Discover practical potty training tips for childminders here. Learn when children are ready, daily routines, handling accidents, and working with parents for success.
Before You Start
- Child readiness beats age: look for at least 2 of these:
- Dry for more than 2 hours
- Can follow simple instructions
- Notices wet/dirty nappy
- Can pull trousers up/down (even clumsily)
If these signs are not there, wait. Pushing too early causes setbacks.
- Discussion with parents first: is the child ready to start potty training?
- Parent alignment: agree on using the same words, same routine, same expectations in the child’s home and in your home.
- Start at home: Get parents to start the training for a few days before you take over (eg parent starts on Friday evening and you take over on Monday)
Childminder Daily Routine
Predictable beats frequent. Don’t sit the child on the potty every 10 minutes.
Try:
- On arrival
- After snacks/meals
- Before outdoor play
- Before and after naps
- Before collection
About 6–9 potty chances per day is plenty. You can remind the child the potty is there in between times too.
Language to Use (and avoid)
Use:
- “Let’s try the potty.”
- “Your body is learning.”
- “We’ll try again later.”
Avoid:
- “You’re a big boy/girl now” (pressure)
- “You should have told me”
- Asking “Do you want to?” (invites refusal)
Clothing rules to be agreed with parents
- Elastic waist trousers only
- No dungarees, belts, tights, or tricky buttons
- Plenty of spare clothes provided to you by parents (more than parents think)
If clothes are tricky, accidents happen.
Praise the effort, not the result
This is key for childminders.
- Praise trying, not just success
- “Great sitting!” beats “Well done for doing a wee.”
- Keep praise calm. Over-excitement can make some children anxious and they will stop.
- No stickers or sweets needed – consistency wins.
When accidents happen: your reaction matters most
Accidents are information, not failure.
Do:
- Stay neutral
- Change quickly
- Say: “That’s okay. Let’s clean up.”
Don’t:
- Sigh, rush, or show frustration
- Over-explain
- Compare with other children
Children read your face faster than your words.
Common childminder pitfalls to avoid
- Starting when you are very extra busy
- Expecting dryness during naps too soon
- Switching back to nappies after a few accidents (confusing)
- Training multiple children at once without structure
If you have several trainees, stagger start dates by at least 1–2 weeks if possible.
Naps & outings
- Naps: nappies are fine initially. Being day-trained does not mean nap-trained.
- Outings: use the potty before leaving, then relax. One accident outside won’t undo progress.
When to pause
Stop and reset if:
- The child resists every sit
- Multiple daily meltdowns
- No progress after more than 2 weeks of consistent effort
Pausing is smart thing to do in these cases.
Best of luck and keep smiling!