Tag Archive for: Upper Tooting

The Dangers of Kissing Babies & How Parents Can Protect Them

The natural instinct of many adults is to kiss the new baby of a friend or relative. Yet many are unaware of how potentially dangerous kissing an infant baby can be. Indeed, in the worst scenarios, the child could be permanently damaged or even lose their life. As many adults are simply unaware of such dangers, today’s article exposes the risks that a simple kiss can represent to a newborn or infant baby and why it’s essential for parents to take precautions to protect them.

“A nationwide survey of 2,300 new and expectant parents … found that 54% would let friends and family kiss their newborn baby, unaware of the risk of serious infection.” — The Lullaby Trust

Babies Have Immature Immune Systems & Are More at Risk

Immune systems are complex things and, despite babies being passed a level of protection via their mother’s milk, it can take some time before babies’ immune systems are advanced enough to fight off infections that an older child is naturally protected against. In the first few months of a newborn baby’s life, they have immature immune systems and therefore they are far more susceptible to infections than older children and adults. What’s more worrying, though, is that being exposed to certain viruses and microbes can cause irreparable harm to them — and even death.

“Even infections that cause mild symptoms such as a common cold in adults and older children can be life-threatening for babies” — The Lullaby Trust

The ‘Blood-Brain Barrier’

Without getting too technical, the Blood-Brain Barrier (‘BBB’) can be thought of as a thick, semipermeable membrane of special cells that protect the brain. In tandem with allowing oxygen and nutrients to be delivered from the bloodstream to the brain, it helps to retain good things inside it. Importantly, the BBB also helps to keep out germs, diseases, toxic substances, and other potentially damaging impurities from entry into the brain.

The ‘Blood-Brain Barrier’ Takes Months to Mature

Here’s the important thing in respect to babies: in newborn and infant babies, the blood-brain barrier is not fully developed and their immune systems are still being trained. And, although born with a blood-brain barrier, that barrier needs further time to develop as it continues to tighten, thereby protecting the brain more during a child’s early life. That’s incredibly important to grasp because infections in the brain can be potentially catastrophic and especially so for babies under the age of 4 months.

An infection that could cause mild symptoms in older children and adults could be life-threatening for newborns.

What’s the Worst That Can Happen to Compromised Babies?

A baby whose brain is compromised by an infection crossing an immature blood-brain barrier can suffer potentially catastrophic consequences. A brain infection can lead to brain inflammation, brain swelling, brain damage, loss of consciousness, stroke, seizures, epilepsy, and potentially even death. It’s critically important, therefore, to protect children from such potential risks, especially in their first few months and during their first year.

“The younger the baby, the more vulnerable they are to the harmful effects of infection.” — NHS

The Risks from Kissing Babies

So, what has all this got to do with kissing babies? Well, because the BBB in babies and young infants is immature, the risks of infection to the brain are far higher. General germs, viruses and colds are, of course, a concern along with illnesses that cause ill health, diarrhoea or vomiting. However, active cold sores are a particular worry to parents who are aware of the safety issues around kissing babies. That’s because the virus that causes cold sores is actually the herpes simplex virus, which can be passed to the baby through a simple kiss on the head. It’s a very common virus and, indeed, most adults carry the HSV-1 variant of the virus but don’t realise they do. For adults, it causes cold sores but can also cause genital herpes (HSV-2).

“The herpes simplex virus can be passed to a baby through a cold sore if a person has a cold sore and kisses the baby.” — NHS

If infected by neonatal herpes, a baby could become seriously ill or even die, particularly if the infection spreads to the infant’s internal organs. This is therefore a serious issue that parents need to be aware of and take measures against. And it’s all the more important in the earliest part of a baby’s life due to the immaturity of their immune system and BBB.

“A baby is most at risk of getting a herpes infection in the first 4 weeks after birth.” — NHS

Cold sore infections are most contagious when the blisters they cause burst, and remain a danger until fully healed. Therefore it’s important never to let anyone with such a condition touch or kiss a baby.

Measures Parents Can Take to Protect Babies

Parents who show signs of infection and any visitors (who could, in theory, be carrying anything) should follow some simple rules to help newborns and young infants stay safer from harmful infections.

  1. Wash hands before touching babies.
  2. Never kiss a newborn baby or infant, particularly on the head, except when you’re their parent or main carer and are in good health.
  3. Even if you are their parent or main carer, avoid kissing them and wash hands before breastfeeding if you have recently been unwell or, of course, if you have any kind of infection.
  4. Parents/carers with cold sore blisters or other herpes-related lesions should cover them whenever they’re around babies.
  5. Parents/carers should alert family members and other visitors about the risks, especially when babies are at their youngest.

“Despite the risk, 63% of new and expectant parents would feel uneasy asking visitors not to touch their baby, worried that they’d offend someone, hurt their feelings, or be labelled an overprotective parent.” — NHS

Telling family and friends why you don’t want them to touch or kiss a baby can feel awkward. However, the risks are huge to babies, so such requests are essential. In view of this, The Lullaby Trust has produced the following video, which can be shared by parents to make communication about this issue less difficult:

With the right approach, it’s possible for friends and family to meet your new baby while taking steps to help prevent infection.

Weekday Childcare for Babies & Under-5s in Streatham

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good ProviderLittle Cedars is a wonderful nursery and preschool in Streatham. We’re recognised as a ‘good provider’ of childcare and early years education by Ofsted and, as such, give babies and children under five a fabulous start in life. What’s more, we also support a wide range of free childcare options for eligible children through several of the Government’s childcare funding schemes. So, do consider us if you are looking for a high-quality weekday childcare service in Streatham or live in nearby locations like Streatham Common, Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Tooting Common, Tooting, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury or Colliers Wood.

Consider a childcare place at Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham today. Choose an option to get started:

SAFETY NOTICE

The information in this post is produced in good faith but should not be relied on as medical advice. Parents should do their own research to gather all the facts. You know your child best so, if you believe they may be unwell, trust your instincts. If you suspect they are unwell or may have an infection, it’s important to seek urgent professional medical advice — for example, from your midwife, health visitor, GP, NHS 111, or hospital A&E department.

