The biggest toilet training mistakes parents make have been revealed thanks to a parenting expert

Toilet training can result in months of frustration for weary parents. 

So to make the process a little easier, one expert has revealed the mistakes that all parents are making that are dragging it out for far too long. 

Tracey Fulwood became a professional toilet trainer in Australia after she realised she was handling her own daughter’s toilet training all wrong. 

Speaking with Kidspot she shared the top five most common mistakes she has noticed parents make. 

Tracey Fulwood became a professional toilet trainer in Australia after she realised she was handling her own daughter’s toilet training all wrong (stock image)

Training children in nappies or pull-ups 

Ms Fulwood said this is the main reason toilet training is delayed in little ones.

This is because parents use the nappy and try to toilet train at the same time, which she explained isn’t effective.

She said nappies don’t work and people should have their children using underpants straight away. 

‘Your child needs to feel the wetness in order to become aware of when they are going,’ she said.

Asking children if they need to go to the toilet 

Ms Fulwood said parents shouldn’t rely on their child knowing whether they need to go to the toilet or not, as after all, this is something they’re learning.

She explained that children aren’t qualified enough to be able to answer the question accurately.  

Ms Fulwood said parents shouldn't rely on their child knowing whether they need to go to the toilet or not, as after all, this is something they're learning

Ms Fulwood said parents shouldn’t rely on their child knowing whether they need to go to the toilet or not, as after all, this is something they’re learning

Waiting until they are ready  

She said there are a variety of signs parents need to pay attention to when it comes to whether their child is ready to be toilet trained.

Any indication that a child is aware of what their body is doing is a sign, which is a parent’s window of opportunity.

Of course this isn’t always reliable as kids that are more cautious may not show the signs due to fear of change.  

Children that are more laid back may not care if they get dirty and may want to avoid any form of hard work. 

Ms Fulwood said it is the role of parents to establish boundaries from the beginning

Ms Fulwood said it is the role of parents to establish boundaries from the beginning

Bribing their children to use the toilet 

Bribing doesn’t work because Ms Fulwood said it gives children all of the control.

‘You need to take back control. So don’t use bribery. I cringe every time I hear a parent say to their child “If you do this I’ll give you this”,’ she said.

She explained that it is the role of parents to establish boundaries from the beginning.

The professional toilet trainer recommended that parents instead give their child a worse alternative if they don’t do what they want them to. 

This is because taking the decision away from them gives the control back to the parents.

Forcing young ones to be toilet trained 

Ms Fulwood said children will be more reluctant to learn how to go to the toilet if it’s made to seem like a chore.

‘Make toilet training fun and give your child a reason to go. This works so much better than holding them down kicking and screaming to make them stay on the potty,’ she said.

Some of her suggestion include turning it into a game so that it becomes exciting or use things like Whizz & Plop Go Potty Packs to make the job easier.

This is a process that will be happening six to eight times a day so it should be as enjoyable as possible. 

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