Potty training - the truth

So what did you tell us?

Don't expect instant success

Less than a third of parents (28%) successfully potty train their child first time round, so if you're finding it tough going, don't worry. The most important thing is stick at it and try not to let your child associate going to the toilet with stress - you will get there.

Lots of wee accidents

All children have accidents when potty training and it's very much part of the process.

On that first day when you take off the nappies:

over a third of children (31%) have 3-4 accidents
12% have 5-7 accidents
5% have over 8

By the end of the first week:

19% were no longer having any accidents
39% were only having 1-2
16% were having 3-4

When do you start?

By far the most popular time to start is between 18mths and 2.5 years

6% under 12 months
13% between 12-17 months
26% between 18-23 months
33% between 2-2.5 years
17% between 2.5-3 years
4% over 3 years

How long does it take?

Don’t expect your child to take to it straight away. Between 2-3 weeks is the most common period - which is encouraging! But remember, a lot of you have stopped and started at least once before this successful period...

11% took under 1 week
11% took 1 week
21% took 2-3 weeks
14% took a month
6% 6-12 months

Before starting...

You had a number of different strategies to beginning training. Some of you popped a favourite teddy bear on a potty and made teddy bear weeing noises. Other, more common strategies, included:

73% sat child on a potty
49% went to toilet in front of their child
42% talked to child about using a potty/toilet
39% swapped nappies for training pants
31% sat child on a toilet
31% read a book about potty training to their child
6% dived straight in

Nappies off, on or never again?

There are mixed approaches when it comes to taking those nappies off. The most popular way was to take nappies/training pants off for most (but not all) of the time...

35% took them off most of the time, except for odd occasions like going out
20% took them off, except for day time sleeps
19% took them off some of the time
14% took them off and never used them again in the day
10% just swapped nappies for training pants

Going out or staying in?

Again, there were a variety of strategies. Perhaps surprisingly, the most popular was to go about normal day-to-day lives incorporating potty training into a normal routine

50% blended potty training into normal daily routine
20% stayed in most of the time, except for essential outings
16% set aside a week and stayed in until potty training was pretty well mastered
12% stayed in for the first couple of days

Weeing or pooing first?

It's clear that most toddlers manage weeing before the more solid issues. Over a third (36%) said your child had worries or difficulties around pooing in a potty or toilet.

56% mastered weeing first
11% mastered pooing first
31% mastered both around the same time

What equipment did you use?

58% Toddler toilet seat
52% Mattress protector
50% Toilet step
50% Nappy training pants
49% Night nappies
41% Portable potty
37% More than 1 potty
18% Nightlight for bedtime potty/toilet visits
12% Seat liner

Join our Wee Can Do This campaign

If you're about to start potty training, come and join us in the Wee Can Do This training plan. We've got forums to share your ups, downs and puddles, plus expert advice, downloadables and checklists!

Vino Vethavanam