The Recent Changes in Potty Learning Guidance
Over recent years, toilet learning has often been framed as something to delay until toddlers show a narrow set of “readiness signs.” This idea became increasingly popular in the late 20th century, particularly from the 1960s onwards, as disposable nappies became widely used and cultural expectations around toilet learning shifted.
New UK guidance developed by The Institute of Health Visiting in collaboration with ERIC, The Children’s Bladder and Bowel Charity, reflects a significant shift away from this delay-based approach. First published in December 2025¹, it instead promotes a skills-based, health-focused approach that supports earlier, gradual learning in a gentle and responsive way.
A Clear Health Message: Don’t Delay Too Long
Evidence suggests that supporting children to come out of nappies somewhere between around 18 and 30 months is associated with more favourable bladder and bowel health outcomes.²
There are also wider practical and environmental benefits¹:
In the 1970s and 1980s, 83% of children were out of nappies by 18 months (children haven’t changed, society has).
British families spend more than £400 per year on nappies and wipes.
Around 3 billion disposable nappies end up in UK landfill sites each year.
The disposal of nappies costs UK local authorities more than £60m per year.
Toilet Learning Starts Earlier Than Many Parents Expect
The guidance now normalises introducing toilet learning before 18 months, long before full independence is expected.
This does not mean stopping nappies at this stage. Instead, it focuses on gently building familiarity and awareness through small, everyday experiences:
Introducing the potty once or twice a day, starting with a few seconds of sitting and building up to 2–3 minutes
Changing nappies promptly to reinforce that a clean and dry nappy is desired
Having some nappy-free time after a wee or poo to get used to not wearing a nappy, without having an accident
These early experiences support children’s developing body awareness and can help reduce fear or resistance later on.
The Approach Behind the Guidance:
The Go Potty 3-Step Method
The approach underpinning this shift in guidance closely aligns with the Go Potty 3-Step Method³, developed by Rebecca Mottram, a children’s nurse and potty learning expert.
It can be understood in three stages:
1. Preparation
This stage focuses on laying the foundations before any big changes are made. It includes supporting your child’s bowel and bladder health, as well as building awareness of their body, bladder and bowel habits.
2. Practice
In this stage, children begin to develop the core skills involved in toileting. This might include sitting on the potty, This stage helps them feel comfortable and confident with the process before fully transitioning out of nappies.
3. Stop using nappies
Once those foundations are in place, children can begin transitioning away from nappies in a way that feels manageable. Because skills have already been building over time, this step often feels less abrupt, and more like a natural progression than a sudden change.
A Positive Shift in How We View Toilet Learning
This updated guidance reflects a broader shift in how toilet learning is being understood in the UK.
Rather than viewing it as something to delay until a child appears “ready,” it positions toileting as a developmental process that can be supported from early on — gently, gradually, and responsively.
For many families, this opens up a more flexible and intuitive way of approaching potty learning — one that works with a child’s development, rather than waiting for it to begin.
References
Institute of Health Visiting (2025). New – The Potty Training Guide created by coalition of experts, backed by government. Available at:https://ihv.org.uk/news-and-views/news/new-the-potty-training-guide-created-by-coalition-of-experts-backed-by-government/ (Accessed: 16 April 2026).
Institute of Health Visiting (2025) Toilet training. Available at:https://ihv.org.uk/for-health-visitors/resources-for-members/resource/ihv-tips-for-parents/health-wellbeing-and-development-of-the-child/toilet-training/ (Accessed: 16 April 2026).
Mottram, R. (2026) Positively Potty: The Playful, Proactive Toilet Training Solution. London: Bloomsbury Education.
