Potty training is the process of teaching your child to go without a nappy, to the point where they are mature enough to control their urine or bowel movements reliably enough to get to the potty or toilet in time. To achieve this, a toddler needs to be able to recognise when they are doing a wee or poo, and to notice that they are wet or dirty once they’ve done something in their nappy. They also need to see what happens when they go to the toilet, which means taking the nappy off so they can experience peeing and pooing properly. But most of all, they need plenty of encouragement.

Most toddlers are not ready to be potty trained until after the age of two. Boys generally start later and take longer to train than girls. If your toddler has started to notice when they are wet or dirty, then they’re ready. The transition from nappies to potty will be much easier if you react to their awareness, rather than let their age dictate when you start training.

Toilet training can be confusing for toddlers, but it’s a vital part of the toddler experience and needn’t be blighted with tears and tantrums. With lots of patience and hugs from mum and dad, and a relaxed, supportive attitude, your tot will do well. Remember, potty training isn’t a competition, so don’t worry what your friend’s toddlers are doing. Each child learns at their own pace, so you won’t be able to hurry things along.

It’s a good idea to start potty training in warm weather so you toddler can run around in a pair of cotton pants and nothing else. Choose a couple of weeks when nothing significant is happening, when your child is well and relaxed. Working parents sometimes choose to take a holiday at home for a week or two, to allow them to concentrate on potty training.

Incorporate ‘bottom airing’ into your everyday nappy routine. This allows your child to become aware of the sensations of weeing and pooing. By using words and sounds that explain these sensations during bath time or change times, your toddler will become aware of the connection. Take your child with you when you (or your partner, especially for a boy) go to the toilet - children learn best from observing what you do.

It’s a good idea to let your child help you to choose your potty. In fact, it’s even better to buy two, so you can keep one upstairs and one downstairs. When your tot needs the potty, they’ll need it in a hurry. Some potties can be overly complicated, so choose one that’s simple, comfortable and easy to clean. Buy some snug-fitting cotton pants, perhaps emblazoned with a favourite character, and make a big deal of what a big boy or girl your tot is becoming. It’s possible to skip the potty stage and go straight to the toilet, but if you do this, invest in a toilet training seat and a step, as they will make your toddler feel much safer on the big loo.

You’ll need a designated potty area, close to where your toddler plays. Choose somewhere with an uncarpeted floor or a waterproof covering and let your toddler run around naked or in cotton pants. At first, ask your child every 40 minutes if they need to use the potty. Encourage your toddler, and give plenty of drinks that act as a diuretic (ie: that make them need to wee more often than usual), such as diluted fruit juice. Water and milk are absorbed into the body without excess waste, so they don’t have the same, wee-producing effect. Remember to do the opposite at night.

It’s easy for toddlers to forget about using the potty, but don’t get cross! When accidents happen, stay calm and sympathetic. If the constant clearing up is making you irritable, leave the training for a couple of weeks and go back to nappies – it’s no big deal. Occasionally, the novelty of potty training can wear off. If this happens, keep calm and reinforce what’s already been learnt.

There are a number of ways to tell if your child’s toilet training is, or isn’t, truly over. A fully-trained tot should be going to the toilet unprompted, be able to go by themselves, and be capable of managing the undressing/dressing part of it. Many toddlers can confidently use the potty during the day, and stay dry at night. However, for some children, night dryness takes much longer. Put your tot on the potty before bedtime and be patient. It’s not unusual for some four-years-olds to still need a nappy at night, so don’t panic.

Don’t expect your child to be able to wipe his or her bottom after using the potty – they’ll need help for a while yet, especially after doing a poo. Discourage your child from emptying their own potty – it’ll probably end up on the floor, and it’s no fun to clean up. Always be strict about hand washing, for you and your tot. Even if they haven’t touched themselves or done the wiping, it’s a good habit to instil from the start. Squirty soap is always popular with young children, and flushable wipes are useful too.