Huggies® Australia

What You Need to Know

Are you and your toddler just about ready to say goodbye to nappies for good? If you are, then it’s time to learn more on the subject of toilet training.

At first, toilet training (also known as potty training) can seem a bit overwhelming for both you and your little toddler. But when you are both ready, the process can be both rewarding and fun. It can also be a memorable time, as your child is likely to say things about bodily functions that will make you laugh.

For some kids, toilet training seems natural and they sail through the process. For others it can be a journey full of ups and downs. But by being supportive, encouraging and patient, in time you’ll have your child confidently using the potty and you can get rid of that nappy change table for good.

How to Master Toilet Training

Let your child set the pace
Trust your child, let your child set the pace. Don’t try to force them to learn too fast. Support them with the encouragement and positive feedback they need. Look out for the Signs of Readiness below.

Be Positive
Say “You’ll do better next time” or “Don’t worry about the accident, we’ll get it right soon”. Keep building confi dence. Encourage those Big Kid feelings.

Be Consistent
Avoid mixed signals. Switching back and forth to nappies is confusing to a child. Once you make the switch to training pants, stick with it. Wearing training pants makes your child feel like a ‘big girl’ or ‘big boy’.

Be Patient
There will be accidents! But mistakes are what we learn from. There may be times when your child seems like they are regressing. Don’t get discouraged – this is perfectly normal. Be confident that things will be back on track in no time.

When is my Child Ready to Toilet Train?

There is no ‘magic toilet training age’ at which to toilet train your child. The majority of children are ready sometime between 18 months and 3 years, although most do not master readiness skills until after their 2nd birthday.

In order for your child to succeed and become toilet trained, they need to be physically, emotionally and mentally ready. There are a number of stages that your child will go through while developing bladder and bowel control.

If many of the Signs of Readiness listed below are clearly present, it’s probably time to start thinking about toilet training. Remember, if your first attempts are met with little success, or if your child starts out fine but then regresses, don’t worry. Just stop and start again later when your child appears more ready or interested in starting. If you trya gain with not much luck, consider some toilet training tips

Remember, consider delaying toilet training if your child is sick or if there are big changes in your little ones life, like moving house, starting childcare or if a new baby is on the way.

Signs of Readiness

If your toddler shows at least two or three of the physical, emotional and mental signs listed below, it’s probably time to start thinking about toilet training. Remember the more ready your child is the more smoothly the training process will go!

Physical signs of readiness

• Your child has regular, formed poos and their bowel movements are reasonably predictable
• Your toddler is developed physically so they can move around independently and can get themselves to the toilet
• Your child has the dexterity to pull their pants up and down with minimum assistance
• You may notice that the nappy is dry for longer periods up to 2-3 hours. This shows that the bladder capacity and control are improving
• Your toddler can recognise the feeling that they need to go to the toilet or can control the urge to go – young children will often go off to a secret corner to poo
  
  

Mental signs of readiness

• Your child knows what wee and poo are and may talk about them when you’re changing his or her nappy
• Your child understands the meaning of ‘wet’ and ‘dry’
• Your child can predict and communicate when he or she needs ‘to go’
• Your toddler understands what you are saying and can follow simple instructions, like ‘Go and get your teddy’
• Your child may become uncomfortable and complain if their nappy is dirty or remove their nappy following a wee
  
  

Social and emotional signs of readiness

• ’I can do it’ becomes a regular saying – this shows that your toddler wants to become more independent
• Your toddler begins to imitate your behaviour or the behaviour of others
• Your child demonstrates independence – often by saying ‘no’ to requests
• Your toddler shows a desire to please you and other adults – and responds well to praise
• Your child asks to wear Big Kid training pants or underpants
  
  

Toilet Training Tips

1. Ensure your child is ready before you start toilet training. You’re more likely to have success if both you and your child are ready.

2. Involve your child, make shopping for your toilet training essentials a special ‘event’, let them choose their own potty or training seat and Pull-Ups training pants. To encourage them further, perhaps try some toilet training tools.

3. Start giving praise from the beginning, and give praise for small steps – a toilet flush is better than refusing to go near it!

4. There is no place for punishment during toilet training.

5. Prepare yourself, the family and the home.

6. Get dad and older siblings actively involved to keep an eye out for tell tale ‘needing to go’ signs.

7. Familiarise your child with Pull-Ups before you start training, show them how Pull-Ups looks and feels differently to nappies. You can also put them in the drawer just like ‘real underwear’.

8. Wear clothes that your child can easily remove and put on themselves to encourage their desire to be independent.

9. Maintain a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables as constipation can make the process much more difficult.

10. Relax – even if things aren’t going according to plan, simply postpone the process, this will only make it easier later on

Start your journey by downloading our free toilet training guide and reward chart, as well as requesting a free sample of our training pants to get you started.