Toileting

Research shows it’s best for your child to stop using nappies, including reusable
nappies, pull-ups and training pants, between 18 and 30 months.

Potty training is a process that takes time.

• It is not something that happens all at once.
• Most children can start learning potty skills from around 18 months, but every child is different.

You do not need to wait for clear “signs of readiness”. Many children will not show these.

Before you start

It helps to:

• make sure your child is not constipated (soft poo at least every other day)
• talk about wee and poo in a calm way
• let your child get used to the potty or toilet

Getting ready

You can start preparing your child by:

• changing nappies regularly so they feel clean and dry
• introducing a potty or toilet through play or books
• letting them practise sitting on the potty
• giving a healthy diet and regular drinks

Change nappies as soon as they are wet or soiled

• This teaches your baby that it is healthy to be clean and dry.
• If you can, change their nappy in the bathroom to help them
  link it with wees and poos.

Introduce your child to a potty or toilet

• Read some of the great potty books available with your
  child
• help their favourite doll or toy have a ‘turn’ on it and
  then encourage them to sit on it themselves.

Regular potty or toilet sitting practice

• This can begin once they have been introduced to the potty or
  toilet
• build up to several times a day.

Encourage a healthy diet and fluid intake

• Give your child a diet which includes fibre (for example, fruit, vegetables
  and brown bread) to help

Drink plenty of water

•  6 to 8 drinks spread evenly through the day.
• When introducing solids, offer water in a cup.

Stand to change nappies

• Change nappies standing up on the floor (once your child can stand), ideally in the bathroom.

Involve your child

Nappy free time

Give your child some nappy‑free time each day. This helps them get used to how it feels. Try this after they have done a wee or poo.

Make the bathroom feel comfortable and safe

This is especially important if your child has sensory needs.

• Use ear defenders if flushing is too loud
• Use a gentle smell if your child is sensitive to smells

Dress your child in easy‑to‑pull‑down clothes

• Avoid clothes that are harder to take off quickly, like jeans with buttons or tights.

Once you have had some time to prepare and practise, you can begin to stop using nappies during the day.

• Choose a time that feels right for your family, when things are calm and settled.

If your child has any health problems, such as constipation or an infection, it is best to get help with this first.

Talk to your child

• Explain what is happening in a simple way.

Let your child know they are:

• Saying goodbye to nappies
• Learning to use the potty or toilet

Top tip

Moving from nappies to pants can feel new and different for your child.

You could:

• Offer different types of pants (different colours, shapes, or fabrics)
• Let your child help choose what they wear

This can help your child feel more comfortable and involved.

Starting Reception

Download the potty training guide

Available in the following languages:

• Arabic
• Bengali (Bangladesh)
• Bengali (India)
• Gujarati
• Persian (Farsi)
• Polish
• Punjabi
• Romanian
• Tigrinya
• Ukrainian
• Urdu
• Welsh

ERIC

Visit the ERIC: Potty training (how to start and best age to potty train)

The ERIC charity explains that daytime wetting and bladder problems are common in childhood

• In most cases everything is normal, the bladder simply isn’t working as well as it could.
• Most problems improve by following ERIC’s:

4 steps to a healthy bladder

Step 1

• Check the bowel first (constipation is the number one cause)

Step 2

• Rule out a urinary tract infection (UTI)

Step 3

• Get drinking right;
  • 6 to 8 drinks per day
  • Mostly water
  • Avoid caffeinated or fizzy drinks

Step 4

• Toilet routine and good habits;
  • Going to the toilet 4 to 7 times a day (more often for younger children)
  • Sitting comfortably with feet supported on a step

Getting help if you’re worried

You should speak to your GP if:

• wetting continues after trying advice from ERIC
• your child has pain when weeing
• symptoms suddenly worsen
• There is constipation that isn’t improving

Visit the advice for children with daytime bladder problems page.

The ERIC charity explains that bedwetting is very common and affects:

• 1 in 15 seven‑year‑olds
• 1 in 75 teenagers

Work out why your child is wet

• Do they have constipation?
• Do they have daytime bladder problems (frequent wees, urgency)
• Do they have a urinary tract infection (UTI)

If bladder and bowel health is sorted, try the bedtime checklist

• Daytime drinking
  • 6 to 8 drinks, spaced evenly throughout the day.
• Stop drinks 1 hour before bed
  • No drinks after this until morning.
• Toilet routine
  • A relaxed sit as part of the bedtime routine
  • A second toilet visit if more than 30 minutes pass before sleep
• Protect the bed
  • Use waterproof mattress covers, duvet and pillow protectors, and absorbent sheets.
• Help them know what to do if they wake
  • Use a night light or torch
  • If using bunk beds, sleep in the bottom bunk

Getting help if you’re worried

Speak to your GP if:

• your child is 5 or older and wetting continues
• your child has daytime symptoms (urgency, frequency, daytime wetting)
• your child has signs of UTI (pain, cloudy or smelly wee)
• you suspect constipation that isn’t improving

Visit the children with night time wetting page

ERIC describes constipation as a “poo traffic jam”.

This means poo builds up in the bowel, becomes hard, and blocks the space the bladder needs to work properly.

Common reasons

This include:

• not drinking enough
• low‑fibre diet
• holding poo in because it once hurt

Try to:

• give your child plenty of drinks, mostly water
• offer foods with lots of fruit and vegetables
• remind them to sit on the toilet often, especially after meals
• use a small step so their feet can rest on it
• stay calm. Constipation is not their fault.

Visit the ERIC: Constipation for advice and information or read more on the NHS website