Frequently Asked Questions - Toilet Training



Our Expert Health Visitors have answered the following questions on Toilet Training to aid parents of infants & children 0-5 years. Look through the questions listed below, or use our confidential online Health Visitor support service if you would like to ask your own question.


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Q My 3 and a half year old son continuously soils his pants both at home and nursery. When I ask him why he pooh's in his pants and not on the toilet, he replies "I like it". I would appreciate any advice or methods. He is a very happy and sociable little boy who has many friends and has no problems going to the toilet to wee. health visitors response

Q We are desperately trying everything to toilet train our son, but he just refuses. He cries for a nappy, and gets very upset at times. He will sit on potty for a wee now and again, but only pooh's in his nappy. If we turn our backs for five minutes he will have put a nappy on himself. He is due to start nursery in October and we are past ourselves with worry that he just wont accept the potty. health visitors response

Q My four-year-old has been toilet trained since he was two and a half years old. However, he has never been able to do a pooh on either the potty or toilet. He wants to do it in pull up pants or a nappy, and gets very distressed at the idea of using the potty or toilet. He has never soiled himself - he is very aware of when he needs a pooh and always asks for a nappy to be put on. I have tried star charts, rewards, praise, reading stories while he sits on the toilet, putting a nappy over the potty, and just about everything else. he will only do it in his nappy (often he says he's not quite finished although we know he is, and he seems to want to sit in it for as long as possible!). He is due to start Primary School in the summer and I'd really like to have this problem sorted out by then. His Nursery friends already think it's a bit strange and I don't want him to be singled out at Primary School. Please help. health visitors response

Q How do I potty train a child that is reluctant to go into the toilet or potty? I am at my wits end I have tried stickers star charts, special treats if he does anything on the potty. Every trick I have tried. He isn’t as developed as other children his age - he still talks babyish and I wonder if that is the underlying reason that I am having trouble? I have arranged a meeting with my health visitor but I really would welcome any advice that you have for me. health visitors response