Deadlines for Free Childcare Codes (Time-Sensitive!)

There are three possible deadlines when applying for free childcare funding for working families and that’s true whether you are applying for the ‘15 hours’ scheme for children aged 9 months to 2 years (inclusive), or the ‘30 hours’ scheme for children aged 3 and 4. And, with a child’s exact age affecting which term they can begin using the free childcare, correct timing of applications is crucial. If you apply too late, you won’t receive your childcare code in time for your child to start in the term you had envisaged. Applying too early is also not a viable option. Put simply, timing misjudgements could leave you and your child high and dry.

With all that in mind, today’s post outlines the application timing requirements for these key childcare funding schemes for working families. It also serves as a reminder that those who want their child to start childcare next term have very limited time left to apply — and receive that all-important childcare funding code.

Example

If you want your child to start in the January term next year, you need to apply in the preceding quarter, by 31 December at the absolute latest.

Which Childcare Funding is This?

So, we’re talking here about the newly-expanded childcare funding for eligible working families for children, living in England, aged from 9 months up to compulsory school age. (Follow the bold link to learn more about that, including eligibility rules). Using the scheme, eligible children can receive 570 hours of free childcare per year if they’re aged from 9 months up until they turn 3, or 1140 hours per annum if they’re aged 3 or 4. That usually equates to 15 and 30 hours per week respectively, over 38* term-time weeks of the year.

* Speak to your childcare provider if you’d like the total number of free childcare hours stretched out a different way as some can offer a degree of flexibility.

How Old Must My Child Be Before I Can Apply for the Funding?

A child’s age affects when applications for the childcare funding can be made and there are also minimum ages for the provision of the childcare itself.

  • Once an eligible child reaches the age of 23 weeks (approximately 5.3 months), applications for the ‘15 hours’ childcare funding scheme can be made. The provision itself will not be available until they reach the age of at least 9 months.
  • Once an eligible child reaches the age of 2 years and 36 weeks (a little over 2 years and 8 months) applications for the ‘30 hours’ childcare funding scheme can be made. The provision itself will not be available until they are at least 3.

In Which Term Can Children Start Using the Free Childcare?

Most children start using their free childcare hours at the beginning of one of the 3 terms (January, April and September). Which term they can start in depends on when their birthday falls during the year:

  • Eligible children with a birthday between September and December inclusive can start from the January term. They should apply in the preceding term no later than 31 December.
  • Eligible children with a birthday between January and March inclusive can start from the April term. They should apply in the preceding term no later than 31 March.
  • Eligible children with a birthday between April and August inclusive can start from the September term. They should apply in the preceding term no later than 31 August.

Individual childcare settings will be able to confirm the exact term dates and funded starting dates for their particular setting.

Apply for Your Code

Begin your application for childcare funding and that all-important code here. The link will tell you what you will need including your National Insurance number, phone access and just a few other details. You’ll also need to access your Government Gateway account but can set one up from the same link if you don’t already have one. It’s quick and easy and you’ll usually find out whether you’re eligible right away, although occasionally it can take longer. If eligible and approved for the free childcare funding, you’ll be supplied with a code to give your childcare provider.

Important: Reconfirm Your Eligibility Every Quarter

It’s important to reconfirm your eligibility, via your government childcare account, every three months. That’s in order to ensure your code remains valid.

When Does the Free Childcare Funding End?

The free childcare hours for eligible working families come to an end when your child begins school in Reception class from the age of four or, if deferring until later, reaches compulsory school age at five.

Funded Childcare at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good ProviderLittle Cedars Day Nursery supports many government-funded childcare schemes, making for more affordable childcare in Streatham, Furzedown, Tooting and Balham. With the upgraded 15 and 30-hour schemes available to eligible working families, they can now access free childcare for children as young as just 9 months of age. Children benefit from a good early years education from a young age and parents get to more affordably rejoin the workplace to boost household income and careers. It’s a win-win!

Start your application to Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham, visit us with your child, or message us with any questions today:

As a ‘Good Provider’, Little Cedars Nursery offers a high-quality childcare service in Streatham and is also a great choice for families nearby in Tooting, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

38 Weeks, 42 Weeks & All-Year-Round Childcare Options in Streatham
At Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham, we offer a range of three main options for weekday childcare and early years education. Some families require all-year-round childcare for their under-five child. Others may prefer (or, if funded through Government schemes, only be eligible for) “term-time” cover over 38 weeks of the year. Between those two options, Little Cedars Nursery also now offers a ‘midway’ solution that provides childcare cover for 42 weeks. In today’s post, we clarify how the options work and differ over the course of the year, including in calendar form so that parents can see the differences graphically. See our overview below and click the calendar image for a larger view. If you have any questions, use one of the contact options at the end of today’s post and we’ll be happy to help.

Calendar showing the academic year with options of 38, 42 and all-year-round childcare at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham.

All-Year-Round Childcare

Our all-year-round childcare option does pretty much “what it says on the tin” and provides weekday childcare and early years education right across the year. Apart, of course, from that week or so when we’re closed over Christmas/New Year and on inset days and public holidays. So, it’s a great solution for busy parents.

38 Weeks of Childcare

Our 38-week childcare option is particularly well-suited for those families whose childcare is funded through one of the key Government childcare schemes. These typically fund a child over 38 weeks of the year. However, do talk to us (or your childcare provider if not Little Cedars Nursery) if you would like to explore the possibility of stretching the hours out over more weeks of the year.

The term dates and holidays for the 38-week option match very closely with those of most schools*, so are often referred to as ‘term-time’ places. So, if you have an older child at school as well as a child at nursery or preschool, your under-five child’s timetable should synchronise well if they attend using the 38-week option.

* Term dates sometimes differ a little from school to school. Check yours here.

The 38-week option also ties in with the legal minimum number of days that childcare settings like ours are required to be open each year (190 days when the nursery must be open to children plus 5 inset days for staff training and development).

