Your guide to Toilet training your child
Contents Toilet training your child 4 Getting started 5 Developing a routine 6 Hand washing 8 Habit training 9 The environment 10 Night time 11 Further information and resources 12 Contacts 14 About this guide This guide offers an introduction to the process, including establishing a routine, hand washing, preparing your bathroom and night time training. There is also a list of other useful sources of information and advice for parents.
4 Toilet training your child Toilet training your child Toilet training a child can be a very frustrating process, especially if your child has a learning disability.
5 Getting started The best time to start the process is when you have the right amount of time in your life, and you are feeling relatively stress free. Everyone working with your child should start toilet training at the same time and you should all follow an agreed approach, so make sure your child s school, childminder and other professionals are aware of when you are starting the routine, the steps to be followed and the equipment needed. Your child may behave differently than normal during this time, especially when the change of routine first takes place, so it s a good idea to let everyone know there could be a change in behaviour. Independent toileting is the ultimate aim and may take months to achieve, but there will be many small steps and successes along the way.
6 Toilet training your child Developing a routine Children will learn if they are given a routine. You will need to explain as much of the routine as possible to your child, from communicating the need to use the toilet, through the process itself right through to washing and drying their hands. Keep the sequence of behaviour the same every time and if possible use visual cues to support the routine. If your child expects an activity they will be less likely to offer resistance. The first sign that a child might be ready to start toilet training is when they start to become aware of needing to go to the toilet. Your child may be ready for toilet training if they become distracted or fidgety when they are wet or soiled, or they may inform a parent or carer when they need changing. In terms of physical readiness, a good indicator would be whether a child is able to remain clean for one to two hours at a time. Some parents may decide that their child will never be ready, but will nevertheless develop as much of the routine as possible. As a parent, you may want to follow these steps when toilet training your son or daughter: Start changing your child s nappy near the toilet. This will help them to start relating toileting activities to the bathroom. Work out how to time your routine Watch your child over a few days or a week to see when they do a wee or a poo. It is quite usual for a fairly regular pattern to emerge, especially if mealtimes and drinks are provided at about the same time every day. Identifying the times can help to establish when to take your child to the toilet with an increased likelihood of them doing a wee or poo, leading to positive reinforcement through praise or treats.
7 Use photos or drawings Show your child a photo or drawing of the toilet and say your child s name, toilet, take them into the toilet and sit your child on the toilet. Even if they do not open their bowel or bladder, continue to follow the sequence as if they had. Stick to the routine Continue to take your child to the toilet at set times based on when you feel they are most likely to go. If they wet themselves at another time, take them to the toilet as quickly as possible and try to make sure some of the wee goes into the toilet. Ignore the wetting and praise them that the wee has gone into the toilet and continue the rest of the toileting routine. You will need to decide whether or not and how to praise your child for successfully following the toileting routine. Use photo sequences Having a photo sequence beside the toilet can help your child to understand what is expected of them, for example: trousers down, pants down, sit on the toilet, wee/poo in the toilet, wipe (you may need to show how many squares of paper to take), pants up, trousers up, flush toilet, wash hands. Above the sink at eye level you would then have another picture routine for washing hands. Make sure the pictures are very clear so there is no misunderstanding. For example, if you are teaching your son to stand and wee in the toilet, show an outline drawing of him standing and weeing in the toilet, if you are teaching sitting, show a picture of him sitting and weeing in the toilet.
8 Toilet training your child Hand washing Teach hand washing as part of the whole toileting routine. Follow the same steps each time: sleeves up, tap on, wet hands, squirt soap, rub hands together, rinse hands, turn off tap, shake hands, dry hands. At first you may need to stand behind your child and physically prompt them, before slowly withdrawing. Beware of telling your child what to do, as they may become dependent on these instructions without you realising. Have a laminated hand washing sequence at eye level above the sink to remind your child of the steps they need to take. The sequence can either be in photographs, pictures or the written word whatever is most suitable. You may wish to teach your child to use the cold tap only. If you teach them to use the hot tap independently at home, they could go into other settings and wash their hands with water that is too hot and could burn them.
