We recently went to Hamburg and whilst we were away my Mum started potty training Lucas, we went away with him in nappies, showing no interest in the potty or toilet and came back to him in no nappies and ‘big boys’ underpants. We only went away for 2 days! Since then he has been doing so well, he still wears nappies during the night but he hasn’t actually wet his nappies during the night for about 3 months now.
So my Mum’s tip was to just take the leap, take the nappy off and undies on. He did have a couple of accidents the first day but after that he knew to ask for the potty or toilet.
My tip is get a portable potty, they are absolute genius! Lucas chose a ladybird design, it is small enough and light enough to easily carry around and it is leak and odour proof if there isn’t anywhere to empty it.
Frances said that waiting until the child is ready or bribery!
It’s important not to force potty training on a child when you want them to be ready. Also read the child’s messages – some like the potty, some (like my daughter) only wanted to use the toilet – Alice
Wait until they are ready we put the potty out to introduce them to it and told them they can use it when they’re ready my daughter was two and half and my son nearly 3 I also think it helps when they see mummy and daddy using the big potty (toilet) too! We also bought potty training books to read to them as well Pirate Pete is a good one – Katie
Talk to the child beforehand about feeling wet and dry. “When you wash your hands they’re wet, and now they are lovely and dry, it’s nice to feel dry.” Some kids don’t care much about / notice being wet so need to recognise when they are! – Clare
When they start becoming aware of going (they may tell you when they are, that they need changing or that they need to) then its a sign that they are getting ready. – Kaiden
Allow them to understand that accidents aren’t a big issue. Ask for help to clean up works too – Lyndsay-Rose
We waited, Evie was quite a bit older by the time she was ready but it paid off! We took her to choose her own knickers and got her a little toy if she managed the whole week without accidents. Because she was older she wasn’t interested in the potty so we got a training seat and a step, no toilet transitioning then! – Kayleigh
My advice is don’t potty train. Wait until they are older and truly ready and then there is no training required, they just get it and then do it. Also, don’t be in a rush to do it too early – until they can wipe their own bums and dress/undress themselves by themselves then it actually can be more of a pain to have them out of nappies than in. Don’t be in a rush – Nyomi
We used Gina Ford’s ‘potty training in a week’ with all three children and they wee out of nappies from a fairly early age and it was a nice and quick process. I’d recommend the book/method to other parents. You do need to be very dedicated in the first week but it’s easy after that – Samantha
I think if they haven’t cracked it in 48 hours they’re not ready! That rule has worked for all of mine! – Laura
I waited until my toddler told me he was ready. He started making noises about being ‘ready’. He would tell me when he was doing a wee, then when he was doing a poo. Then he’d ask me to change his nappy. – Helen
