If your grandchild needs to be toilet trained here are a few tips that might be useful, after all it’s a long time since we have had to go through the process of toilet training children.

Most children start using a potty around the age of 2, however every child is different.  The summer months are usually the easiest time to tackle the task, especially as they are able to run around outside without nappies on.

Most boys are difficult to toilet train especially if they are learning to go standing up, sitting them on the potty to begin with should make it easier for them.  Get their grandfather to teach them how to stand up to use the toilet when the time is right. Put a cork in the toilet and let your little on aim at it, could help make it more fun to use the toilet.

Some of the signs that your little one may be ready to use the potty are as follows:

Dry for at least two hours during the day.

Dry after having a nap in the afternoon.

Uncomfortable in wet or soiled nappies.

Wants to wear children’s underpants.

Your little one is able to understand simple instructions.

Your little one is having regular and predictable bowel motions.

Some things that may be helpful are:

When your little does use the potty give lots and lots of praise, he or she will be more willingly to use it the next time they feel the urge.  Don’t worry if it doesn’t succeed the first time keep on trying they will soon learn what to do.  Running the cold water can help make them go.

Make sure the child is wearing clothing that is easy for them to pull down. ie track pants. Be willingly to help when necessary, they are still little and learning all sorts of different things.

Never rush the process.  If you start teaching when the child is older it will be quicker and sometimes they will miss the potty stage completely and go straight onto the toilet. Use a toilet seat just in case, the last thing you want to do is let the child fall in, that will only create a setback in the toilet training process.

Night Time Training

It may take longer for your little one to stay dry during the night.  When they have mastered the idea of going to the toilet during the day then start the night time training.  In the first instance use pull ups, makes them feel very “grown up.”  Make sure that there is a mattress protector on the bed, no matter what, your little one will have an accident, but never growl, it will set the process back.

Our little one didn’t wet her pull ups for a few nights in succession.  I made the decision that to let her go to bed without wearing a pull up.  At the same time every night I would lift her, she always went and I soon found that I didn’t need to do that, eventually she was getting up by herself.  When you lift your little one at night, also tell them what is happening in calm, soothing voice but them straight back to bed after washing their hands.

Be prepared for accidents, no matter, what children do have accidents, never growl if this occurs. Praise will also win over in the end.

Teach you’re little to always wash their hands after going to the toilet.  Getting them to sing “twinkle, twinkle little star” puts some fun into the activity.  If possible use a soap dispenser rather than a cake of soap, you can easily change the colour of the soap and this makes it fun for the child.

If you have been unable to toilet train your little one by the age of 4, please consult your doctor.