Toilet Training is Sending British Parents Potty
Children are being potty trained later and taking longer to become completely dry due to inconsistency from their parents, according to new research.
95% of parents questioned claim to start toilet training their children before the age of two and a half but almost half say that it takes between four months and a year to complete the process, with 21% taking more than a year.
The parents, questioned on behalf of Poteez, the portable disposable potty brand, blame busy lifestyles, more mobile family lives and high quality nappies for not rushing the process.
Now Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Goodbye to Nappies, and other popular potty books, is calling for parents to put the child first by planning and starting potty training when the child is ready, rather than when it fits into their lifestyle, and to create a plan for a pleasant successful, and speedy process.
She said: "There are three key elements to potty training - knowing when the child is ready to begin, being consistent with the approach, and being pleasantly supportive of the child's efforts."
"The research has revealed that parents believe they and previous generations were toilet trained quicker and earlier. A key reason parents are waiting longer now is to fit in with their busy lifestyles and because the children themselves are comfortable in their super absorbent disposable nappies.
"Almost half of those who admit to making mistakes during the training period said they were inconsistent in their approach and shouldn't have put their children back into nappies or pull ups for journeys.
"It is vitally important that once the training has started there are no mixed or confused messages given to the child. Starting and stopping training prolongs the process."
70% of parents also expressed their concern about the volume of disposable nappies going to landfill and said that issue alone was enough to encourage them to start potty training a little earlier.
Maree Macey, director of Poteez, said: "We know potty training is quite an intense time for parents and children alike and this research suggests that due to our busy lives the process has become parent-centric rather than child-centric - with parents giving out inconsistent messages and reverting to nappies away from the home to avoid any accidents.
"Clearly it is better for everyone - you, the child and the environment - to complete potty training as soon as possible. We hope that by following Elizabeth's advice and perhaps having Poteez on hand to use when you are out and about that potty training can be completed quickly and with a minimal amount of stress."
Elizabeth Pantley's tips for easy, tear-free potty training:
1 Respect that children develop at different stages. Look for readiness signals such as staying dry for long periods, communicating needs, and the ability to follow simple directions
2 Involve your child in buying a potty that they like, make it a fun experience and put the potty in a familiar place - i.e. beside the adult toilet or in the play area
3 Read children's books about potty training
4 Before starting the training, set a plan, ensure that nothing else significant is happening in your toddler's life e.g. the arrival of a new baby, holiday or starting nursery and feed your child a healthy diet with ample liquids and fibrous foods
5 Create a routine for using the toilet in the morning, after meals, prior to leaving the house, and before bed
6 Make using the potty an enjoyable experience, don't associate it with telling your child off
7 Dress your child for success in easy to use clothing (avoid zips and buttons) but still expect accidents. Remain calm and forgiving. Involve your child in cleaning and changing
8 Devise a reward scheme for trying and succeeding with attempts to use the potty - praise, stickers, or small healthy rewards
9 Be prepared. When travelling, bring along a portable potty, such as Poteez, to help avoid accidents when out and about. (Practice at home first, so your child is familiar with the portable potty.)
10 Be consistent - set a plan, create a routine, take your child to the toilet regularly, provide encouragement, and be kind about accidents
Poteez is a flat-packed cardboard potty that assembles quickly and simply into a strong, secure and comfortable potty your child can use anytime, anywhere and it is completely bio-degradable.
Poteez are available in packs of five, priced at £6.99, via www.poteez.com
The No-Cry Potty Training Solution is available in all good book stores.
End
Notes to editors:
- Research amongst 1,000 parents across the UK was carried out by Your Say Pays in July 2008.
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Sarah Giangregorio or Kiran Ryatt on 0113 243 1117 sarah@lucrecommunications.com or Kiran@lucrecommunications.com
Toilet Training is Sending British Parents Potty
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