Potty training – or, as I prefer to call it, toddler-led toileting – is a journey every parent goes on with each of their children.
What is toddler-led toileting?
Learning to use the toilet or potty is just one step in your child’s development, like learning to walk, talk or eat solid foods (baby-led weaning). Toddler-led toileting means approaching ‘potty training’ in the same way.
Follow your child’s lead. Trust the process. Make it fun! Allow for mistakes and setbacks. Be body positive. Normalise going to the toilet – letting them watch you go will help them learn.
Getting started with toddler-led toileting
- Normalise it
- 🚽 Everybody wees and poos.
- 🚽 Let them see you on the toilet.
- 🚽 Let them flush.
- 🚽 Point out animal poo.
- 🚽 Share picture books about potties, toilets and poo (borrow them from your local library or buy them).
- 🚽 Let their teddies and toys have a go on the (clean!) potty.
- 🚽 Let them watch and learn.
- 🚽 Let them learn through play.
- Observe
- 🧐 Notice when your child goes still.
- 🧐 Use words to help them understand: “Did you just do a wee/poo?”
- 🧐 Reassure and affirm, with no pressure: “Your body is working well.”
- Play
- 🧸 Buy a potty and let them play with it (or go straight to the toilet if you prefer).
- 🧸 Pretend to put teddy or a doll on the potty.
- 🧸 Let them sit on it with their nappy on.
- 🧸 Avoid pressure – they’ll do it in their own time.
- Be body positive
- 👍 Use positive language about your own body.
- 👍 Going to the toilet is a normal bodily function, so talk about it factually. Use the correct names for body parts – vulva, vagina, penis, buttocks, bottom, anus and so on – rather than pet names.
- 👍 Avoid emotional pressure.
- 👍 Help them feel happy with their body.
- 👍 Explain that people use different words for bodily functions, and talk about the common ones in your area, language or culture.
Here is my free top tips crib sheet to get you started. Let me know how you get on!
Are you a family support worker or educator? My toddler-led toileting handout bundle is ready to share with the families you support.