FAQ

• What age should I potty train my toddler?

  This will very much vary per child and the benefit of our individual plan is that we help you identify when may be the best time for your child. Most children beginning to show signs of being ready for potty training between the ages of 18 and 24 months, with others not being ready until they are after 3 years old.

• How do I know that my child is ready for potty training?

  As a parent, you will be able to identify signs of readiness; these include hiding to pee or poop, copying the behavior of peers who use the potty already, for example, in a day care setting, staying dryer for longer in their diaper, and telling you that they are about to go or have just been. Your child also needs to be able to perform simple undressing of themselves, quickly and easily. Tricky buttons are not the friend of a potty training toddler!

• What should I do to prepare my child for potty training?

  One of the key things we recommend is establishing standard bathroom talk. It is entirely up to you as a family is you per formal words such as ‘urinate’ or informal words such as ‘pee-pee’ but try and keep it consistent. Don’t use negative words such as ‘disgusting’ or ‘gross’ when describing a diaper as children should learn that toileting is a natural process.  

  Commending their grown-up behaviors in general, such as sharing toys with friends at playtime, shows you support them in their growing maturity which will subtly translate to their potty training. You can link this with playing up the ‘pottying positives’ such as the benefits of using the toilet and being like mommy and daddy. These are all strategies and techniques which will be discussed with your potty training consultant for tailoring your individual potty training plan.

• I need to get my child potty trained for daycare, help!

  One of the most important elements is to understand from your daycare what potty routines they have as this will help prepare your child in terms of knowing what to expect, for example, going to the potty before recess. Once you have a clear understanding of daycare routines, follow them at home too. Consistency is key, for example, don’t use training diapers at home and underwear at daycare. If your child uses a full-sized toilet at daycare, you may also like to consider using that at home rather than a plastic toddler toilet. Dressing in easy to manage clothing will also help your child manage at daycare and avoid accidents.  

• How often do you take a child to potty when potty training?

  We recommend taking a child to the bathroom every 20 – 30 minutes once you take their diaper off. It may feel mean to interrupt their playtime but one of the main causes of accidents initially is because a child is so fully engrossed in their fun activity that they don’t listen to their body and don’t make it to the bathroom in time.

• What if my child just isn’t getting it?

  We would always advise you to simply pause the process of your child is hating it and not getting it. It is always ok to stop, review, and adjust what you are doing as appropriate. Finding the root cause of the issue is key and it could be for a variety of reasons, from the fact they are just not ready and not grasping the concept, to it being a power struggle. Our specialist potty trainers can help identify exactly what the issue may be and work with you on strategies and techniques to make progress.

• What is my toddler needs to go while I am driving?

  If this situation arises, we recommend pulling over to a safe place to stop and either using a travel potty or peeing alongside the car. Parents can also use puppy pee pads in their child’s car seats if there are concerns that this is going to be an issue.