Getting started with toilet training:

It’s best to start toilet training when you have no big changes coming up in your family life. Changes to avoid might include going on holiday, starting child care, having a new baby or moving house.

It’s a good idea to start toilet training on a day when you have no plans to leave the house.

When to take your child to the toilet:

• Try to make toileting part of your child’s regular daily routine. For example, encourage your child to use the potty or toilet in the morning, and before or after snacks and meals.

• Encourage your child to go to the toilet when they show signs like wriggling around, passing wind, going quiet or moving away from you. But, don’t force your child to go.

• Encourage your child to sit on the toilet when a poop is more likely – for example, about 30 minutes after a meal.

• If your child is 3-4 years old, encourage them to go to the toilet when they change activities. For example, you could remind your child to go to the toilet before they sit down for lunch.

How to encourage and motivate your child:

• Praise your child for trying. You could say, "Well done for sitting on the potty." You could start a reward chart for using the potty or toilet.

• If your child misses the toilet, try not to get frustrated; just clean up without comments or fuss.

• If your child doesn’t do a wee or poop after 3-5 minutes of sitting on the potty or toilet, let your child get off. Sitting for too long can feel like punishment.

How to dress your child:

• Start using underpants or training pants all the time. It takes longer to stop wetting the bed during sleep, so use nappies, absorbent sheets or mattress protectors at night and during daytime sleeps.

• Dress children in clothes that are easy to take off – for example, trousers with elastic waistbands. In warmer weather, you could leave your child in underpants when you’re at home.

How to keep your child clean and hygienic:

• Wipe your child’s bottom until your child learns how. Remember to wipe from the front to the back, particularly with girls.

• Teach your son to shake his private after a wee to get rid of any drops. Early in toilet training you could float a ping pong ball in the toilet for him to aim at, or he might prefer to sit to do a wee - this can be less messy.

• Teach your child how to wash hands after using the toilet.

Steps to Potty Training:

• Begin when your child wakes up and take the child to the restroom.

• Have the child sit on the toilet for 3-5 minutes.

• If the child is successful, provide praise and reinforcement. Ensure the reinforcement is of high quality and only available for potty successes. If it is a food item, allow the child to consume it. If it is a toy or object, allow the child to engage with it for two minutes.

• If the child does not go during the scheduled sit, ensure they sit for the entire duration. If necessary, hold their hands, etc., to ensure the child sits. You can remind them, “Pee on the potty, then you get off potty.”

• Have the child put on a clean diaper, and wash hands.

• Ensure the scheduled sits are positive and encouraging.

• Bring the child back to the potty in two hours and repeat the routine. Continue until bedtime.