Services

Children's Continence Service

Toilet Training

Most parents and carers worry about toilet training their children, particularly if their child has additional needs and many receive conflicting advice and information from friends, other parents, relatives and professionals.

Modern nappies that keep children clean, dry and comfortable can reduce the child’s awareness and may make toilet training more difficult than it was for earlier generations.

Feeling wet after doing a wee is part of learning to become toilet trained. If the child never feels wet, it takes longer for them to understand why going to the toilet for a wee or poo is important. Advice to wait until the child is ready to toilet train is common, but not helpful.

For a long time, it was thought that leaving toilet training until later makes it easier, particularly if a child has additional needs. It was also thought that children have to be showing an interest in toilet training, or at least an awareness of when they are wet or soiled. There is no clear evidence to support this and some children will not want to stop using nappies, particularly if they have learning disabilities, processing problems or sensory issues. For these children changing something they have been doing since birth may become increasingly difficult with time.

Many children feel frightened when they sit on the toilet as their bottoms are so much smaller than the toilet seat, their feet do not reach the floor and there is nothing for them to hold onto. This is particularly true if their balance is not very good, as they may feel that they will fall in. A children’s toilet seat and step will help. The seat must sit firmly on the toilet seat. The step should be high enough for your child to be able to rest their feet on it, while they are sitting on the toilet.

Initiate Toilet Training by:

  • Performing nappy changes in the bathroom to help create an association between toileting habits and the bathroom/toilet
  • Encourage your child to pull their own clothes up and down, tear off toilet paper, sit on the toilet etc.  A star chart or similar could be used to earn a reward. Remember if you are encouraging your child to wipe their own bottom, girls should wipe from front to back
  • Say wee and poo go down the loo and try to let the child flush the toilet. Wash hands every time
  • Make going to the toilet fun. Have a special toy that they can play with while sitting on the toilet, blow bubbles, sing a song or allow 5 minutes using a tablet/phone etc
  • Don’t force your child to sit on the toilet for ages. 2-5 minutes are a good starting point
  • Put pants on a favourite teddy and have your child potty train teddy
  • Try to visit the toilet when you first get up, 15-20 minutes after drinks/mealtimes and before bed
  • Allow your child to see other family members using the toilet
  • Expect and be ready for ‘accidents’