Guide to Potty Training Your Toddler

Guide to Potty Training Your Toddler

For most toddlers, ditching the nappies for the potty is one of the most significant and exciting milestones in their lives. While for parents, it can often be a challenging milestone. Through navigating their child's resistance, managing frequent accidents, and finding the right balance between encouragement and pressure, this guide is designed to help make this transition as smooth as possible for both you and your little one. Here are some helpful tips to get started:

• Let your child know what is happening. It can be daunting for them to suddenly start using a potty, so talk them through it.
• The learning process will take time, so be patient, especially when they have accidents.
• Don’t ditch the nappies right away. Instead consider switching to Rascals Premium Nappy Pants that are made for toddlers always on-the-go. Engineered with 6 Core Innovations, Rascals Premium Nappy Pants will help make change-time easier.
• Encouragement and positive reinforcement goes a long way in helping them adapt.

When to Start Potty Training:

Most children typically start potty training between 18 and 30 months, in other cases it doesn’t happen until the age of 4. There’s no one size fits all approach and knowing when your child is ready for potty training is different for all kids. Potty training is a big step for both you and your little one. It's not just about teaching them to use the potty - it's also about understanding their cues and knowing when they're ready. Here's how you can approach this important developmental stage and know when to start.

5 Signs Your Toddler is Ready to Start Potty Training:

1. They try to remove their nappy after peeing, or when they are uncomfortable.
2. They start telling you that their nappy needs to be changed (they can feel the sensation of a wet nappy)
3. They stay dry in their nappy for at least two hours during the day, or are dry after naps.
4. They start to show interest in underwear or “big kid” pants.
5. They can follow simple instructions, like walking to the bathroom, sitting down and removing their clothes.

How to Start Potty Training Your Toddler:

Successful potty training requires consistency and patience. Remember, timing is important – so try to avoid times where there could be major distractions or environmental changes, such as moving house or going on holiday. It’s best that they’re comfortable in a familiar environment for habits to stick.

Switch from nappies to nappy pants

If you’re still using nappies, try switching to Rascals Premium Nappy Pants. Not only do they make change-time easier (thanks to our Easy On & Off Design) but they function just like undies, which will help your little one understand how to pull their pants up and down when using the potty.

Introduce the idea of a potty

Next, introduce the idea of a potty and make it fun! You may like to read storybooks about potty training, go to the store together to purchase their potty or use craft activities like this coloring-in maze.

Like teaching any new skill, communication is key. Because potty training is new for you and your little one, there’s likely to be mistakes - and that’s okay! Try normalise the idea of going to the potty by explaining why you’re introducing something new and what they could expect. Mentioning times where you’re personally using the toilet (or potty) could also help. Start with phrases like: “I wonder if (your child’s favourite character) needs to sit on the potty” or “I have to go wee, I’m going to use the potty.”

Make it a habit

You may like to follow a schedule or introduce key times throughout the day that they should go to the potty. For example, first thing when they wake up, every couple of hours, before leaving the house, before and after nap time and the final step in their bedtime routine. Even if they object to “not needing to go,” the ritual of going to the potty and through the motions involved with this process, reinforces the habit. Eventually, it should become part of their routine. Make the routine a habit by asking them to remove their pants, nappy, and sitting on the potty for a few minutes.

Teach proper hygiene

Teach good hygiene habits early on and stick to them. The final part of going to the potty should include using toilet paper to clean, proper disposal and washing up. Make the sink, soap and hand towel accessible to them (you could use a stepping stool), and help them wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

You could even make hand washing fun with colorful soaps and singing their favorite song to help the time pass (or signify how long they need to wash for!).

Positive reinforcement and patience

Essential to the potty training process is positive reinforcement and patience. It will take time for their body to adjust to using the potty, and accidents are part of the learning process. Try not to react to these occasions with frustration. Instead, offer reassurance, help them change into a clean nappy, and explain why we use the potty and what we can try do next time.

When they do use the potty to go toilet, offer gentle praise or a small reward like a sticker chart. Positive reinforcement of their behaviour and what they did well is important.

6 Nighttime Potty Training Tips for Toddlers:

Transitioning to the potty during the day is one thing, the next challenge is staying dry overnight! This can be more of a hurdle for little ones as it depends on a their development and ability to control their bladder throughout the night. Try these nighttime potty training tips:

1. Limit evening fluids: Reduce your child's fluid intake in the hours leading up to bedtime, especially when they’re still transitioning.
2. Establish a routine: Make sure a trip to the bathroom to go toilet is the final step in their bedtime routine!
3. Rascals Nappy Pants: We’d still recommend using nappy pants overnight, especially when starting out. You could start to transition away from nappy pants during the day and night when you notice they wake up dry consistently for a of couple weeks.
4. Use a waterproof mattress protector: This makes clean-up after accidents less stressful.
5. Stay calm and reassuring: If an accident happens, respond with understanding and support.
6. Positive reinforcement: Celebrate the small wins, like a dry night!