How To Start Potty Training Your Toddler | UK Guide 2026
- Sleepy Mama
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
There's a lot of conflicting advice online about the when, what, and how of potty training. We've done our best to compile everything you need to know about how to potty train your toddler in an easy-to-read guide that follows the latest advice from UK government health organisations.
What age should you start potty training?
New national guidance endorsed by both the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) suggests that the ideal window to stop using nappies is between 18 and 30 months, as this supports healthier bladder and bowel development. Leaving it later can make potty training harder, as toddlers become very used to nappies and breaking that habit can take longer.
How long should potty training take?
For some toddlers, potty training clicks in a matter of days. For others, it can take a few months, but either timeline is normal. Health guidance suggests that the average toilet training journey takes around six months from start to finish, so don't feel pressured by Mumfluencers' grand claims of their tots being trained within hours.
How to begin potty training
Before sitting your toddler down on a potty, you should help them understand what a potty is and how it works. The ERIC organisation calls this the "potty learning process" phase, which can be started as early as 6-9 months.
Talk about it
You should narrate nappy changes and trips to the toilet, even show your little one how flushing works. Toddlers are little sponges, and though it may seem like they're not taking anything in, you'll be surprised how quickly they can connect the dots. Our 18-month-old has started to pick this up and now points at the toilet, shouting “wee wee!”
Change nappies promptly
Changing nappies as soon as they’re wet or soiled helps your toddler get used to feeling dry and may help them communicate with you when they have a soiled nappy.
Let the potty exist
We purchased a potty and initially kept it in the house. For weeks, it was mostly ignored. Then suddenly our toddler started sitting on it, shouting “wee wee” or “poo poo”, and even putting her dolls on it. This type of play and exploration helps toddlers understand the purpose of the potty in a relaxed, pressure-free way.
Read potty books
Books about potty training can really help normalise the idea and make it feel exciting rather than scary.
How to potty train your toddler
So, you've done all the prep work, and the timing feels right. How do you actually start? There's no right or wrong way, and the next steps you take can depend on your child, but we've got a few tips below to get started.
Offer the potty regularly
Try sitting your toddler on the potty as often as you can: After waking up, after meals, or when you spot cues like fidgeting, straining, or suddenly going very quiet. Start with just a few minutes a day and build up gradually. The more your toddler gets used to the potty, the better. However, you should avoid forcing your toddler onto the potty if they don't want to use it.
Make potty time fun
In addition to books that teach them about the potty, giving your toddler toys and books just for potty time can encourage them to use it more and stay seated for a bit longer.
Help them communicate
Learning to tell you they need to go is a big step. Whether verbal or nonverbal, communication is a key part of potty training. Our 18-month-old has recently started saying “poo” and pointing to her bottom whenever she uses her nappy.
Praise their efforts
Lots of verbal praise goes a long way. Try to avoid food rewards or sticker charts. The goal is to use the potty in a way that feels normal and positive, not transactional.
Stay calm about accidents
Accidents are part of the process. Keep your reaction neutral and reassuring as making a big deal out of them can create anxiety around toilet training.
Try ‘commando’ time
Letting your toddler roam around without a nappy or pants makes it easier to get them to the potty quickly. In summer, putting the potty in the garden and spending time outdoors can really help minimise stress (and mess!) My sister tried the naked potty-training approach with both of her children, and they both picked it up surprisingly quickly.
Conclusion
Potty training varies by family because every child is different. Some toddlers take to it quickly, others need more time, and many will move forward and backward along the way. What matters most is starting at a time that supports your child’s development and approaching it with patience, consistency, and kindness.
FAQ's
What age should a child be potty trained?
There is no set age at which a child should be potty trained, but national guidance recommends stopping the use of nappies between 18 and 30 months.
Signs your child is not ready for potty training
Older advice suggested waiting for signs such as interest in the potty or staying dry, but newer guidance indicates that many children will never show clear readiness signs, especially children with SEN.
What are the commonly mentioned “not ready” signs?
No interest in the potty
Difficulty following instructions
Getting upset when sitting on the potty
Needing very frequent nappy changes
However, these behaviours are normal and don’t mean potty training should be delayed. Current guidance recommends preparing your toddler for potty training between 18 and 30 months, rather than waiting for readiness signs.
What do I need to start potty training?
You don’t need loads of equipment to start potty training, but a few basics can make the process much easier:
A baby potty or toddler toilet seat: Some children prefer a potty on the floor, while others like using the “big toilet” with a seat.
A toilet step: A sturdy step helps your toddler climb up independently and supports better posture, which can make wees and poos easier.
A travel potty: Handy for days out, car journeys, and holidays, so you can keep things consistent when you’re away from home.
That’s really it, no need to overcomplicate things with a bunch of useless products you'll never use.
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