The ‘right’ time to potty train depends on the child.

Here’s how to tell when your child is ready and how to take the best steps to dry days… and then dry nights.

When is the right time?

Don’t force the pace. The older your child is, the easier it will be; there’s a wise saying that ‘thesooner you start, the longer it will take’. Certainly your child needs to understand the messages from his body that tell him when he needs a wee, and needs the physical co-ordination to be able to pull his pants up and down to use the potty successfully.

Find out more about when to start potty training, and the difference between potty training boys and girls.

Look for these signs:

• Your child realises when he is doing a wee and may tell you; soon, he may tell you before he wees. 
• He may start to find a wet nappy uncomfortable.
• He may have a dry nappy for two or three hours; this shows that his bladder muscles are strong enough to hold the wee in until he’s ready to go.

Don’t start toilet training if your child is going through a negative phase, as it’s sure to become a battleground. Wait until he wants to do it, and you’re halfway there. Also don’t start if there’s a major disruption coming up, like the arrival of a new baby, a house move or a holiday. Wait a while.

More potty training advice

Check out our tips on how to prepare for potty training, find out what to buy and look out for common potty training mistakes.

Dana’s tip

‘It’s up to you and your child if training pants will help. My daughter liked learning to use them and they gave her the confidence that she could get to the toilet in time. My son just thought they were another kind of nappy!’

Q&A:

Joss from Bodmin asks ‘My toddler will happily do a wee in his potty but asks to have a nappy on to do a poo. How can I persuade him to use the potty?’

Eileen Hayes writes ‘It’s important not to force a reluctant child to sit, or stay, on the potty. This will only upset him, not speed up the learning process. You can encourage him to stay on the potty for a reasonable time by using books, songs or toys, but if your child is very reluctant it may be better to take the pressure off and try again in a few weeks’ time.’

Does your child wee but won't poo on the potty?  Find out more about this common potty training problem here.

Tip:  Encourage your child to sit on the potty at the time when he is most likely to poo.  Make the session fun and include some rocking and blowing games to stimulate the bowel to work (reading doesn't encourage the stimulation of the bowel).

Night-time nappies

Even when your child is always dry during the day, it can be several more months before she’s dry at night. Her body isn’t yet developed enough to send reliable signals through his sleep that she needs a wee. She may not wake up, and then be distressed by a wet bed in the morning.

If you’ve had some dry nighttime nappies, it’s worth trying a nappy-free night. Always give your child plenty to drink during the day, but stick to smaller drinks just before bedtime. Tell her to call for you to take her to the bathroom if she needs to go.
Again, accept that there will be some accidents and take them in your stride. On the dry nights, praise your child; they really are becoming a big boy or girl.  Find out more about potty training at night.

Cathy’s tip

‘Summer is easier for potty training: there are fewer layers of clothes for your child to cope with or for you to wash in case of accidents. You can spend more time in the garden, which makes accidents less annoying, and the potty can come into the garden with you!’

6 steps to success

1. Buy a potty or a special child-sized seat to place on your toilet. Explain what it is and how he can use it. Let him try if he wants but don’t make a big deal of it if nothing happens
2. If your child usually has a bowel movement at around the same time each day, try sitting him on the potty as part of his routine. Give him a toy or book to look at. As long as he’s happy sitting there, fine. If he gets upset or walks away, that’s fine, too – never force him to sit there
3. If he does a poo in his nappy, try emptying it into the potty and letting him tip it down the toilet. This may help him make the connection between the messages from his body and sitting on the potty
4. Encourage your child to use the potty whenever he thinks he might need a wee. Let him know that you’ll take him to the toilet whenever he wants you to, as well. If you can, let him run around sometimes without a nappy on and with the potty nearby. Tell him he can use it whenever he wants to and remind him now and again that it’s there if he needs it
5. Praise your child whenever he uses the potty successfully
6. Never get angry about an accident – they are inevitable. Your child’s muscles have only just become strong enough to hold everything in, and he’s only just learning how to control those muscles. Stay calm and suggest he tries using the potty next time.

For more information and advice, go to www.eric.co.uk or call the Eric helpline on 0845 3708008.