Toilet Learning

Toilet learning is best begun at home, but when you think your child is ready to start at child care we will jump in to help! If you need ideas to get started, check out our tips and tricks below.

Toilet Learning vs. Potty Training

"Toilet learning" is very different from "potty training." Potty training is something adults do to children while toilet learning is something children take an active part in. Effective toilet learning doesn't begin until the child shows signs that he is ready, and does not punish or use treat as rewards. Children who are ready to begin toilet learning will be happy and proud to use the toilet and won't need any other reward.

Keys to Successful Toilet Learning

Unlike old-fashioned potty training, which may make children feel bad about accidents, toilet learning enables children to feel good about using the toilet. During toilet learning children learn how to:

Listen to their bodies so they know when they need to use the toilet,
Communicate to others their need to use the toilet,
Manage their own clothes so they can use the toilet.

Toilet Learning Begins at Home

Parents should be their child's first helpers with toilet learning, but once your child has been learning to use the toilet at home for several weeks we'll try at child care. If your child doesn't seem ready: shows no interest, is fearful, or has too many accidents, toilet learning will be put on hold until we decide together that your child is ready to try again. We will remind your child to use the toilet throughout the day; however children are often more easily distracted when playing with friends so it is important for your child to have a good start at toilet learning at home before we try here.

Toilet Learning Policies

These toilet learning guidelines will help us work together to minimize frustration and maximize success for your child:

Toilet learning needs to be started, encouraged and continued at home; continuity between home and child care is critical for toilet learning.
Decide before you start toilet learning what terms you will use for the toilet, urine and feces. We use "potty, tinkle, and poop" but what you use is up to you; we will use your choice of words with your child.
Decide how your child will use the toilet: sitting frontwards or backwards, with or without a potty seat. Families of boys also need to decide if boys will start out sitting or standing. Remember to tell us what you decide!
Dress your child in loose clothing that he/she is able to manage easily and independently. Pants or shorts with all-elastic waists are the best choices. Please avoid overalls, jeans with snaps and zippers, shirts with snaps between the legs, belts, tie waistbands, tights, and tight-fitting clothing. Dresses may also be a problem if your child can't see to pull down her underwear or can't pull the back of the dress up enough to avoid sitting on it.
Once you begin toilet learning avoid the use of diapers during the day. Disposable training pants (Pull-ups) may be a good choice during the first few days unless your child considers them no different from diapers.
Use cloth training pants instead of disposable ones after the initial week or so. Toilet learning often happens quickly for children wearing cloth pants because they feel different from diapers and allow the child to become aware of being wet. Thick training pants are available with a plastic outer layer and without the outer layer; these are a better choice than thin underwear for the first stages of learning.
Diapers or pull-ups can be used for naps and at night if necessary but try getting the child up once during the night to use the bathroom for a few nights before using pull-ups.
Please have your child wear some type of cloth training pants - not disposable training pants - at home for a full week before bringing your child to child care in cloth pants.
During toilet learning please keep three complete sets of clothes, including socks, and one extra pair of shoes at child care every day. Remember to label all items of clothing.
Consider telling your child will be told "It's time to go potty now" instead of asking. Asking the child if he/she wants to go to the bathroom only gives him/her to opportunity to say "no".
Since the gate to the kitchen may be closed for safety, your child will be encouraged to tell us when he/she needs to use the bathroom until he/she can open the gate. Having your child tell you when he/she needs to use the bathroom at home will reinforce this habit.
Due to health and sanitation concerns, licensing rules prohibit us from rinsing out soiled clothes. Soiled and/or wet garments will be put in a plastic bag for you to take home and launder.

More Help with Toilet Learning

We have lots of experience with toilet learning so if you need help don't be afraid to ask! Check out our tips and tricks and the other helpful articles below too.

Toilet Training Tips

>Do you have a toilet learning strategy? We've helped many children learn to use the toilet and have learned many tips and tricks along the way. Keep reading to learn how to help your child learn to use the toilet easily and independently.

Toilet Training Isn't Your Job

Just as a child naturally learns to walk when he's ready, he will learn to use the toilet when he's ready - there is no "right" age by which all children should be using the toilet. Toilet learning is as individual to a child as learning to walk and should be a positive experience. If your child is ready it will take only a short time; problems in toilet learning usually arise because adults don't pay attention to the child's lack of readiness.

Pick the Right Time to Start Toilet Learning

You can begin your program of toilet learning at home whenever you feel your child is ready. Some signs of readiness to watch for are:

Is able to pull her pants down and up independently
Tells you before, during or after wetting or pooping in her diaper
Stays dry for two hours at a time
Shows interest in sitting on the toilet
Is able to follow simple instructions such as a request to sit down
Wants to wear underwear
Doesn't like to wear a dirty diaper
Has predictable bowel movements on a regular basis
Doesn't want to wear diapers anymore

Not every sign needs to be there for you to decide to start toilet learning. If you notice a few signs, your child may be ready to try, but don't start toilet learning during a stressful time or period of change in the family (moving, new baby, etc).

Ready, Set, Go!

Once your child seems ready to start toilet learning you need to choose a potty seat or potty chair. Include your child in this choice to help her get excited about using the toilet. Invite your child to sit on the toilet periodically throughout the day and whenever she shows signs of needing to urinate or have a bowel movement. Explain to her what you want him to do, then only have her sit for a few minutes at a time. Don't force your child to sit on the potty because it may become a power struggle .Be ready to delay toilet learning if she shows resistance, waiting until she's ready will hasten the process. Empty dirty diapers into the toilet to show "where poopy goes" but be aware that many children are afraid of the sound of a flushing toilet.

Be careful not to push your child too fast, or punish mistakes and accidents. Think of learning to use the toilet as learning to walk - you wouldn't be upset at your child for falling down when learning to walk, so try not to be upset by the inevitable toileting accident. Remember to go at your child's pace and give lots of encouragement and praise when she is successful.