tonies team up with Amanda Jenner to tackle potty training

Founder of The Potty Training Academy and child and behaviour expert Amanda Jenner has teamed up with tonies on the launch of a brand new potty training Tonie, another amazing incentive to help young children understand how to go to the toilet and why we have bodily functions.

With years of experience under her belt, Amanda has helped create the new Tonie and listeners will hear interesting facts, catchy songs, take part in quizzes and stories about two little kids called Lily and Leo who learn how to use the potty. You will need a Toniebox to use the new Tonie.

Speaking about the new poo emoji shaped Tonie, Amanda told us, "I’m a great believer in when you’re potty training you tell a story and children often listen more to someone else and someone else’s’ voice than they do their own parents.

"I’m super excited. It has songs in it that children can sing along to. There are three children in it who are potty training as you listen, and I think it’s a fun story that children will resonate with. I think with tonies, they find it so captivating, and they will sit and listen, it’s a great time to educate them."

Potty training has never been more of a talking point. In March 2025, the government released new 'school-readiness' guidance that listed the key skills children should be able to do by the time they start school, including using the toilet by themselves and using cutlery.

Another recent 2025 survey revealed that one in four children are starting school still in nappies, with teachers spending up to 2.5 hours a day helping little ones with toileting instead of teaching. It’s a growing trend that’s sparked concern among parents and educators alike. Bristol charity ERIC found that one in four children in England and Wales are due to start school in September without being toilet-trained. The charity also found that one in three children struggle with constipation, with some parents experiencing their children scared of seeing their own wee and poos.

What does Amanda think of the new government guidelines that aim to tackle the need for children to start school nappy-free?

"I’ve just done some cards for all of the nursery schools in the UK, which has taken ten years! I think introducing it more in early years settings is important. They don’t really cover potty training, it’s all brushing your teeth, holding a pencil and holding a spoon, but going to the toilet is a big issue. The fear of starting school can be a time when some children regress."

"You can download the cards at home and I would say brushing up on it over the summer holidays will help. If they are still having accidents before starting school, they help to explain how to pull their pants up and down and how to wipe their bottoms."

Is there anything parents can do now to help brush up on toilet training if they're child isn't quite there yet? "Try and get them into little routines!" says Amanda. "When they get up in the morning, go to the toilet and try not to take them every time and stay there, try and get them to do it independently. You're not going to be there in reception to hold their hand. Regular toilet visits in and out of the home will help this. Do it in cafes or at grandparents too.'

As well as the new launch, we quizzed Amanda on why summer is a great time to start potty training, common mishaps and myths they may be told along the way and how to help children who have experienced fear around going to the toilet.

Getting over the fear of poo

Some children may experience a fear of pooing during the potty training process or even when they've mastered it, and it can lead to them holding it in and, in some cases, constipation. Children may be afraid of the toilet, what they see in the toilet or letting go.

Amanda says, "Children have a huge fear of going; the way to overcome it is education. I find that children have a real fear of letting go of poo the most. Some children with wee as well. When they have got the protection of the nappy and you suddenly take it away, it’s like 'Wow, I’ve been used to this for a couple of years and all of a sudden you’ve taken away my comfort blanket.' That’s how it feels to a child, and it doesn’t feel like a natural process."

Tips for constipation

• Plenty of fluids! "It's really important keep the fluids going if your child is struggling with constipation. Get them a really good water bottle that they love drinking from."

• Do a good reward system. Amanda admits that it's hard when they say they need a poo but they can't go, but you could try and help them along by simply blowing bubbles (this relaxes them so the feel happy enough to let their muscles do the work) or you could get 'poo prizes' such as stickers of their favourite book. "You can get stickers of anything these days. If they know they’re going for a poo and they know that they're going to get something out of it, it may help them overcome the fear."

• Be as positive as possible, don't say 'oh you need a stinky poo', negative language around going to the toilet can lead to regression.

• If you’re planning to start potty training, educate them about what happens and what comes out a couple of weeks before you start so they’re not shocked. Amanda says, "Get them involved. Let them pick their own potty and some pants that they like the look of. There's loads of potty training books and make a habit of reading it to them every day."

Common setbacks in the potty training journey

With news stories about potty training ramping up and parents trying to understand how to start and finish£ their potty training journey, Amanda admits that pressure from all angles is the most common setback when it comes to potty training.

"There’s a lot of pressure. There’s even pressure from family and our parents in the older generation. There’s too much; if you force it, they are not going to do it. You can softly introduce it.

"And sometimes it’s just a fluke! When they’re younger, say 18 months, they might sit on the potty and have a wee as a fluke and you think they’re ready to go, but they might not be. I say to every parent, you know your child. Don’t let anyone tell you what to do, don’t feel guilty. Go with the child and what you think is the right thing to do."

There's a lot of talk about the difference between potty training boys and potty training girls, with some belieiving that potty training boys can be harder. Amanda disagrees, though, saying, "I've been doing this for twenty years this year and I have never really seen a difference. The only slight difference I've encountered is that girls like pretty pants. Boys can spill over the top of the potty, which can make them a little upset and think they have had an accident, but other than that, I don't think there's too much of a difference."

Potty training during the summer months

If you're planning to start potty training or want to improve your skills, Amanda suggests that summer is an excellent time to begin. "With fewer layers of clothing, it can be easier, but children still need to wear pants, as they need to learn how to pull them up and down!"

"I would say set up a little area and make it a fun journey. Having a jar is a great thing to do, it doesn’t cost anything, and you can put some of their favourite games or activities in. For example, if they have a good day on the potty, they can go outside and wash their toys in the garden. It doesn’t have to be money-driven. It is about encouragement tools that make your child tick."

More educational tonies

Amanda's potty training Tonie, out on June 25th, is one of many available to help your little one learn about the world around them. There are Tonies that help your child understand their feelings and emotions, a toothbrush timer to help get into the routine of brushing their teeth, a Numberblocks and Alphablocks series that helps with mathematics and English, a mindful sloth that helps with winding down and many more.

Here are some of our favourite educational Tonies:

About the author

Hannah Mellin is a Digital Writer at Mother & Baby. She is a mama to a nearly two year old little boy and is is navigating her way through first-time parenthood, every developmental leap at a time. She is up for trying anything and everything to make mums feel less anxious and overwhelmed. She is passionate about nature, body positivity and children's mental health.