42 Weeks of Childcare

Little Cedars Nursery has also introduced a childcare timetable that’s somewhere between the all-year-round and 38-week options. With our “42-week” childcare option, under-fives at Little Cedars Nursery are looked after over four more weeks of the year than provided by the 38-week option. This will give greater flexibility for families, particularly where parents simply cannot take as much time off work as there are school breaks. For example, childcare is provided during the school half-term break in February, during one week of normal school closures between spring and summer term in early April, and during two weeks of the school summer holidays in late July/early August. Take a look at the calendar provided above to see how the three options differ across the academic year.

Days when children don’t attend, common to all three options, are:

  • Inset days when we’re closed to childcare provision while staff attend training and development sessions.
  • Bank holidays and public holidays when, like virtually all businesses, the nursery is closed.
  • The week or so between the start of Christmas and the New Year, when the nursery is closed.

Check Out our Competitive Fees

You can check out our competitive childcare fees here. There are a few things to note therein:

  • Fee-paying places have slightly longer sessions, with morning sessions starting at 7:45 am and afternoon sessions finishing at 6:15 pm. In contrast, term-time Government-funded places begin a little later at 8:00 am and the afternoon sessions finish at 6:00 pm.
  • Lunch hour occurs between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.
  • For some children receiving government-funded hours, additional fees may be required for meals.
  • The standard £85 daily fee and £46 half-day fee are reduced, in effect, for those attending all year round.
  • Fee-paying siblings of children already attending the nursery are eligible for a 13% discount.

Fees and details are correct at the time of writing (31 October 2024).

High-Quality Weekday Childcare at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good ProviderDo you have a baby, toddler, or child under five in or around the Streatham area? If so, do consider us today for your childcare provision. As you can see above, we have several options that will suit a variety of different family situations. We also support many Government-funded free childcare schemes for eligible families. What’s more, we’re way more than just a childcare provider; we nurture every child to bring out the best in every area of their learning and development, enabling them to thrive and be ‘school-ready’ by the time they leave us to begin primary school.

Little Cedars Nursery is located in Streatham and is just a stone’s throw from Tooting Common. So, we will suit families requiring childcare nurseries in Streatham, Streatham Common, Streatham Hill, and Streatham Park as well as those looking for good nurseries near Tooting, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

Contact us today, book a free guided tour of the nursery, message us or ask us a question — we’ll be happy to help:

Top Tips for a Successful Primary School Application

If you're the parent of a 3-year-old child, or one that's just turning 4, choose your 3 preferred primary schools now and submit your application by mid-January.Are you the parent of a 3-year-old child, or one that’s just turning 4? If so, you need to choose your 3 preferred primary schools now and submit your application for them at the latest by mid-January of the coming year. It’ll be here before you know it! Whether you want your child to begin school at the age of four or five, you have limited time left for your application. With that in mind, today’s post outlines our top tips for a successful primary school application for your preschooler. Read on to learn how to maximise your potential success in achieving a school place that’s best for your child.

Top Tips for a Successful Primary School Application

1. Be Prepared — Know Your Dates!

Once your child is 3 or has only just become 4, you need to plan for your primary school application right away. And it doesn’t matter whether you want your child to begin primary school at the age of 4 or 5 — the deadline is the same. Applications open on the 1st of September and the submission deadline is 11:59 pm on the 15th of January.

2. Decide on Comparison Criteria

What do you want in a primary school? In the lead-up to your application, you will need to carefully consider how to decide which primary school will best suit your child and household. What criteria should you use? How can you compare schools? Decide what’s most important to both your child and your household. Criteria will probably include, for example, proximity to your home, travel time, whether a sibling already attends the setting, quality and reputation of the school, feedback from parents of children already there, Ofsted ratings, specific facilities that may best suit your child, and so on. These are all great ways to benchmark schools, but consider if there are other factors specific to your child too.

3. Focus on Primary Schools Nearby

It's important for parents to focus on primary schools that are close to their child's home.It’s important for parents to focus on primary schools that are close to their child’s home. That’s for two reasons:

  1. It’s convenient, with less travel time involved in dropping off and collecting your child from the school;
  2. Proximity to a child’s home is one of the key criteria schools and admission authorities use for the selection of schools (the closer the better).

So, nearby usually means a school is both convenient and a safer bet!

4. Research the Contenders

Now armed with your comparison criteria, research the schools, ask around for opinions, check those Ofsted ratings, ask for brochures, research the primary schools online, speak to your local authority about each contender and glean as much information as possible. Knowledge is power and getting it right is incredibly important for your child’s future.

5. Don’t Assume an  “Attached” Primary School is a Safe Bet

Some parents whose children attend a nursery or preschool attached to a primary school assume it’s a safe bet; the assumption is often that their child will automatically be offered a place there. Because of this belief, some of the parents are rather more ‘relaxed’ about their school application than they should be, for example, submitting it late. In such a case, they may get a nasty surprise on National Offer Day. So be warned; attached schools are not always a safe bet and therefore on-time applications are just as important with those as they are with other schools.

6. Visit the Schools

Visit the schools on your shortlist to get a feel for the settings, ask questions, and see how your child may fit in.Visit the schools on your shortlist. Such ‘in-person’ visits are like gold dust. You can ask questions, get a feel for the school, see how the existing children are getting on, witness the teaching style, and see how well your child might fit in. Take them with you if possible. Most primary schools will have open days or evenings, so find out about those and attend. Alternatively, call the head or school office to arrange a guided visit if possible.

7. Make the Most of Your 3 Choices

Don’t try to ‘outsmart’ the admissions system by entering your top school on the application form three times. It will not make any difference to your success rate for a place at the school. Instead, make full use of all three of your choices on the application form and ensure you enter three different schools.

8. Check if They’re Oversubscribed

School heads and local authority admissions staff will have access to data on historical applications and admissions to schools. Contact them to ask if the schools you have shortlisted are likely to be oversubscribed. Some popular schools are, and this alone makes it very hard to land a school place there because of the sheer level of competing families, especially those that live closer to them than you. If you do find that one or more of your school choices are likely to be oversubscribed, based on historical data, ensure that at least one of your 3 choices is unlikely to be so when you fill in your application. Then, at least you have a ‘safer bet’ to fall back on should your top choice(s) not prove successful.

