Family Living: Toilet Training without Trauma 

Looking for a toilet training method that is simple, speedy and sustainable? These straightforward guidelines are based on rules originally devised by Dr. Paul Holland, a UK psychologist and behavioral consultant. For years, I’ve seen many children through toilet training via this method, which I’ve dubbed the TTT method: Toilet Training without Trauma.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Make sure that your child is physically ready. The timing of this may vary for different children. Starting before your child is ready will be more difficult and stressful for you, and can traumatize a child and lead to long-term problems like anxiety and bed-wetting. (In the US and UK, a typical age to start is 2.5 years, but this age is rising in the West.)

A key sign that your child is physically ready is when they show discomfort at a dirty diaper. If they show no discomfort, then as a rule they are not physically ready for toilet training! 

Once you have established your child is ready, here goes:

TOILET TRAINING RULES

Take the child to the bathroom every half hour, where they sit for ten whole minutes. This is reinforced throughout the entire day.