You’ve noticed the signs. It looks like they’re good to go. Now, it’s time to choose your potty training battle plan and enter bravely into the fray. We weighed up some of the different potty training approaches to help you decide what’s best for you.
Watch our ‘How to start potty training’ video with Janine, a childcare specialist with plenty of experience working with nursery-age children. She shares some handy tips to get you thinking about your potty training journey, which usually starts around age 2. Don’t be worried you’re past the two-year mark and not ready yet, every child is different.
Potty training approaches for when it’s time to go
The most popular potty training tips combine elements of parental prompting alongside following your child’s lead. Where they vary most is in how long they take – those that claim to get the job done in a matter of days, versus those approaches that may take a few months.
1. Trying the cold turkey approach
Methods that claim to be able to potty train children in a few days or over a weekend tend to be the strictest and most intense.
Have a quick Google search and you’ll find any number of books that promise results in three days or less.
This type of approach is sometimes referred to as the bootcamp method or ‘going cold turkey’. The advantage is getting the whole thing out of the way quickly – short-term pain for long-term gain.
The drawbacks of the cold turkey approach
The disadvantages? Staying in with your child for several days, monitoring them, mopping up the inevitable accidents and sticking to a schedule of putting them on the potty every 15 minutes is unrealistic for most of us. The intense nature of such an approach doesn’t always go down well with your child.
There’s no two ways about it, it’s messy.
2. Encourage potty training by going with the flow
Of course, there are more staggered approaches. But when it comes to encouraging potty training, the NHS advocates a softly-softly approach and advises taking a break if potty training is not going well. This way involves getting your child used to the potty and makes use of Huggies® Pull-Ups Training Pants® to bridge the gap between nappies and real underwear.
3. Make potty training fun
When it comes to starting potty training, games, books, rewards (the NHS recommends stickers or small tokens rather than sweets), and plenty of encouragement will get your toddler into the potty mindset. There’s more emphasis on making the process fun, allowing for bumps on the road and accepting that it may take weeks or months.
Potty training tips and advice
With your trusty method in hand, what else do you need to know when starting potty training?
Make sure everyone is on the same page
Get organised when it comes to potty training
Make sure there are no surprises
Prepare the ground by talking to your child about going to the loo and show them around the potty and the toilet. Alison Jandu is one of the US’s leading potty training experts and author of The Poop Puzzle and The Wee Hours. She suggests preparing your child for potty training by counting down the days on a calendar:
Stick with the tried, tested, trusted
Health visitors and childcare professionals are often founts of knowledge about potty training, typically having seen many children through this milestone. If you need reassurance, find one and talk to them.
Try not to lose your temper
Whatever route you choose, the more patient you can be, the better. There’s no cut and dry time for how long potty training takes.
The calmer I was, the easier my son found it.
His favourite part was when I would dance and sing the words to ‘All In The Potty’ – we still call it the Poo dance (I mean, who even am I?). But it worked.
Don’t feel bad about taking a break
According to research by Huggies® , 42% of parents say they have taken a break from potty training after they’ve started. There’s no shame in stopping and reintroducing potty training several times, it’ll happen when it happens. You can even take the opportunity to try different approaches to see what works for your child.
Use what’s out there
There's no shortage of resources and books out there to make the job a bit easier. Also ERIC, the children’s bowel and bladder charity, is dedicated to supporting young people with continence problems and also has a wealth of downloadable resources to help potty train all children. The Institute of Health Visiting is also a good source of professional advice.
The science behind potty training
The science bit worth knowing here is that the vast majority of children are not actually physically able to control their sphincter and bowels before 18 months. That's why trying any earlier is not generally advised.
Erik Erickson’s theory of child development outlines the importance of creating a perfect balance between safety and autonomy in potty training. So, just like stabilisers when we’re learning to ride a bike, your child needs to feel independent, but safely. This was front of mind in the design of Huggies® Pull-Ups® - all the safety they need as they learn but with the sense of independence that comes from the ‘feel wet’ layer and the ability to pull their pants up and down themselves.
Trust Huggies® to make potty training, and everything else, a breeze
We know a few things about keeping dry, so when the time comes to introduce potty training and start a new adventure, trust us to help you potty train like a pro.
From working out if they’re ready to start potty training, to continuing lessons while away on holiday. If it’s about potty training, we’ve got it covered.
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