The season for toilet training

As the warmer weather approaches, the idea of toilet training creeps into the minds of many parents. Summer may seem like the perfect time to kick toilet training up a notch; your child is wearing fewer clothes which may make getting to the toilet a lot easier.

While working toilet training in to suit the seasons can make sense, the most important thing to consider is if your child is ready.

There are a range of resources to help you determine if your child is ready, so before proceeding, it may be worth familiarising yourself with these signs put together by the Australian Parenting Website so that you can be aware of what to keep an eye out for.

Once you are ready, it is best to be prepared!

Here are a few tips and tricks, as well as products that can help to make the process as easy as possible;

• Start off by teaching your child words for going to the toilet. Keep it simple, The Australian Parenting Website recommends ‘wee’, ‘poo’ and ‘I need to go’.
• Praise and positive reinforcement are vital – even if progress is slow. Using a toilet training chart could be helpful – the ConniKids Toilet Training Kit includes stickers, a poster and a certificate as well as plenty of handy hints for parents.
• Stop using nappies (except at night and during daytime sleeps) and start using underpants or training pants all the time. Training pants are absorbent underwear and are worn during toilet training. They are less absorbent than nappies but are useful for holding in bigger messes. Available in various sizes, the Minappi range of waterproof pants are stylish and colourful, and allow you to dress your child in clothes that are easy to take off quickly.
• While it’s easier to stay at home when toilet training, you’ll probably have to go out at some stage. It’s a good idea to check where the toilet is; The National Public Toilet Map is a handy point of reference, as well as taking notice of the toilet signs in shopping centres. Take a change of clothes ‘just in case’ and pack some of Ocean Hygiene Wipes to make cleaning up a little less stressful.
• Teaching your child about good hygiene goes hand in hand with toilet training but when you’re out and about you can’t always rely on public toilets to have soap available. Keep a convenient Travel sized hand sanitiser with you just to make sure you have all bases covered.

Toilet training can be a tough time 

It is important to stay calm and understand that the process may take longer than you had expected. Stay positive and celebrate any achievements – no matter how small. Take time to research and plan, come up with some methods that work best for your family and if the timing isn’t right then don’t push your child – keep an eye out for the signs that will let you know when they are ready.