9. Decide Whether Starting at 4 or 5 Works Best for Your Child

Summer-born children will be amongst the youngest if they start in Reception Year at 4 or amongst the oldest if they defer until the age of 5.One of the most fundamental decisions you need to make before applying is whether you want your child to begin at primary school when they’re 4 or the ‘legal’ maximum age of 5. This is a conundrum especially for “summer-born children” i.e. those born between the start of April and the end of August. For this age group, they’ll be amongst the youngest if they start in Reception Year at 4 or amongst the oldest if they defer their start until the age of 5. What’s more, for those deferring until 5, it’s not the parent who decides whether a child goes into Reception or Year 1 — it’s the schools and local admission authorities. So, parents need to decide, before applying, whether they wish to go with the usual flow and start their children at 4 (will they be ready?), or defer a year until they’re 5. It’s a fine balancing act and your decision needs to be made in the best interests of the child. That said, most children do start at 4 and go in Reception Year.

10. Include an Email Address in Your Application

It’s a simple fact that on-time parents who enter a valid email address on their primary school application forms receive their school offers first, on the morning of their release. That’s in mid-April for children starting in the September term. Submitting an application form without including an email address means you will find out via post. That is sent out via Second Class post, so usually takes a few days longer to arrive.

11. Don’t be Late With Your Application!

Ensure you are not late submitting your primary school application.Priority for primary school places is given first to those who submit applications on time. Each year, that means between the 1st of September and the 15th of January when your child is 3 or has just turned 4. Even if you intend to defer your child’s school start until they’re 5 rather than starting them while they’re 4, you still need to apply while they’re only 3 or have just turned 4. If you miss the mid-January deadline, you will stand a much lower chance of achieving a place for your child at your preferred school(s) — because places will already have been allocated to those who applied on time. Sadly, many families miss out because they simply didn’t realise how early they needed to apply.

12. Know Where to Apply!

Primary school applications are made via your local authority website (find yours here). However, some schools and specific settings (for example, some church schools, faith schools, and academies) require parents to fill in and submit the setting’s own supplementary form as well. Parents will need to find out whether this applies to the schools they are applying for through their own research, as it varies from school to school.

13. Chances Increase if a Sibling Already Attends

If your child’s sibling already attends the primary school you’re applying for, they stand a better chance of a successful offer at the same school. That’s a nice head-start for some!

14. Know What to Expect on School Offer Day in Mid-April

Be prepared for the result of your application next April, so you know what your options are if you do not get the offer you had hoped for. However, we’ve got you covered with all of the options in our Guide to National Offer Day for Primary School Admissions which covers things like appeals, waiting lists, and much more.

15. Accept Whichever School They Offer You

Accepting the offered school place does not adversely affect your chances with appeals or waiting lists.You read that right! When National Offer Day for primary schools arrives, it’s generally agreed that you should accept whichever school place is offered to your child. That’s the case even if you’re unhappy! It’s because your child then has a firm school place to fall back on should you appeal, or go on a waiting list for another school, and are unsuccessful. Accepting the initial school place that’s offered does not adversely affect your chances with appeals or waiting lists, which is why the accepted wisdom is to accept the initial offer.

16. Accept Your Offer On Time!

Once you have received your school offer, it’s incredibly important to officially accept it by the acceptance deadline. Such a deadline will be shown in the offer communication you receive in mid-April assuming you’re applying for a standard September term start. If you miss the deadline for accepting the offered school place, you may lose it. That’s because “unused” offers are offered to other children, for example, those who are on waiting lists, applied late, or successfully appealed.

Good Luck from the Team at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good ProviderWe wish all parents of 3- and 4-year-olds the best of luck with their applications and trust that today’s tips help to increase their chances of a successful outcome. It’s a huge milestone when children begin school, but rest assured that little ones under the care of our early years practitioners are nurtured in every area to ensure they’re as ‘school-ready’ as possible by the time they leave us. The good news, too, is that the vast majority of parents receive an offer for a school they specified in their application. Indeed, in 2023, only 1.4% missed out, so the odds are extremely good.

Little Cedars is a high-quality nursery in Streatham, just a short walk from Tooting Common (see map). As well as being perfectly located for those in Streatham, Streatham Common, Streatham Hill, and Streatham Park, the nursery is also only minutes away from Tooting, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

Explore a possible nursery/preschool place for your child at Little Cedars Nursery today:

Free Childcare for Children from 9 Months – Now Available in Streatham

Childcare funding is now available for eligible children from just 9 months of age.Last year, we announced some radical new childcare funding plans outlined in the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s 2023 Spring Budget. Today, we’re happy to confirm that one of the schemes went live this month (September 2024), meaning several hours of free childcare per week are now available for eligible children and babies as young as just 9 months of age. It will be a great help for eligible families, whose children may now be able to benefit from free childcare hours from 9 months of age right up until they start school. In today’s post, we’ll explain the rules around eligibility, exactly how many free childcare hours babies and children can get, and some of the measures we’ve put in place at Little Cedars Nursery to deliver the expanded childcare service to eligible Streatham families.

How Much Free Childcare Will Eligible Babies & Children Get?

The new scheme we’re talking about today is effectively an extension of the existing ‘15 hours’ scheme for 3 and 4-year-olds of eligible working families. It’s been rolled out this month (September 2024) to eligible children aged from just 9 months and effectively means that some children will now be eligible to receive free childcare hours from 9 months right up until they reach official ‘school age’.

  • Since the start of this month (September 2024), eligible children from 9 months to the age of 3 can now receive 15 hours* of free childcare per week.
  • That joins up nicely with the existing “Universal Entitlement” scheme where all children aged 3 and 4, who live in England, can get 15 hours* of free childcare each week already, thereby taking their free childcare provision right up to school age.
  • Note too that, if your family circumstances fit the same criteria outlined below, eligible children aged 3 and 4 could see their free childcare entitlement increase from the previous 15 hours* to 30 hours* per week under the scheme we highlight today for working families.
  • Next year, from September 2025, the Government’s plan is to also expand the childcare entitlement for children aged 9 months to 3 years to 30 hours* for those who are eligible. We’ll cover how that works separately once it’s available next year.

