Going to the toilet

Toilet Training

Learning how to use the potty and toilet are big milestones for children and their families. As with all new skills, this will take them practice, time and patience to learn.

Your child needs to be given lots of opportunities for learning, through preparation and teaching. There is generally no need to delay potty training until a child shows signs of readiness. This is because the preparation steps can be started early and many children do not show signs of readiness. Language is one of the last skills of communication that children develop, therefore there is no need to wait until your child decides or tells you they no longer want to wear nappies.

Helping your child learn skills as they progress with each stage of development, is thought to give them a gentle learning process towards stopping the use of nappies.

Further Information

• ERIC – Advice about children’s bladders and bowels from birth to potty training, to school
• ERIC – Potty Training resources
• NHS – How to Potty Train
• ECASS – Toileting Equipment Ideas

Starting School and Toileting

If your child is starting school soon, or you are thinking about this transition, ERIC (The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity) are sharing resources to prepare children for toileting at school.

Further Information

• ERIC – Toilets and school readiness

Toilet Training Children with Additional Needs

Children with additional needs, including delayed development and physical disabilities may take a little longer and need more support. However, the process you need to follow for toilet training is the same.

It’s important not to put off potty training for too long as this can make the transition more difficult. Your child may take longer to learn each stage; try to be mindful not to rush the process.

There’s information and tips on the ERIC page to support children with additional needs and sensory differences. The National Autistic Society have also produced resources to support autistic children with the toileting process.

ERIC also run free online Family Webinars. These topic-based webinars are delivered live and designed to answer some of the most commonly asked questions that come up on their helpline. Many of the webinars are also recorded, so that you can watch at a time that suits you.

Further Information

• ERIC – Potty training children with additional needs
• ERIC – Advice about bladders, bowels and toileting for children with additional needs
• ERIC – Toilet Readiness Assessment
• National Autistic Society – Toileting: A guide for parents and carers
• National Autistic Society – Smearing: A guide for all audiences

Visual Aids for Toileting

Visual aids can be helpful in lots of ways.

You can use an object, photo, picture, symbol or sign to prompt a child/young person to go to the toilet. They can use the same visual aid to ask to go to the toilet if they have difficulty telling you.

Visual aids can also be used to help your child/young person to remember what to do in the toilet. Use visuals for each stage of going to the toilet to remind them what to do. You can find some examples here or make your own. Laminating photos, pictures or symbols will make them last longer in the bathroom.

Downloads

• Visual Aids for Learning: Toilet Training Girl (Large Image)
• Visual Aids for Learning: Toilet Training Girl (small image)
• Visual Aids for Learning: Toilet Training Boy (large images)
• Visual Aids for Learning: Toilet Training Boy (small images)
• Youtube – Tom’s Toilet Triumph: a video resource for parents

Common Toileting Challenges

If toilet training isn’t straightforward there are other things you can try. ERIC (The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity) have lots of useful resources around toileting.  Including information about constipation, wee- withholding, sensory needs and interoception (the internal feeling of needing to use the toilet), and the impact these can have on going to the toilet.

Further Information

• ERIC – Chidren’s Bowel Health
• ERIC – Advice for Children with constipation
• ERIC – Children’s bladder health: bladder problems and incontinence
• ERIC – Toilet anxiety and toilet phobia in children
• ERIC – Interoception and Toileting
• ERIC – Sensory Needs and Toileting
• ERIC – Children who will only poo in a nappy and other toilet avoiders
• ERIC – Guidance for parents/carers using disposable containment products (nappies, pull-ups, pads)

Bottom Wiping

Many children have difficulty with learning to use the toilet independently, particularly wiping their bottom after a bowel movement. This can be a complex skill to learn, as it involves them being able to reach behind themselves, turn their hand whilst grasping the toilet roll, know where to wipe and how to fold the toilet paper.

Bottom wiping is an important part of staying clean. When your child wipes until it’s all gone, it avoids problems like an itchy or irritated bottom. See further information for advice and activity ideas to help your child to develop these skills.

Further Information

• ERIC – Learning bottom wiping: A Step by Step Guide

Aiming

If your child will be standing to use the toilet, learning to aim into the toilet is an important skill. It often needs to be taught and reinforced from the start of toilet training. See the further information links for some top tips.

Further Information

• ECASS – Learning to Aim

Handwashing