with Alina Lynden, Head of Communications and Content at ERIC
Being toilet trained is recognised as one of the key development milestones children need to achieve independence, boost this self-esteem and be able to thrive at school. Before disposable nappies were marketed in the 1970s, over 90% of babies in the UK began potty learning in infancy with the majority of children out of nappies by 18 months. Today, the average age a child is potty trained in the UK is 3.5 years old -this is one year older than in 2004. This delay is associated with a rise in bowel and bladder problems that now affect over 900,000 children and adolescents in the UK at any one time.
In January 2023, a You Gov survey of teachers on school readiness found that 91% of teachers report having at least one child in their class who is not toilet trained. Reports by the UK Government and UNICEF highlighted the negative impact of the Covid pandemic upon children’s wee and poo habits, with previously toilet trained children regressing back to nappies.
Potty learning from infancy followed by stopping using nappies before 24 months is the best way to avoid bowel and bladder problems, but many parents are unaware of this, or how to do it. Parents need support and advice that fits with their modern lives and parenting styles, but which also takes account of the available scientific evidence.
Watch our webinar and discover the role early years providers can play in empowering and supporting parents with the best advice so they can effectively potty train their child and avoid problems.
Catch up on the webinar below:
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Do you keep a list of the CPD you have done and when you've done it? If you do, that's great! But are you also recording why you did it and what you learned, together with the impact it has had on your practice and on the wellbeing, learning, and development of the children in your care?
Completing the Certificate of Reflection demonstrates your commitment to your personal and professional development and provides a prompt if an inspector wants to talk about the impact of your CPD on your practice.
Download your editable certificate here. Complete and keep for your records.