Supernanny Jo Frost tells parents they need to ‘wise up’ on potty training

In a recent Instagram post, Frost shared her no-nonsense approach, claiming that in her 40 years of potty training experience, it’s never taken her longer than a week to teach a child the skill.

She warned against relying on training pants, describing them as misleading:

Parents, you are being fooled… They look like underwear but feel like a nappy, so toddlers are in them longer because they feel less uncomfortable whilst you become complacent. Help your child ASAP to move forward with this milestone for their sake.

She also urged parents to consider using a travel potty to maintain consistency when out and about, arguing that disruptions to routine can slow the process.

Frost’s comments align with findings from the charity Kindred, which revealed that 90% of teachers have at least one child in their class still in nappies. Half of the surveyed educators also reported spending lesson time managing children’s personal hygiene instead of teaching.

However, not everyone agrees with Frost’s firm stance. Critics argued her comments didn’t account for individual circumstances or challenges some families face.

One user wrote: “Every child is different. Every parent parents differently. Yes, there are milestones, but there are many reasons for differences. This post feels condescending.”

Another parent added: “I won’t be pushing my child’s milestones. Encouraging, yes. But not pushing all for the nappy costs… I’m happy to spend on nappies until she is ready.”

So, when should parents start potty training? While you’re eager to whip that nappy off, your little one may not be so ready to let go, as it were. “Your toddler doesn’t have sufficiently mature muscle or neurological systems to control her bowel and bladder until she’s at least 15 months old,” says psychologist, Dr Richard Woolfson.

What are the signs that my child is ready to start potty training?

If you can answer ‘Yes’ to seven or more of the questions below you can probably consider starting potty training with a really good chance of success.

1. Has your child started showing an increased interest in others using the toilet or potty?
2. Does your child show awareness of when she is going to the toilet in her nappy? (she may stand still, go quiet or even take herself somewhere private)
3. Does your child get agitated if a soiled nappy isn’t changed straight away?
4. If your child has a daytime nap, is she typically dry when she wakes up?
5. Does your child have a fairly predictable wee-ing and poo-ing cycle?
6. Can your child take down a skirt or trousers by themselves?
7. Does your child understand simple instructions?
8. Has your child got enough language to communicate simple needs?
9. Has your child got the ability to concentrate for more than five minutes at a time?
10. Has your child got a predictable time coming up? For example, are there no big changes looming such as moving house, new siblings or a big holiday?

If you feel like your child is ready for toilet training our potty training guide includes insights from experts, to help you navigate the joy of potty training!

Read more:

• 10 of the best potty training books
• What age should you start potty training?
• How to potty train in a week