Toilet Training: How to Know When They're Ready (and How We're Right There With You)

If you've found yourself sniffing a nappy a little too hopefully, wondering "is this the week?" welcome to one of the most talked-about milestones in early childhood. At The Ridge, we've walked this road alongside hundreds of Barden Ridge families, and if there's one thing we know for certain, it's this: every child gets there in their own time, and there's no prize for being first.

We've put together this guide to help take some of the guesswork out of toilet training, because you shouldn't have to figure it out alone.

The Signs Are There Before the Words Are

Most toddlers show us they're ready somewhere between 18 months and three years old, though little boys often take a touch longer than little girls, and that's completely normal.

Rather than watching the calendar, watch your child. Readiness usually looks like:

• Their nappy staying dry for a couple of hours, like after a nap

• Genuine curiosity about the toilet, or wanting to follow you in

• Telling you after they've been, and eventually, before

• Trying to whip that nappy off themselves (especially once it's wet!)

If you're noticing two or three of these, you're likely closer than you think. If you're seeing none of them yet, that's not a delay, it's just not time yet, and starting too early tends to lead to more frustration than progress for everyone involved.

Getting the Words Right, Together

One of the easiest ways to set your child up for success is choosing your toileting words as a family early on: wee, pooh, toilet, and using them consistently. It sounds small, but it means every adult in your child's life, us included, is speaking the same language.

We love keeping the script simple for little ones. Something like:

"When your body feels ready for a wee or a pooh, tell me, and I'll help you."

That one sentence does a lot of heavy lifting. It's clear, it's calm, and it hands your child the agency to listen to their own body, which is really what toilet training is all about.

A gentle way to ease into it is inviting your child to sit on the potty while you use the toilet yourself. No pressure, no expectations, just familiarity.

Not This, Try This: Handling the Wobbles

Accidents will happen. Your child has worn a nappy their whole life, and learning to notice and act on that feeling takes real practice; nobody gets it perfectly the first time.

Not this: "Uh oh, you had an accident again."

Try this: "That's okay, accidents help us learn. Next time, let's try to get there together."

Not this: Long stretches sitting on the toilet, waiting for something to happen.

Try this: Short, relaxed sits; a song or a favourite book is plenty.

Not this: Pausing only to push through when it's not working.

Try this: If there's been no progress after a week or so, it's genuinely okay to take a break for a few weeks and come back to it fresh.

And when there is success, even just telling you after the fact, or trying to pull their own pants down, celebrate it. Praise for effort, not just outcome, is what keeps little ones motivated.

We're in Your Corner, Every Step

Toilet training isn't something we expect families to manage solo, and it's not something we manage without you either; it works best as a genuine partnership.

Our educators are trained to support toileting consistently and calmly throughout the day, using the same words, the same encouragement, and the same relaxed attitude you're building at home. If your child has a wobble at care, we'll let you know gently, not as a report card, just so we're on the same page.

If you'd ever like to chat through where your little one is at, or want some ideas tailored to your child specifically, our educators are always happy to talk it through at pick-up or drop-off. You know your child best, and we're simply here to back you up.

We'd love to walk this stage with you, come in for a chat any time.