Children, families and the economy should all benefit from the new childcare funding for children aged 9 months to 3 years.As well as helping families financially, the scheme expansion should help children begin their early years education even earlier, for many, which has been shown to be hugely beneficial to them. The free childcare provision will also help many more women back into the workforce. Children, families and the economy should all benefit.

* For the 15-hour schemes, eligible children can access 570 hours of free childcare per year, or it’s 1140 hours per annum for the 30-hour equivalent. Those hours are usually spread over 38 weeks of the year. However, some providers may allow some flexibility, e.g. fewer hours per week over more weeks of the year. Your specific childcare provider will be able to confirm whether such flexibility is available at their particular setting. At Little Cedars, we will try to accommodate you wherever possible.

Who is Eligible for Free Childcare for Babies From 9 Months?

The revised 15-hour and 30-hour schemes (depending on age) that are now available from this month (Sept 24) apply to children of eligible working families. The three key eligibility criteria for children aged 9 months to 4 years (inclusive) are outlined below.

Both you and your partner (if applicable):

  1. Must expect to earn the equivalent of at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for a minimum of 16 hours per week (on average) during the course of the next three months. That’s currently £183 per week for those over the age of 21 but the figure will be less for those who are younger or in an apprenticeship;
  2. Must not be earning an adjusted net income over £100,000 during the relevant tax year;
  3. Must have a National Insurance number.

(Figures are correct as at September 2024).

Additional rules and caveats apply in certain specific situations including where you/your partner are foster carers, self-employed, starting a new job, earning a non-regular income, have a certain immigration status, are not working and in receipt of certain benefits/support, and others. Find out more about eligibility for the childcare funding scheme here and/or use HMRC’s excellent (and quick!) childcare funding calculator here to see how many free hours your child could be eligible for.

We’re Set Up for the Arrival of New Babies at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

Exterior of the new Caterpillars baby room at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham.

Part of the interior of the new Caterpillars baby room at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham.

 

Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good ProviderLittle Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.In readiness for the influx of babies taking up the new funding, Little Cedars Nursery has a brand new baby room. It’s a lovely, warm, homely area for little ones and a couple of photographs are shown above.

So — if you’re an eligible working family in Streatham with a child aged anywhere from 9 months to 4 years of age, we may be able to help with a funded nursery/preschool place. For everyone else, fees are competitive, value for money is high, and the quality of our childcare is hard to beat in the Streatham area.

Interested? Apply for a nursery place at Little Cedars and/or get started with your childcare funding application today:

Officially a ‘Good Provider’ of childcare and early years education, Little Cedars is a high-quality nursery for babies and children under five in Streatham. We’re within walking distance of Tooting Common and will also be conveniently located for families near Tooting, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

'Leaves’ Nature Hunt – Children's Activity with Free Poster

September marks the start of autumn, which lasts 3 months and brings with it a stunning transition. Green leaves we’ve seen on trees over the summer will gradually change to autumn colours like brown, copper, yellow, beige and even shades of red and purple. This dramatic season of change is a wonderful opportunity to draw children’s attention to the incredible spectacle that takes place every year at this time — as well as to the wonders of nature more generally. Let’s not forget that nature is incredibly good for little ones too, so inspiring them to take an interest in spending time around nature will be beneficial to children in a myriad of ways. With that in mind, today’s post includes the release of a free ‘leaves’ reference poster for families to print out and use as the starting point for one or more nature/autumn-themed children’s activities.

Download the Free Leaves Identification Poster for Your Child

Click the preview image below to view or save the poster in Acrobat Reader format. (Whether you need to right or left click to save the poster file depends on your device’s specific set-up, so perhaps try both if you’re not sure).

Preview of the Leaves Nature Hunt poster (click to download or view the high-resolution version in Acrobat PDF format).

The leaf poster is designed both to be educational and get little ones interested in nature, which is so good for children. It will also encourage them to get outdoors to breathe the fresh air, exercise, enjoy some freedom (under supervision, of course) and experience some of the simple, though beneficial, things that life has to offer away from electronic screens and the limitations of being indoors. Nature and outdoor play are a powerful duo when it comes to benefiting children, giving them boundless opportunities for exploration, discovery, creativity, and more. Follow the bold links to learn more about such benefits.

Leaf Activity Examples

Painting leaves with paint. Leaf rubbing example. Leaves can inspire artwork. Leaf printing example. Leaves used as part of a collage design.

Examples of ways children can use the reference poster and the leaves that they find:

  • Children can use the poster in tandem with outdoor walks in parks and open spaces. They can learn to recognise the different leaves and the trees that they come from while fostering a greater appreciation of nature and its benefits.
  • Time-lapse of a year in the life of a beech tree.The reference may inspire them to see for themselves how leaves and trees dramatically change over this part of the year — the changing colours and landscapes during autumn are a wondrous spectacle!
  • Children may alternatively like to keep it simple and just collect interesting leaves and see how many different types they can find.
  • Parents/carers could challenge children to find specific leaf types, like a leaf treasure hunt.
  • Individual leaves can be ‘pressed’ and dried in a suitable book or between paper that’s weighted down.
  • Particularly once dried and flattened, leaves can be painted with colours, or used as part of a collage design of some kind. Dried leaves are a wonderful inspiration to let children get creative.
  • Leaf rubbing is great fun and very effective – place a leaf under thin paper and then scribble on the paper to reveal the features of the underlying leaf.
  • Leaf printing is also easy and results are impressive – simply roll or paint one side of the leaf and press it against paper to get a leaf imprint.

Want to Take Tree & Leaf Identification Further? Get the App!

The Woodland Trust supply an excellent free smartphone app, suitable for children from 4 years of age, for iPhone and Android. Called “British Tree Identification” it will teach children and adults alike a huge amount about tree and leaf identification, features to look out for, and much more. Learn more and download the tree identification app here.

