Potty training is often viewed as a toddler milestone, but preparing to be without nappies can actually start much sooner – before your child even reaches their first birthday.
This is not a new fad. Many cultures, particularly in Asia and Africa, introduce potty training at a younger age. Historically, children in the UK were also potty trained much earlier, but in recent decades the average age has increased.
Increasingly, parents have been advised to wait for ‘signs of readiness’ before starting to potty train, but often children do not show that they want to stop being in nappies. It is up to you to prepare your child and gradually introduce the potty alongside them wearing nappies. There is no lower age limit for when you can start helping your child learn potty skills and research shows the optimal time to stop using nappies is 18 to 24 months.
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