Can it really be time to think about a potty? Yes, and it's not as scary as it sounds!

It might feel bizarre to see the words ‘potty training’ while your baby is still so small, but advice from ERIC (the UK’s children’s bladder and bowel charity) has recently been updated and now encourages parents to think about ‘potty learning’ from the time their baby can sit up on their own. Here's what you need to know now about this approach which is based on clinical evidence and research compiled by ERIC and their partners.  

Potty training is one of the areas of parenting which feels incredibly important, and can be quite daunting. There is a mountain of information out there being shared online, by friends and family and by professionals. The quality of advice, and research, can vary enormously and can also become outdated quickly as new research is carried out.  

We approach all our research and advice from an evidence-based viewpoint here at MFFY, so you know everything we write about is backed up by science. With this in mind, we feel it’s important to say that there is still some debate in the scientific community about when and how to potty train. New studies are being done all the time, and for some aspects of potty training there is simply a lack of good-quality clinical evidence.  

We have reviewed the research and evidence available and will continue to present you with the most accurate and useful advice based on this. But we also constantly review and assess our articles based on new evidence – so this may not be the last you hear from us when it comes to potty training advice!  

So, what does ‘potty learning’ entail? Don’t panic just yet – it isn’t quite what you might think!  

Unlike potty training, potty learning is not about binning the nappies and only using the potty! It’s a more gradual approach to helping your baby to feel comfortable and confident with the skills needed to use a potty, long before they become potty trained.  

Why add a potty to the mix this young? It’s all about building confidence 

It’s easy to overlook all the small skills that come together when your child begins to use the toilet independently. Just like walking, talking or getting dressed, your baby is beginning to learn foundational skills which will eventually come together to help them when the time for potty training comes.  

Now, you won’t be expecting them to be able to use a potty independently any time soon – just like walking, they need lots of support to build up the little steps involved before they will be able to go by themselves. 

One of the ways you can nurture these skills is by encouraging your baby to learn about the potty from a very early age. This may also have the advantage of making them more comfortable with the idea of using something other than a nappy for wee and poo when that time comes.  

How to make potty learning part of your routine now 

At this stage, it is all about the idea of helping your baby get into a routine and have time to practise potty skills. Here are some simple ways you can start potty learning, in a relaxed way: 

• Have a potty available. This is a simple way to start, and don’t feel you have to invest in anything fancy! A very basic potty is all you need. Let your baby practise sitting on the potty when they’re happy and relaxed – this can be part of a game, especially at first.  
• If you and your baby are happy to, start letting them use the potty for a wee or poo occasionally. This can be done in the way that works best for your routines, it might be that you help them sit on the potty without a nappy if you notice those tell-tale ‘I need a poo/wee’ signs. You can also sit them on the potty after mealtimes or naps (give them a few minutes to gather themselves after they first wake, though) as these are often times children need to use the toilet.  
• Empty poo from nappies into the toilet. Flushing poo away with your baby watching while they are using nappies will help them to start to make connections about what toilets are for.  
• Give your baby some no-nappy time. Try to let your baby experience short periods of time without a nappy on, to get used to the sensation. A good time to do this is just after they have had a wee, to reduce the risk of accidents (which can be upsetting for you and your baby).  

Over time, your baby will be building up the skills needed for potty training in the future, including developing their balance for sitting on the potty, learning how to know when to go and getting some experience of how it feels to run free of a nappy! 

If you are really intrigued by the idea of introducing a potty now, it might interest you to know that lots of cultures around the world begin potty training from the earliest months.  

It’s an approach that works brilliantly for some families – although not for everyone, as it can be very time consuming.  

It’s becoming commonly known as the ‘elimination communication’ approach. We’ve written about this in more detail here, if you’re interested in learning more.  

If you’d like to think ahead and read more about the process of potty training, click through to read our other articles on the topic: 

Have you heard of 'Elimination Communication' toilet training?

Potty Power! Helping you prepare for potty training

Time for potty training? Here's the latest advice on how to manage it

Troubleshooting potty training – we answer some common questions

Other good quality resources if you’d like to read more: 

‘Potty training: how to start & best age to potty train’ by ERIC: the children’s bowel & bladder charity (undated). Published online, available here: Potty training: how to start & best age to potty train 

‘Children’s bladder and bowel issues: Some fables and facts’ by Davina Richardson (children's specialist nurse) for Bladder & Bowel UK. (2020). Published online, available here: Children's bladder and bowel issues: Some fables and facts