Other Free Nature Posters for Children

Other free nature-related posters available from this Little Cedars nursery website include posters for British Birds, Minibeasts, Butterflies and an Autumn Treasure Hunt. Follow the links for more more information and to download them free.

A First-Class Childcare Service in Streatham, SW16

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good ProviderWe know how important nature and outdoor play are to children, especially those under five, and that’s one of the reasons we release nature-themed posters, identification sheets, and activity ideas for little ones here. Children at Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham also benefit from our close proximity to Tooting Common where families and under-fives can enjoy nature and natural open spaces locally. Children attending the childcare nursery itself are also able to benefit from their very own planting area at the setting where they can grow vegetables. It’s both fun and incredibly educational.

Get in touch today to learn more about a place for your child at our Streatham nursery:

Little Cedars Nursery may suit families looking for high-quality childcare for babies and under-fives in Streatham as well as those nearby in Tooting, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

Safety notice

Children should, of course, be supervised appropriately when playing and exploring outdoors. Particular care should be taken around water, hazards, traffic, the dangers of stranger danger, and anything potentially harmful including poisonous berries, sharp spines, thorns, etc. See our outdoor safety tips for children here.

Quotations That Will Inspire Every Parent

From time to time, we discover quotations that inspire us and would, indeed, inspire any parent. They’re quotes by anyone from scientists and world leaders to celebrities, parents, and occasionally unknown authors. Often, the quotations are quite profound. They stop us in our tracks and really make us think — about childhood, growing up, how we educate and nurture young minds, and everything that goes into parenting. Today we publish below a collection of our favourites. Enjoy!

Inspirational Quotations for Parents:

Some of the inspiring quotes for parents.

10 Fun Outdoor Activities for Children & Under-5s

Summer is a wonderful time for children to get outdoors and make the most of the warmer weather and beautiful sunshine. Outside in the fresh air, little ones can enjoy a bit of freedom, let their imaginations take over, get creative, and benefit in a whole range of different ways. Immersing themselves in play outdoors is also an escape from electronic screens, man-made toys, and the many restrictions associated with being indoors. Additionally, it teaches them new skills. With that in mind, today’s post outlines 10 different outdoor activities that children, including those under five*, can enjoy this summer and potentially even longer, weather permitting. What’s more, most of the ideas are free of any cost! Take a look.

1. Create a Rustic Playden!

Children will love constructing home-made dens outdoors.Home-made play dens are great fun both to construct and to use. Children will love constructing them, perhaps using fallen branches, sticks, or garden bamboo canes. If they show real ‘bush craft’ potential, they could even progress to covering them with large leaves, moss, fir tree fronds, or simply use a spare blanket or sheet from indoors. Once made, children will adore setting up camp, perhaps with cushions or soft moss, straw, or hay, used as a comfy base inside. Once built, their imaginations will run riot as they invent all kinds of games, role-play scenarios, and free-form play. This creative activity is such fun and has so much potential!

2. Make & Sail a Paper Boat or Stick Raft!

Young children floating home-made paper boats in a large puddle.With a little help from an adult or using suitable reference from the Internet or a book, children will be able to make little paper boats or, alternatively, construct little stick rafts. If they’re old enough and are accompanied by an adult for safety, they’ll be able to float these in a puddle, pond, paddling pool, or local stream, which will be great fun and also give them a huge sense of achievement. If too young to be near water, they can simply use their imaginations to ‘float’ their boats on dry land — perhaps a flattened sheet of tin foil from the kitchen could, for example, be used to represent a pond. Follow the bold links for easy examples that show how easy it is to make a paper boat or stick raft. With this activity, they’ll stimulate imaginations as well as hone motor skills.

3. Create Beautiful Rock Art

Painting pebbles is creative for children and they look fabulous!Rock sculptures are easy and fun for children to construct.Rocks, particularly the smooth pebble kind, are often magnets for children’s attention when they spot them outdoors. Parents and carers can encourage children to take their natural interest a few steps further by creating rock art and rock sculpture (using, of course, suitable rocks that are safe for them to use under supervision). Children will love painting rocks with patterns, flowers, or abstract designs and these can look hugely attractive. Rock sculptures are also something that children will love building, whether using painted rocks or natural ones. Scenes with multiple ‘towers’ of piled rocks look magical and children can even pretend these are part of their ‘castle’ or mark the boundaries of their kingdom and suchlike. Creating outdoors with rocks will be fun and creative, it’ll stimulate imaginations, and also hone art and motor skills.

4. Create a Cosy Picnic

Children will love creating their own picnic, whether it's in the garden, local park, or out in the countryside.Children will love creating their own picnic, whether it’s in the garden, local park, or out in the countryside. It’s a multi-faceted activity where they can first help prepare the food and drink, help pack it in backpacks or a cool bag, and then settle somewhere pleasant outdoors. There, they can set up camp, perhaps with a nice soft blanket to sit on, and lay out their picnic feast. It’ll be a great spot, too, to relax with friends or family, or use as a base from which to embark on other outdoor games and activities. Picnics are also a great way to extend the time children can spend outdoors because they’ll be fed and watered outside too. Magical!

5. Introduce Children to Rambling

Rambling allows children the freedom to run, explore, and discover.Introduce children to the concept of rambling. It’s a term that also sounds much more interesting than ‘walking’ in any case, and is a great excuse to get little ones out and about, for example, in the countryside, local park, or green space. Rambling out in nature is good for children (and adults) and also presents lots of exciting opportunities for adventure for little ones. Whether it’s a fallen log that children can try to walk along, tree stumps that they can balance on, branches they can try to hang from by their arms, or little brooks and ditches that they can jump across, rambles can be wonderful adventures for children — under adult supervision, of course. They’re also great ways to stimulate imaginations as children can pretend they’re explorers, pirates, hobbits, and so on.

6. Nature Treasure Hunts

Nature 'treasure' or 'scavenger' hunts are great fun, and also educational, for children.Nature ‘treasure’ or ‘scavenger’ hunts are great fun, and also educational, for children. For example, challenge them to find a pine cone, a round stone, a rock with a hole in it, a red leaf, another that’s orange, and another that’s brown, flowers similarly in different colours, a winged seed (like that of a sycamore or acer tree), a conker, a sunflower, fruit like apples, pears, or plums on a tree, cereal seeds growing in a field, and so on.

