Starting - GO! video transcript

If you’ve watched the videos higher up this page already, you should have an idea of a plan for how to start toilet training and have thought about your initial goals, such as for your child to be sitting on the toilet for a minute a few times a day, to get used to the bathroom. In this video we will talk about getting started with putting that plan into action.

 

Firstly, focus on making it playful and fun to support your child to relax. We mentioned in our last video some ideas for how to make it rewarding for your child. You can also do this through praise, but remember to make praise really specific, and tell your child exactly what they have done well, such as ‘good sitting’.

 

By making the experience fun and enjoyable, you will give your child a positive experience, meaning they will be more likely to go back and try again next time.

 

There are a few strategies to help build the relationship between going to the toilet and the toilet itself. These initial strategies are normally a good place to start with toilet training.

 

Firstly, try to change your child’s nappy as soon as you notice that they have used them. This will help to create a link in their mind between the bodily feelings when they need to do a wee or a poo and the routine of using the toilet.

 

When they have soiled their nappy, try to change their nappy in the toilet, or in the bathroom. This helps them to link the action of doing a wee or a poo and the toilet itself.

 

You can also sit them on the toilet briefly after you take their nappy off to try and get them comfortable with sitting on the toilet.

 

When they have used their nappy, it can be helpful to put the contents of the nappy down the toilet and let your child watch as it’s flushed away. They could even try using the flush themselves. Again, this helps them to associate that the contents of the nappy go down the toilet.

 

Other strategies could be that if you find your child in the act of wetting themselves, or soiling themselves, try to get them to pass a little bit of urine or poo in the toilet, by sitting them on it. If you can, keep your child on the toilet for a minute or two after they have been, so that you avoid any accidents, for example, if they are holding their wee or poo because they are not comfortable with being on the toilet. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this video from the social communication team. We hope you have found it useful.

 

Please take the time to complete our feedback form to let us know how you have found the information in this video and on this webpage. You can find the form following links on our website. We are always looking to improve our services and your feedback is so important to us in this process.