Tips for potty training in colder months

All the parenting books, magazines and experts advise us to potty train toddlers in the summer when the weather is warm enough so they can race around naked or wearing just a pair of training pants. But sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way and you end up potty training during the colder months because your child is (finally!) ready and you don’t want to put it off until the summer.

There’s no doubt that the extra clothing he needs to wear to keep him warm in cold weather will impede your child’s efforts to use the potty or toilet so you will need to be extra-patient and understanding and also extra-vigilant in case he needs your help to remove his clothing. Unfortunately, there is ample scope for accidents as he tries to strip off on time to use the potty or toilet instead of wetting his pants.

Think ahead

If you know it’s inevitable that you’ll be potty training your child in the winter, preparing him in advance is a good way of ensuring he’ll be up to speed on what he’s supposed to do even before you start. Hopefully this will speed up the actual training process so that the cold weather doesn’t become too much of a factor.

Start taking him to the bathroom with you when you go so he knows what happens in there (if your child is a boy it’s a good idea for his dad, older brother or another trusted male relative or friend to demonstrate how it’s done!). Talk to your child about how it feels when his diaper is wet so that he starts to recognize it, and if you see any signs that he’s about to go – such as crossing his legs or holding onto himself – draw his attention to it so that he can associate the sensation with needing to visit the potty or toilet once you begin training.

Choose clothes carefully

Think carefully about what you’re going to dress your child in at this time. Avoid clothing with fiddly snap closures, buttons, zips or ties. Overalls may look cute, but will be difficult for your child to unfasten and drop, so it’s best not to dress him in these. Instead choose elastic-waist pants in cozy fabrics (polar fleece or good-quality sweatpants are ideal as they are thick and warm) that are on the large size, as these will be easier to drop quickly! Carry this through to bedtime too: although all-in-one PJs may be warmer, if your child has to strip them off down to his ankles to use the potty or toilet he’ll just get cold. Two-piece PJs are definitely best.

Set a schedule

Having a proper schedule for visiting the potty or toilet helps with potty training whatever the season. Keep an eye on your child to monitor when he is most likely to need to go (for example, 20-30 minutes after he has had a drink or after a meal, as eating tends to stimulate a bowel movement) and simply take him five minutes beforehand. This ensures he won’t be caught short trying to remove all those layers.

Keep him warm

It’s also important to make sure your house is warm enough. A blast of frigid air on dropping his pants won’t exactly be the encouragement your child needs to visit the bathroom (especially at night). He may just decide to put it off, increasing the risk of wet clothes or a wet bed. For this reason, and because nighttime dryness takes longer to achieve anyway you might want to consider putting him in pull-ups overnight.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Related Articles

Last Modified: 16/02/2009

Send to a friend

potty training potty training tips potty training advice winter potty training potty training in the winter potty training in the cold