Potty Learning expert Nurse Rebecca Mottram developed her 3-Step Potty Training Method through over a decade of research, clinical practice, and direct work with families. It has now been widely adopted across the UK early years sector and is informing the renewed national guidance, training, and policy on toileting independence.
Parents deserve better guidance than mainstream potty training methods such as rapid or intensive “3 day” toilet training methods, rewards-based approaches or waiting until a child seems “ready” to do everything independently before even beginning the process. As a result of this widespread problematic guidance, parents often have unrealistic expectations, emphasise preventing accidents rather than practising skills, and children are starting far later than is developmentally appropriate. The pressure to master 40 complex skills in a short period of time without proper preparation leads to common potty training problems such as stress, frustration, resistance, and, ultimately, delays in potty training success.
I advocate for a child-centred approach to potty training, based on building skills gradually and playfully with lots of preparation.
How to prepare for potty training
Most common potty training problems stem from inadequate preparation, and a lack of understanding about the impact of using nappies is at the foundation of this. Nappies disconnect children from learning about their bodily functions so it’s a major change for children to begin using potty or a toilet and be actively involved in the process rather than passive. The earlier you introduce the potty, the easier it will be for your child to make the transition away from nappies when the time comes.
Before you can stop using nappies, your child needs to have had the opportunity to become familiar with the potty/toilet and what it’s for and they need to be aware of their bodily processes. If you are reading this and your child is still an infant, you might be interested to know that there is truly no time too early to begin teaching potty skills and body awareness. In fact, you can begin teaching potty skills anytime from the day they are born. I call this Baby Pottying, and you can fit it easily into your daily schedule as a part time practise or you can learn your baby’s signals or timing in order to offer the potty whenever your baby needs to go.
You can learn how to introduce the potty to your baby by reading my book, The Baby Pottying Guide.
I also have a few copies left of the limited edition print version called The Eco Friendly Parents Guide To Baby Pottying
If you are reading this and your child is now a toddler or older child, you can prepare them for potty training by actively teaching them to start becoming aware of their bodily processes. One of the most important ways you can do this is by preventing their nappy from wicking away moisture. This is because most nappies, particularly disposable ones, feel dry instantly, which interferes with your toddler’s ability to make the connection about what is happening.
I recommend using a nappy cloth insert for this.
How to start potty training
To learn my 3-step method, you can listen to The Go Potty Podcast. Each bitesize episode will explore a key aspect of potty training, with practical tips and expert advice, all proven to work.
Listen on Apple podcasts
Listen on Amazon music
Listen on Spotify
Expert Potty training tips
As the greatest living expert on your own child, you know that they are a unique individual, different from other children that you have met. Perhaps you have noticed whether they are less sensitive than another child, more stubborn, or how they compare in terms of their development milestones. Where one child will want a lot of privacy and little fuss made about their bodily functions, another child will thrive on the attention and excitement of demonstrating their success.
Understanding your child’s particular temperament allows you to adapt your potty training approach to ensure their cooperation. What works for one child will not necessarily suit another and understanding what your child’s learning needs are is what guarantees potty training success.
You can learn how to identify your child’s unique temperament in order to customise your approach to potty training them with my podcast companion book The Go Potty Guide.
Available as an eBook or in print
Help with potty training
If you have started potty training and run into some issues, I have lots of resources that can help you.
- Head to my free resources and FAQs page to look for answers to your specific problem
- Join my Potty Learning Support group on Facebook to ask questions for me and other parents to answer
- Request a potty training consultation with me, delivered via Zoom
Nurse Rebecca Mottram is an advocate for Baby Pottying and a potty training expert. She is the author of two books; The Baby Pottying Guide and Positively Potty, the host of the Go Potty Podcast and founder of the Little Bunny Bear shop. If you are trying to resolve a potty problem, you can explore Rebecca’s free resources, join her Facebook group or request a private consultation.