By Gift Briton
Toilet-training children early could contribute to less environmental pollution, researchers say, noting that the planet is choking under the weight of plastic waste from discarded nappies.
Presently, the average age of toilet training is estimated to be 37 months, a rise from 28 months in the 1950s.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), disposable nappies account for 300 million tonnes of plastic waste each year globally. They contain microplastics that can take up to 500 years to decompose. Plastic waste threatens marine life, ecosystems, and human health. Microplastics from degraded waste such as nappies have been detected before in fish and even human blood.
A team of researchers at the University College London (UCL) has come together to tackle this growing crisis. Through the Big Toilet Project, they seek to uncover evidence that could help parents toilet-train children earlier and reduce the massive contribution that disposable nappies make to landfill waste.
The project invites parents worldwide to participate in an online survey and training diary. The researchers are looking for parents or caregivers who are currently potty training their child, about to start potty training, or recently finished potty training.
People who wish to share their experiences can visit https://www.bigtoiletproject.org/ and sign up for the study. The findings will help shape policies, improve access to sustainable alternatives, and encourage a cultural shift towards earlier toilet training.
“I understand this is a sensitive and difficult issue for many families. I found toilet training my kids very difficult,” says Professor Mark Miodownik, the project lead.
“We are doing this research because there is a potential win-win-win-win situation here. Finding effective and safe ways to toilet-train children earlier helps the child, helps the parents, reduces costs to the family, and reduces plastic waste.”
Experts agree that most children are developmentally ready for toilet training between 18 and 30 months. Yet, delaying beyond this period can have negative effects. Prolonged nappy use can increase the risk of urinary tract infections and make it harder for children to recognize their body’s signals. In schools, delayed toilet training can cause classroom disruptions.
Beyond the health and social impacts, early toilet training builds independence and confidence in children. Research suggests that children who are toilet-trained earlier develop better self-regulation skills, reducing anxiety and fostering a sense of accomplishment.
Dr. Ayşe Lisa Allison, a behavioural scientist on the project, stresses the need for cultural change. “One of the reasons we are gathering information is to understand what kinds of behaviour change might help reduce nappy waste,” she explains.
“We all have a role in shaping a caregiving culture that enables less wasteful practices—whether that is improving access to reusable and recyclable products or reducing overreliance on nappies by empowering caregivers with the confidence, time, and resources to support toilet training. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to tackle nappy waste too!”
“The engineering that goes into nappies is fantastic—they are super absorbent and help provide essential care for children,” says Dr. Elze Porte, a materials and design researcher on the project.
“But to see a mountain of nappy waste and know that we will lose all of these materials by burning them or putting them in landfills is troubling. The information we hope to get from the Big Toilet Project will help us figure out better solutions and be more intentional about when and how we use materials.”