9 Habit training Some parents toilet train their children through habit. Habit training is effective for children who may: lack awareness not understand the significance or meaning related to physical sensations be limited by decreased or absent physical sensations have unsuccessfully tried toilet training before. Habit training involves training the body to go at set times. Take your child to the toilet at set times throughout the day, every day. While sitting on the toilet it is very important that your child feels relaxed enough to open their bladder or bowels. Having the tap running in the background can help enable your child to wee and blowing bubbles or blowing up a balloon can help your child to open their bowel. Sometimes having a toy to handle as long as it is not one which causes excitement can be useful to keep your child on the toilet and relax them. Keep certain toys and books for when they are sitting on the toilet only.
10 Toilet training your child The environment The bathroom needs to be a calm, relaxing, structured environment in order to encourage independence and success with the complete toileting routine. Structuring the bathroom and removing all distractions can help your child understand what is expected of them while in the toilet. Removing objects which are not associated with toileting such as toothbrushes, make-up and laundry will help your child s understanding and avoid distractions. Think about making the bathroom as comfortable as possible, adding foot supports, side rails and reduced lighting, switching off the fan and using a smaller toilet seat can all help reduce anxieties.
11 Night time Once your child is mostly dry during the day you will be able to start night-time toilet training. Some of the most important things to remember are: Have a set bedtime routine which does not change with weekends or holidays. Limit the amount your child eats and drinks before bed, having no fluid an hour before bedtime, but ensuring your child has enough fluid throughout the day. Take your child to the toilet before they go to bed. They then may need to be taken once during the night. You could fit this in with your routine by taking them before you go to bed. Take your child to the toilet as soon as they wake up. If they are unable to keep dry during the night, you may need to try different times in the night to take them. This may not be when you go to bed, but in the middle of the night.
12 Toilet training your child Further information and resources The Contenence Foundation Provides excellent links to a number of products suppliers. For more information, visit the Continence Foundation website at www.continence-foundation.org.uk ERIC (Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence) Sells a range of bedding protection, swimwear, absorbent pants and vibrating watches. For more information visit the ERIC website at www.ericshop.org.uk Or contact: ERIC Web shop telephone number: 01173 012 101 Email: sales@webshop.org.uk ERIC also has a helpline providing advice and information to children, parents and health professionals on all aspects of toileting. Call 0845 370 8008 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm). Fledglings Helps parents and carers of a child with special needs of any kind to find simple, affordable solutions to practical problems. For more information visit the Fledglings website at www.fledglings.org.uk Or contact: Fledglings Telephone: 0845 458 1124 Email: enquiries@fledglings.org.uk
13 Tinkle Toonz Has musical sensors in potties and ones which can be used in underwear, nappies and pull-ups, designed to alert the child or the parent that the child has gone in his potty or pants. For more information, visit the Tinkle Toonz website at www.tinkletoonz.com
14 Toilet training your child Contacts England If you live in England and would like more information on learning disability, you can contact: The Learning Disability Helpline Telephone: 0808 800 1111 Typetalk: 18001 0808 808 1111 Email: help@mencap.org.uk If English is not your first language and you would like access to a translation service, please contact the Mencap Learning Disability Helpline and ask for Language Line. Northern Ireland If you live in Northern Ireland and would like more information on learning disability, please contact: Mencap s Information Service Telephone: 0808 800 1111 Email: mencapni@mencap.org.uk Wales If you live in Wales and would like more information on learning disability, please contact: Wales Learning Disability Helpline Telephone: 0808 800 1111 Email: information.wales@mencap.org.uk Scotland If you live in Scotland, and would like more information on learning disability, please contact: ENABLE Scotland Telephone: 0141 226 4541 Email: info@enable.org.uk Website: www.enable.org.uk
123 Golden Lane London EC1Y 0RT T: 020 7454 0454 F: 020 7608 3254 www.mencap.org.uk help@mencap.org.uk Learning Disability Helpine 0808 808 1111 Registered Charity Number 222377 2008.292_11.09