7. Set Up an Obstacle Race

Children will enjoy competing on an obstacle course.Children will also hugely enjoy making and then competing in their own obstacle race. Encourage them to set up a route through a suitable clearing, forest, field or park. Get them to mark boundaries and the course route with natural objects (sticks, rocks, stones, jumpers, etc.). Include obstacles like branches to jump over, tree trunks to run around, ditches or other similar hazards to jump over, and so on. Perhaps they can race several times and you, as the supervising adult, can time them. Whoever wins could be presented with a prize of some kind, whether it’s a purchased toy or simply a gold star sticker. It’ll be a great chance for children to let off steam, keep fit, and hone balance, coordination and motor skills.

8. Arrange a Photography Challenge

Encourage children to take photographs when taking part in outdoor activities.Little ones are usually familiar with the concept of photographs, especially in today’s age, with cameras on every smartphone and tablet. And, of course, there are still simple stand-alone cameras available, whether digital or using traditional film. Either way, suggest that children — with care not to break or damage the device — take photos of natural things and scenery when they’re outdoors. There could even be a competition to see who can take the best photo of a flower, insect, or scene of some kind. This activity will stimulate their creativity, encourage an understanding of scientific concepts like light and shadows, and give them a sense of responsibility as they (hopefully) look after the camera or smartphone itself. Prizes or stickers could perhaps be available for the most successful and appealing shots.

9. Set Up & Maintain a Mini Garden Area

Creating a mini garden is hugely worthwhile, fun, and educational for children.Children will love having their own mini garden. Whether it’s a small area in the household garden or simply some flowerpots or grow-bags on a windowsill or patio, there is always somewhere a child can grow plants (or even vegetables or herbs) in a household. All they need is some light, soil, and water, after all. And, of course, the care and attention of someone to look after them. Children will naturally be fascinated by the concept of growing plants, flowers, herbs, vegetables, or fruit from seeds or seedlings. Tending to them and seeing them successfully grow will also give them a sense of responsibility, achievement, and perhaps even of empathy. Children can learn so much from tending to plants.

10. Spot Wonderful Wildlife

Whether it's birds, bees, insects, minibeasts, butterflies, or mammals, there are always creatures for children to discover if they know where to look.Our final outdoor activity idea for children is wildlife spotting. Whether it’s birds, bees, insects, minibeasts, butterflies, or mammals, there are always creatures of one form or another for children to discover if they know where to look. Our free identification posters will help too, so download those (click the bold links earlier in this paragraph) and print them out for children to use as a visual reference. They can then go on an outdoor ‘safari’ of sorts — it’ll be a fun, exciting, and educational adventure and it’ll open children’s eyes to some of the delightful creatures that they share the planet with.

TIP! Children will see more wildlife if they make their gardens wildlife-friendly. Follow our guide to making a wildlife-friendly garden with your child for more information.

Outdoor Play is Good for Children

These are all simple and mostly free ideas for activities that children can take part in outdoors during the warmer months of the year. They’re fun and exciting, and many add a bit of adventure to children’s lives. Outdoor play is incredibly important to children and nature is incredibly beneficial to little ones too, so these outdoor activities can be profoundly impactful for children and can enrich their lives. Have fun, and stay safe.

* Safety Notice

* Before embarking on any outdoor activity with a child, always consider safety first and a responsible adult should supervise them, especially near hazards, water, etc.

Our High-Quality Childcare Service in Streatham

Little Cedars Day Nursery (Streatham, SW16) – for Weekday Childcare & a Good Early Years Education

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good Provider

We hope our outdoor activities today give parents and those caring for children some food for thought — and that children enjoy them as much as we think they will. Little Cedars Day Nursery is in Streatham, SW16, and offers a high-quality weekday childcare service for children under five. More than that, though, we give children good foundations in their ‘early years’ education, setting them up well for when they start school. In this way, they’re primed for success and ready to thrive!

Little Cedars Nursery is also near Furzedown, Tooting, Norbury, Balham, and Colliers Wood, so it may also suit families from those locations. We support many Government-funded free childcare schemes too.

Register your child for a nursery place at Little Cedars Nursery today, request a free tour, or ask any questions — we’ll be happy to help:

Healthy Snack Ideas for Toddlers

The NHS recommends that, from the age of 1, parents can introduce toddlers to 2 healthy snacks per day, given between meals.The NHS recommends that, from the age of 12 months, parents can introduce little ones to 2 healthy snacks per day between meals. Toddlers have small stomachs, so they need snacks to maintain energy and nutrient levels. However, what kind of snacks can parents give to their toddlers? Sometimes, it can be hard to come up with something that’s enjoyable as well as being nutritious and healthy. With that in mind, today’s article is designed to inspire parents with some quick, easy, and healthy snack ideas to give toddlers at snack time.

Quick, Easy, Healthy Snack Ideas for Toddlers

Pre-plan for giving toddlers 2 snacks per day. Here are just a few suggestions that are simple, nutritious, quick and easy to prepare, and healthy for toddlers.

