Your potty training checklist

You have watched your baby go from a newborn to a busy toddler, and now the time has come for potty training. So, when do you get started, and what do you need to have in place before you can begin? Let’s take a look…

Is your baby ready to start potty training?

Dr Sheethal Ramsunder, a Pretoria-based paediatrician at Paeds in a Pod Paediatrics, says that children are usually ready to start potty training between two and three years old but notes that this differs for each child.

There will be signs of readiness that you could look out for, says Dr Ramsunder, and these include them being uncomfortable when their nappy is soiled and indictating to you that they need a nappy change by pointing to their nappy or pulling on it, or saying something to get your attention.

What do you need to get started?

If you have noticed the signs of readiness, you can start preparing your little one for the potty by:

• Setting up their potty. You can either use a potty or a trainer seat on the toilet. “Choose a potty seat that is easy to use, portable, easy to clean and is not uncomfortable to touch. It may even help to let your child pick their own, so they are excited to use their own special potty,” says Dr Ramsunder. “If you are using the toilet, use a toilet trainer seat and a step-stool in front of the toilet seat, so your child can comfortably rest their feet on it. This makes it more comfortable as the child can get on or off on their own at any time, and they have no fear of falling into the toilet or off their seat.”

• Choosing the right nappies. “Pull-up nappies are a great way to transition your child from conventional nappies to underwear. It also helps them to learn to be a bit more independent, learning to pull their nappies on and off on their own,” says Dr Ramsunder. 

• Creating a routine. “Establishing a good toilet routine early on can help a lot,” says Dr Ramsunder. “Put your child on their potty seat several times a day – when they wake up in the morning, before nap times or before leaving the house – even if they say they do not need to use the toilet. Let them get used to sitting on their potty for a few minutes at a time.”

• Focusing on hygiene. “Everyone needs to know how to flush the toilet, clean up after themselves and wash their hands, but girls also need to know how to wipe themselves from front to back to avoid urinary tract infections, and boys will need help learning how to use the bathroom while standing and how to aim to avoid urinating on the seat or on the floor,” she adds. “Avoid screen time while using the toilet as it is not a very hygienic habit to use a phone or tablet while on the toilet.”

• Using positive reinforcement. “Use gentle praise if they manage to go to the potty in time or if they let you know that they need the bathroom, but show no disappointment or consequences if they do not. A star chart may be a good idea, or some other sort of positive reinforcement,” says Dr Ramsunder. 

• Looking out for signs of tummy trouble. “If their stools are very hard, or painful, or if they have to strain for a prolonged period, or there is a bit of blood when cleaning your child after passing stool, they are likely to be constipated,” says Dr Ramsunder, explaining that this then makes potty training more complicated as the constipated child will associate passing stool with pain, and avoid it as much as possible. “This, in turn, unfortunately makes the constipation and pain worse, so it can become a negative cycle.”

Dr Ramsunder advises following a healthy, balanced diet, which includes fruit, vegetables and water, noting that some children may need a bit more help to keep their gut regular – a doctor could assist with this, if necessary.

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