At the outset, it’s the adults who want to start toilet training. From the perspective of young children, having grown-ups deal with their nappies is a fine system. It’s worked very well so far, so why does mum or dad want to change it? It’s important to realise that children are tackling a tough task, when it comes to controlling their bladder, so give lots of encouragement and have loads of patience.

So when are young children ready to start using a potty?

Your child needs to recognise what has happened when they wet or fill their nappy. They will often show signs of being uncomfortable or even tell you.
Don’t expect this to happen before they’re 18 months old. Many children won’t reach this stage until after their second birthday. On average, girls are ready a little earlier than boys, but do go by what your child can manage and understand, not just the age in months. If your child was premature at birth or has suffered from prolonged illness or disability, you will need to wait a bit longer.
Your child also needs to understand simple requests, so the new idea of ‘Let’s sit you on your pot’ can make sense. Toddlers approaching two can also play simple pretend games, and this shows that they can imagine and think ahead a little.

It’s unwise to rush your child for your own sake. Yes, it would be so useful to have your older one toilet trained before the new baby is born. But if they’re not ready, then your efforts will be pointless, and life could become even more fraught when your baby arrives.

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