As your little one grows beyond the need for nappies, you'll begin training them on potty and toilet use. We sat down with our friends at Huggies to get their advice on how best to start your child down the path of becoming one of the big kids…

Knowing when the time is right

Every child is different,so there’s really no ideal time to begin. The majority of children are ready sometime between 18 months and three years old. Some children will take months to toilet train, and others can go sailing right through.

The key to successful toilet training is timing. The more ready your child is the smoother the process will be. You know your child best but if your toddler shows at least two or three of the following signs on the next page, it’s probably time to start toilet training.

I can do it
Physical signs of readiness…
• Your child has regular and formed poos
• Your toddler is developed physically and can move around independently
• They can pull their pants up and down
• Longer periods of dry nappies up to 2–3 hours

Mental signs of readiness…
• Your child knows what ‘wee’ and ‘poo’ is
• They understand the meaning of ‘wet’ and ‘dry’
• Your toddler complains they have a dirty nappy
• They can understand and can follow simple instructions, like ‘Go and get your teddy’

Social and emotional signs of readiness…
• ‘I can do it’ becomes a regular saying
• Your toddler begins to imitate the behaviour of others
• Your child asks to wear ‘Big Kid’ pants
• Your toddler shows independence

The 4 Musts of Toilet Training

1. Trust your child, let them set the pace. Don’t try to force them to learn too fast. Support them with the encouragement and positive feed back they need
2. Be positive and encouraging. Say “You’ll do better next time” or “Don’t worry about the accident, we’ll get it right soon”. Keep building confidence.En­courage those ‘Big Kid’ feelings
3. Be consistent -don’t return to nappies! Avoid mixed signals. Switching back and forth to nappies can be confusing to a child. Once you make the switch to training pants, stick with it. Wearing training pants makes your child feel like a ‘Big Kid’
4. Be patient There will be accidents! But mistakes are what we learn from. There may be times when your child seems like they are ’going backwards’. Don’t get discouraged – this can be perfectly normal. Be confident that things should be back on track in no time

Huggies Pull-Ups Training Pants
An important step in the toilet training process is to foster your toddler’s desire to be a ‘Big Kid’ and to be independent. HUGGIES Pull-Ups Toilet Training Pants have been designed with this in mind. The fun Disney undie-like designs can help your child feel more like a ‘Big Kid’. The ‘Feel Wet to Learn’ Learning Liner* can temporarily allow your child to feel the wetness against their skin before drawing it away. This in turn teaches your toddler to distinguish between wet and dry, and helps them to ultimately stay dry on their own.

Huggies DryNites Pyjama Pants
HUGGIES DryNites Pyjama Pants provide discreet and absorbent night-time protection, which can help kids maintain their self-esteem and confidence. Available in age specific boy and girl designs, HUGGIES DryNites Pyjama Pants look more like real underwear than nappies. The trim fit and internal waistband also help them to disappear under pyjamas so no one can easily tell they’re wearing them.