Toilet Teaching
We know you will be working towards independent toileting before school starts in September, but accidents do happen!
Learning How to Use the Toilet
- Be patient
- For the first day of toilet learning, choose a day you and your child will be home all day
- Encourage your child to sit on the toilet or potty when they wake in the morning, after meals, before heading out of the house, before bath time and before bedtime
Maintain a routine and make sure all care providers (e.g., grandparents, baby sitters) follow the same routine - Guide your child through the steps of how to use the toilet
- Always go with your child and help them if they need it
- For boys: have them sit down first to urinate and once they are able to do that, dad/older brother can show how to urinate while standing
- For girls: teach them how to wipe from front to back
- Both boys and girls will need help to wipe after a bowel movement
- After every use of the potty or toilet, make sure they wash their hands
- Praise your child when they have success or follow the steps
Preventing accidents
- Toileting accidents happen! Remember to stay calm and not punish your child.
- Make sure the toilet or potty is easy for your child to get to
- Ask your child often if they need to use the toilet
- Encourage your child to use the toilet even while you are away from home
- Keep diapers on at night until your child can stay dry until morning