West Yorkshire parents urged to toilet train their children before starting school
New guidance and a practical film has been launched as part of a new campaign by the Government.
Parents in West Yorkshire are being urged to use the summer holidays to help their children get toilet trained before starting school.
New guidance and a practical film has been launched as part of a new campaign by the Government.
With just a few weeks to go until hundreds of thousands of four-year-olds start Reception, the campaign reassures parents that there is still time to build their child’s toilet independence.
Kindred data shows 1 in 4 children start school not toilet trained, with teachers spending up to 1.4 hours per day managing accidents and helping children with key skills such as wiping and handwashing.
Trudi Henfrey is from the NHS in Bradford:
"Some of the common questions that we that we get is how do I prepare for potty training? Where do I start? What do we do? And our advice is start really early.
"Change the little ones nappy in the bathroom, so they're used to the bathroom, they know what the bathroom is.
"Washing the hands after you've changed the nappy so that they know that's the process. Read books and talk about using potties.
Kim Tayor is the Clinical Lead for School nursing in Bradford: "One of the things that we do really promote within school nursing is rewarding, not just rewarding the goal, so going to the toilet or having a drink, but actually rewarding the proactive behaviour that then helps you to reach the goal.
"So they might have had an accident, but they tell you.
"They might have said, I've not had a drink for a while and they know that they need to drink plenty throughout the day to help achieve that bladder capacity. So we really push for rewarding the proactive behaviour as well as the end result."
Step 1: Tell your child what's happening
Choose a time when life is fairly calm and there are not too many changes happening at once.
Let your child know that they will be starting to use a potty or toilet instead of nappies.
Talking to them about what is going to happen can help make the change feel less surprising.
Step 2: Stop using nappies during the day
It's time to swap nappies for pants during the day.
Wearing pants helps your child notice when they are wet or dry, which is an important part of learning to use a potty or toilet.
Start with daytime potty training and keep using nappies during naps and at night for now.
Step 3: Help your child use the potty or toilet regularly
Your child may not always know when they need a wee or poo yet, so don't wait for them to tell you every time they need the toilet.
Instead, make using the toilet part of your everyday routine. You could encourage them to go:
o when they get up
o after eating food
o before leaving the house
o before naps
o every time they are out and pass a toilet
o before bed
Over time, they may start to show you when they need to go. For example, your child might:
o tell you they need a wee or poo
o tell you when they are wet or dirty
o fidget, go quiet or make faces
When you notice these signs, gently encourage them to try using the potty or toilet. Some children may not show these signs, and that's okay too.
If you're out and about, be prepared. Take plenty of changes of clothes, a travel potty if you have one and an absorbent seat liner if you drive a car.
Step 4: Praise their efforts
Praise them for trying, whether or not they manage a wee or poo. Helping your child feel proud of their progress can help build their confidence.
Step 5: Help your child build their confidence with new skills
As your child gets used to using the potty or toilet, you can encourage them to do a little more for themselves, such as:
o wiping their bottom
o washing their hands
o flushing the toilet
o pulling their pants up and down
o choosing which pants to wear
More resources here to help:
https://eric.org.uk/potty-training/
https://www.bbuk.org.uk/children-young-people/