it away after every use easy and clean.

    Stool ladder seat

    toilet ladder stool 

    Additionally, if required. You can provide your child with a stool that can help them to climb up and down the toilet, as well as provide them with a place where they can rest their feet. This helps to make the overall experience less overwhelming at first.

    Over time, begin to encourage your child to use the toilet over the potty. As they gain confidence in doing so, they should begin to use it without being asked to. This is when you can remove the potty entirely.

    While this can be used for both boys and girls, as your son develops it is important to teach him to use the toilet while standing up. This is how he will use the toilet in a school and so it is important to teach him to lift the toilet seat up to avoid making a mess.

    The wooden footstool is ideal for toddlers and helps them to develop a better body position on the toilet. It is also ideal for children who are not yet tall enough to reach the toilet without help. 

    Wooden toilet training stool

    Wooden toilet training stool

    The neutral design is great for both girls and boys, with two steps to prevent any strain or reduce the risk of an accident. As well as being great for safety and body positioning, use of a stool can also help with problems of constipation and promote good bowel habits from an early age. This is fantastic for toddlers and children as it will help them to later on use a toilet without the need for a stool. Before you know it, your child will be fully toilet trained and will be using their foot stool without the need for any help or assistance. Once comfortable, they can even remove the stool altogether.

    It makes for a perfect Christmas or birthday gift for a small child, it can be left in the bathroom to be used to help them with toilet training. Used to sit at, a little table for craft, colouring, and drawing. It could even be used as a footstool in your living room. These stools are so popular for children’s bedrooms. This multipurpose wooden stool could even be used as a place to keep a nice lamp in the evening. 

    Training Urinal Toilet Potty

    Training urinal toilet potty

    After potty training your little boy, the concept of a urinal can become somewhat alien to him. As a result, he may avoid using them in public toilets or become stressed when having to use one. With the help of this Training Urinal Toilet Potty you can introduce your boys to a urinal and a potty during their training. 

    This frog urinal is a fun and friendly way to introduce your little one to the urinal concept in the comfort of your own home. Suitable from ages 1 to 6 years, it has an adjustable height and portable hook so you can elevate the urinal as your toddler grows. It has its very own fun spinning target, which has been carefully designed to keep young toddlers engaged whilst they use the urinal. It has its own built in removable waste tank which can be disposed of after use. The urinal is then easy to clean and has instructions on how to do so.

    Portable Potty Toilet Seat With Carrier

    Portable Potty Toilet Seat With Carrier

    Introduce your little one to the concept of a toilet with their very own portable potty seat. Ideal for young children and toddlers, you can take your potty seat anywhere with you to ensure they can go to the toilet when they need to. The seat itself is perfect for days out where access to a normal toilet may not be possible. It’s both comfortable and discreet, allowing your child to experience consistent potty training no matter where you go. Whether they’re at nursery, on a day out or simply at home, they can use their portable potty seat when they need the toilet.

    This award winning potty is extremely hygienic and completely bag free. This helps to reduce waste and is much better for the environment. It also has its very own splash guard, making it ideal for both boys and girls no matter where you are. 

    Fantastic for introducing your little one to the concept of a toilet, you can slowly begin letting them use the potty without supervision. As they become more comfortable, you can begin leaving them alone entirely until they no longer need any help. Buy your portable potty seat today and start introducing your infant to the comforts of a toilet. 

    This infant potty is ideal for both girls and boys, your infant will feel comfortable using the potty from the very onset. Due to its size, the potty can be used at home as part of the potty training process but can also be taken out. It is best to offer the potty to your child often throughout the day, or at night should your little one wake up needing the toilet. It can also be used outdoors in the summer, if you’re out on a road trip or visiting family. 

    There you have it, the potty training process and the best way to teach your child to transfer from the potty to the toilet.

    Up next: When should your child have a sleepover?

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