Potty Training Toddlers And Hygiene

As soon as you enter the realm of potty training toddlers you have the big issue of hygiene! No longer are you in complete control of wiping your little one and they are very soon to want to start wiping themselves.

Potty training toddlers needs to therefore include toddler hygiene training which will last them throughout their lives.

Your toddler may not want to wipe themselves and in a way when you start potty training that is easier for you! If this is the case then show them how to wash their hands properly with warm water, soap and a rinse. Make sure they can reach the hand towel easily.

Children love the soaps where have to push the top down but they tend to love it so much that it quickly gets used up! You can also get lovely fun shaped soap in every colour. As always inject a bit of fun into the task so that your child will see it as an opportunity for a laugh and an opportunity to be grown up (assuming that's what they want to be! It's not always the case).

Hygiene Tips For Potty Training Toddlers

• When wiping bottoms teach your toddler to wipe from front to back so that faeces is not transferred to the vagina where it could cause infection.


• After a wee girls should wipe from front to back for the same reason.


• Use flusable wipes to begin with as they are much easier to get a cleaner bottom.


• Encourage your toddler to wipe gently and not rub.


• Use a potty training doll (or plastic doll) to show her how to do it. Your toddler can then practice on the doll and feel confident in what to do.

When using toilet paper show your toddler how to rip the toilet paper off the roll otherwise you could end up with a blocked toilet and no toilet paper!

Sometimes it is handy to have a little potty or toilet training station with wipes, toilet paper and a potty training book all to hand so that your toddler doesn't have to face another difficulty of reaching awkwardly to get what he needs.

Of course you will need to check their cleanliness. Sometimes toddlers just want to do it themselves so you may need to be careful wording how you want to check - perhaps you want to see "what a good job they have done".

If you force him to have his bottom checked them it could very easily backfire and that'll be end of potty training for a while. Instead of forcing, give him a bath every evening to make sure he is clean and fresh.

Part of toilet hygiene is flushing the toilet or emptying the potty. You will want to empty the potty and sometimes so will your toddler! Under your guidance your toddler is likely to carry the potty to the toilet at some stage and then flush the toilet.

Some children like to say bye-bye to their wee or BM and it can feel like it's a part of them going away. Toddlers can personalise the BMs and can describe them as Mummy's and Daddy's and babies. If this is the case, it's completely normal and don't worry!

Just a little point to mention, be sure to empty the potty very promptly. Otherwise it's more likely to be tipped over and your toddler could start playing with the faeces and experimenting and playing with it ...yes, that's grim.

When you are potty training toddlers you need to be clear that everything in the potty goes straight down the toilet, afterall, it's what your body doesn't need any more so off it goes. If your toddler has played with the potty contents then keep your cool, get rid of it, clean up, and explain that it's not for playing with and must go straight down the toilet.

Some toddlers are scared of flushing the toilet and if this is the case, then as usual, don't force it. You can do it and let your toddler see other people flush the toilet after they've been. It's really useful to be open about going to the toilet as your child learns so much from example.

Finally, always wash your hands and teach your toddler how to wash his hands after using the potty or toilet. Your toddler needs to get into the routine of this so that it becomes automatic. You might need a footstep handy so that your toddler can easily reach the sink.

Make sure the taps are clearly marked for hot and cold so that there is no risk of burning. If you are mixer taps teach your toddler how to use the tap safely without turning it only to the hot water.

Teaching toilet hygiene is a must-do part of potty training toddlers. And as with all things your toddler will practice these skills over a few years and you'll be helping him form safe habits for the rest of his life.

Good luck!