A WORKING mum from Worcestershire, who has helped to developed an award-winning book and potty training pads to help get children out of nappies and into proper pants, has just launched her company’s first TV advertising campaign.

According to research by a number of specialist bodies, there has been a steady increase in the age when children become potty trained – rising from two in the 1960s to around three or three and a half now.

Also the research concluded some youngsters are starting school still in nappies and there has been an increase in children having accidents during the school day.

Diane Titterton from Broughton Hackett, near Worcester, and her business partner Judith Hough, from Warwickshire, developed award-winning Dry Like Me potty training pads when they couldn’t find anything that helped to move their potty training children away from nappies and into their own pants.

They carried out independent research which showed the pads reduced accidents after only one week.

Diane says children are staying nappies longer because of the over use of nappy-style products on children who are at potty training age and, because these products are so absorbent, children don’t realise they have had an accident.

“Nappies have been designed to absorb large quantities of liquid, so children do not feel wet or notice any discomfort, and this seems to delay their urge to be free of nappies or other nappy-style pants,” she says.

“Research shows that there is an optimum window, at around the age of two, for a child to become potty trained and that, if this opportunity is missed, it can result in longer and later potty training. However, so many children of this age are still in nappy-style products that this window is being missed.”

Dry Like Me’s first-ever TV advertisement features a class of toddlers being taught how to potty train by an older child. It uses humour to deliver the message that Dry Like Me potty training pads can help get children out of nappies and into proper pants.

The 30 second advertisement is being aired on some of the biggest channels for those about to start potty training, including Disney Junior, Nick JR, Boomerang, Cartoonito and Tiny Pop.

TOP POTTY TRAINING TIPS

• Even before you start potty training, begin getting your child ready by teaching the routine of going to the toilet. Regularly take your child into the bathroom with you to ‘practice’ everything from turning on the light to washing hands and closing the door.

• It’s important not to put off taking off the nappy. Although it can be tempting to wait for a holiday to start potty training, you will reap the benefits if you start when your child is ready. Most children are ready at around the age of two.

• Research shows that it’s the best time to start and that, if you leave it later, it can actually take longer, as it can be harder to potty train an older toddler who can see the benefits of continuing to use his own ‘mobile toilet’.

• Accidents are a key part of learning, so it’s important to stop using nappies and nappy-style pants and put your little one into proper pants.

• If you want a bit of help with the mess, you can pop in a disposable pad, like a Dry Like Me, to help with the mess – but your child must be able to realise they have had an accident and start to understand and learn.