Early Years Health and Development Team WWL

26/08/2026

💩 Does your child avoid doing a poo on the toilet and only want to poo in a nappy? You're not alone.

Lots of children go through a stage where they’ll only poo in a nappy, even after starting potty training. It's a common phase, and with patience and support, most children move on from it.

💡 Top tip: If your child asks for a nappy to do a poo, try not to say no. Refusing can lead to them withholding their poo, which may cause constipation. Instead, let them use the nappy just to do their poo, while gently and gradually working towards using the potty or toilet.

Here are some things to consider if your child will only poo in a nappy:

Constipation 💩
A painful poo can make children anxious about going again, leading them to hold on and avoid the toilet. Before focusing on toileting behaviour, make sure any constipation is well managed. It can make all the difference. Use our poo diary and poo checker to track your child's poo habits and read our advice sheet to find out how to spot the signs of constipation.

Is your child scared of the toilet? 🫣
Whether it's the flush, splashing water or sitting on the toilet, small steps and lots of reassurance can help build confidence. You can even turn toilet time into a fun game - visit the Toilet Anxiety page on our website for fun ideas.

Learning to sit on the toilet 🚽
Start by taking the pressure off. Sitting on the potty or toilet isn't about pooing yet, it's about helping your child feel relaxed and comfortable. Begin with a few seconds fully clothed, celebrate every sit, and avoid talking about wee or poo. As their confidence grows, gradually build up to regular toilet sits after meals and before bed. Small steps, consistency and plenty of praise can make a big difference. Keep favourite toys or books nearby and reward every success, no matter how small. Find the webinar 'Tips for helping your child relax on the toilet' on the Family webinars page on the website.

What next?

Once constipation is under control and your child is happy sitting on the potty or toilet for 5-10 minutes, it's time to focus on pooing in the right place. Break the journey into tiny, achievable steps, moving from where they currently like to poo towards the potty or toilet. Find more practical tips and helpful case studies here: https://eric.org.uk/children-who-will-only-poo-in-a-nappy-and-other-toilet-avoiders/

Be patient. Progress can take time, but small, consistent steps lead to big wins.
🎉Celebrate every success along the way.

26/08/2026

🚽 Does your child feel anxious about using the toilet?

Toilet anxiety is more common than many people realise, and it can make toileting a stressful experience for children and families.

A child may develop toilet anxiety after an unpleasant experience, such as after an episode of constipation, a loud hand dryer or a strong smell. Sensory factors like bright lights, echoes, an uncomfortable toilet seat or unfamiliar environments can also play a role.

Over time, these experiences can lead to feelings of worry whenever they need the toilet. Some children may even start holding in their wee or poo to avoid going altogether, or have wee and poo accidents

💡 How can you help?
✅ Acknowledge and validate their feelings.
✅ Identify possible triggers and causes of anxiety
Create a calm, familiar, and welcoming bathroom environment.
✅ Use games, music, or pictures to make the space more comfortable.
✅ Build confidence through other self-care skills, such as handwashing or getting dressed.
✅ Break toileting into small, manageable steps and then build on this.
✅ Use distraction techniques where appropriate.
✅ Stick to predictable routines.
✅ Talk openly about anxiety and feelings.
✅ Focus on positive achievements, not just using the toilet e.g. washing of hands.
✅ Check for constipation or bladder issues, as these can make toileting more difficult and will need treatment before progress can be made. See our advice for children with constipation for more information.

📖 For more advice, practical tips, and resources on supporting children with toilet anxiety, visit the ERIC website: https://eric.org.uk/information/toilet-anxiety/

26/08/2026

We love being out in our Leigh community, please do come and see us tomorrow.
We'll put the kettle on ☕️💚💙

Family Hub at Leigh

18/08/2026

Supporting a child with additional needs on their toilet training journey?

Toilet training can feel overwhelming, especially when your child needs extra support. The good news is that nearly all children can learn to be clean and dry. It may take longer and look different for every child, but it's an important life skill that can make a big difference to their independence and confidence.

That's why ERIC has created a helpful advice sheet packed with practical guidance for parents and carers, including:

🔵 Where to start
🔵 Spotting and managing constipation
🔵 Keeping the bladder healthy
🔵 Toilet training older children
🔵 Considering what extra support may help
🔵 Practical tips to help you get started with toilet training

📖 Read the advice sheet here: https://eric.org.uk/advice-about-bladders-bowels-and-toileting-for-children-with-additional-needs-2/

💬 Know a parent or carer who might find this helpful? Tag them below or share this post.

18/08/2026

Are you a working parent with a child aged 9 months to 4 years old?

You could be entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare to help you save on costs while supporting your child’s early development.

Find out more and how to apply by visiting https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/eligibility-checker

🗓️ Important!
To start your funded place in September 2026, you must have received and confirmed your eligibility code by 31st August 2026.

🔁 Once you have your code, make sure you reconfirm your eligibility every 12 weeks to keep it valid.

In addition, eligible parents can also claim tax free childcare.

If you are also eligible for 15 hours funding for families in receipt of additional support, please ensure you apply for both schemes.

📩 Got questions? You can contact the family information service team by emailing [email protected]

18/08/2026

🚑 Save a Baby’s Life Course ❤️

Join us at Tyldesley Link Site on Wednesday 9th September, 2:30pm–4:30pm, for this valuable course covering:

👶 Infant CPR
🫁 Choking
💧 Infant drowning prevention
Booking is essential.

📞 Call us on 01942 879012 or send us a message on Facebook to reserve your place.

Please note: This is an adults-only course. Unfortunately, children cannot attend, so please arrange childcare before coming.
We look forward to seeing you there!

18/08/2026

18/08/2026

🎒 School Uniform Sale at The Family Hub at Formby Avenue 🎒

We're pleased to be hosting Rebuild with Hope's School Uniform Sale at The Family Hub at Formby Avenue.

📅 Wednesday 26th August
⏰ 11:00am - 1:00pm

Come along and pick up good quality school uniform items for a fraction of the price for the new school year - cash and card accepted.

📍 Formby Avenue Family Hub

We look forward to seeing you there!

12/08/2026

🌟Join us for the launch of GPS🌟

Come along to St Peter’s Pavilion, Hindley, as we introduce GPS—a new service supporting families across the Wigan Borough.
Delivered by Embrace, GPS is a needs-led service, meaning families won't need to have a diagnosis to access support. We will offer practical guidance, useful information, training workshops, support sessions and events and connect families directly with other support on offer in the borough. Families will not need a diagnosis to access the service.
The name GPS stands for "Guided & Personalised Support" and was chosen by young people who felt they wanted something that reflected what the service will do—help families find their way—without using any medical language or diagnostic labels in it's name.
At the launch, you can meet the team, find out how GPS will work and share your ideas.
Your experiences will help us shape a service that works for local families.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/wZBRBiZwkn

Special guest: Lisa Lloyd
We’re delighted to welcome Lisa Lloyd, bestselling author of Raising the SEN-betweeners and the creator of ASD with a G and T.
Lisa shares the realities of raising two autistic children with honesty, warmth and humour. Her relatable content has attracted more than 250,000 followers across social media.

Join us to hear Lisa speak, discover GPS and help shape this new service from the very beginning.

10/08/2026