Getting Started

Having a go at infant pottying takes a little bit of gumption and little bit of confidence.

No special equipment. No long term commitment.

Simply expose your baby's nether region and give it go.

However, there are things you can take into account to improve your chances of success.

Four Things To Consider

How to start and what to expect vary with the age, mobility and personality of your child but there are always four basic considerations:

1. Be aware of when they might need to go.

On waking, after feeding, a certain period of time after the last time, when they signal, when they sign

2. Choose a suitable place.

Toilet, potty, sink, bath, shower, drain, grass, tree

3. Position them in a way that relaxes their pelvic floor muscles.

Traditional hold, sitting on potty or toilet, crouching, standing

4. Give them some verbal encouragement.

The position and verbal 'cue sound' combine to produce something akin to a reflex reaction (think Pavlov's dogs) that help your baby to 'go on cue' next time you try.

Are You Halfway There?

Infant Pottying really isn't as strange as it might sound. It is barely publicised as a nappying strategy, yet people end up on this path all the time simply by making logical changes to their existing routines.

Do you already recognise when your child is going to soil themselves and start to gather your cleaning gear in anticipation?

Do you give your child nappy free time and hope that she does do a wee because it'll extend your wash cycle?

Do you secretly sit your baby on the toilet because it makes more sense than rinsing and then washing a dirty nappy?

Perhaps you're a Gina Ford fan and your baby so enjoys the pre-bath nappy free time that you want to extend it?

Or maybe your baby consistently used his nappy free time to soil your changing mat so you started helping him to use something that was easier to clean?

It's not difficult to imagine modern scenarios in which everyone benefits from a baby (and nappy) staying clean and dry.