  • Fruit and vegetable sticks are great as healthy snacks for toddlers.Try small, finger-sized watermelon sticks; they’re delicious, nutritious and refreshing for your little one.
  • Try making a fruit cocktail for your toddler. It can, for example, contain chopped banana, apple, strawberry, peeled peaches and pears, and grapes (all suitably diced to avoid being a choking hazard). Use fresh or tinned fruit. If using tinned, ensure it’s in juice, not syrup.
  • Vegetable sticks are a great choice as they’re easy for toddlers to hold and are healthy and nutritious. Houmous dip, sliced egg, pepper fingers and tomato, suitably diced.Consider using soft-cooked carrots, peppers, or cauliflower in finger-sized stick form, or even broccoli florets. Cucumber sticks are also an option but don’t require soft-cooking.
  • Fruit and vegetable sticks are also great with houmous dip, perhaps also served with suitably sized slices of pitta bread.
  • Pitta slices and vegetable sticks are also great with mashed avocado. A touch of honey can be used to sweeten the avocado if required, but ensure it’s never given to babies/those under the age of 12 months — it can produce harmful toxins in infants’ intestines due to a reaction to the bacteria it contains.Pitta slices, a mashed avocado dip, and diced tomatoes.
  • Another great snack is cheese sticks or small pieces of diced cheese (sized so as not to be a choking hazard). Perhaps combine them with healthy crackers, pitta bread, or chapati (each also suitably and safely sized, of course)
  • Mini sandwiches, cut either into small fingers or tiny cubes, are also a great choice for a healthy snack. Fill with healthy fillings like houmous, lean ham, mashed avocado, grated cheese, or perhaps cream cheese.
  • Cream cheese can also be used as a dip or spread in snacks made with rice cakes or finger-sized slices of English muffins. If serving fresh at home, the muffins could even be slightly warmed or lightly toasted — delicious! (N.B. Test the heat level for suitability before serving, of course).
  • Sliced hard-boiled egg, apple and pepper fingers, and finger-shaped sandwiches.Another firm favourite with toddlers is a hard-boiled egg sliced into holdable fingers. Such slices are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Pasteurised, unsweetened, plain yoghurt is great, especially if combined with fruit pieces that have been suitably diced.
  • Home-made smoothies are also a wonderful snack choice that can also be made from yoghurt (again pasteurised, unsweetened and unflavoured) or pasteurised milk that’s been blended with fruit like bananas, strawberries, raspberries or even mango. Delicious!

The snacks should be given in between meals, to keep children from being hungry. However, it’s important not to give children snacks too close to mealtimes, otherwise it is likely to limit what they eat for their proper meals.

Tips For Snack Success

  • Make the snacks look appealing as this will have a greater chance of being consumed by your child. Combining colours, textures, and shapes may help, as may some tasty, healthy dips.
  • Space snacks out so that they fill hunger gaps midway between meals.
  • Try to give your toddler snacks at the same time each day so that they and their stomachs get used to the pattern.

Portion Sizes

Snacks should contribute towards the four key food groups that children need each day as part of a balanced diet (starchy foods, fruit and vegetables, dairy, and protein). Portion sizes are important when serving meals and snacks, especially under the age of five. However, as children grow, so can portion sizes. However, how big is a portion?

  • For starchy foods like rice, beans and potatoes, a child’s portion is the amount that would fit into the child’s cupped hand.
  • For proteins like fish and meat, the child’s hand also offers a useful guide; a portion is about the size of their palm.
  • For fruit and cereal, the child’s hand again offers a useful guide; a portion is about the size of their fist.
  • For vegetables, it’s similar to starchy foods in that a portion is about the size of the little one’s cupped hand. However, when children are still hungry after main meals, they can fill up a bit more using vegetables because it’s not necessary to limit the intake of those (unlike the other food groups) — and they’re particularly healthy.

More information about healthy eating for under-fives can be found here.

Little Cedars Day Nursery, Streatham

Your High-Quality Childcare Provider in London SW16

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good Provider

At Little Cedars Day Nursery in Streatham we do, of course, also supply healthy snacks for children, as appropriate, with one given mid-morning and another mid-afternoon. These are healthy snacks, prepared in-house by our chef using fresh, high-quality ingredients as part of the setting’s healthy eating regime.

If you are looking for a high-quality nursery or preschool for your child in Streatham or close to Furzedown, Tooting, Norbury, Balham, or Colliers Wood, do consider Little Cedars. Ofsted rates the setting as a Good Provider and many of the Government’s free childcare schemes are supported, making childcare more affordable for eligible families.

Register your child for a nursery place, book a guided visit with your child, or find out more today:

Safety Notice

Only feed children age-appropriate food. Please ensure that you do your own research. This article is intended for parents of toddlers aged at least 12 months. It is supplied in good faith but does not constitute professional advice. Seek the help of a professional if you are at all concerned about your child’s diet, health and well-being. Always read the labels and be mindful of possible allergens, choking hazards, and other dangers such as heat sources when preparing food for and around children.

20 Tips for Potty Training Success: How to Fast-Track Toileting in Under-5s

While some toddlers take to it like a duck to water, potty training can be quite daunting for others. It’s a task that can sometimes be the source of considerable upset for little ones which, in turn, can be stressful for parents. However, with the right tools and some useful tips from experts and those who have already gone through the process, potty training can be plain sailing. With that in mind, today’s guide gathers together 20 top tips for successfully fast-tracking potty training — take a look!

Before we begin on the tips, though, let’s see what we should be expecting from our little ones:

When Should We Expect Children to Master Potty Training?

There is no hard and fast rule about the age by which little ones should have mastered the use of the potty.Children are all different. They learn and develop at different rates to each other and that applies to potty training success too. Circumstances in each family are different too, and this will also have an effect. In other words, there is no hard and fast rule about the age by which little ones should have mastered the use of the potty. Parents should therefore not worry if their child is slower to master toileting than their siblings or peers. That said, some very rough guidelines will always be useful to parents and these follow.

During the daytime, some tots will manage to stay mostly dry by the age of two to three, with most achieving it completely by the age of four. It’s a huge milestone when it finally happens!

During the night, most are also dry overnight by the age of six, although generally, infants will no longer poop at night even earlier — around the age of 12 months. That said, some children continue to wet the bed at night well beyond the age of 5 or 6. This can be for a variety of reasons, for example, simply because they sleep so deeply. They should never be told off about such incidents and minimal fuss should be made (they are, after all, accidents). The good news is that children are likely to grow out of bed-wetting anyway. We may follow up at a later date to write about measures families can take to minimise the likelihood of bed-wetting incidents for children over five.

20 Top Tips for Potty Training Success

Now we’ve outlined the key background information, it’s time for our 20 tips for potty training success.

  1. A good time to start your child on potty training is when they have shown that they’re aware of what’s in their nappy. Clues include looking in the nappy during a change, showing discomfort when in need of a change, or showing an awareness that they’re actually going to the loo.
  2. Beginning potty training during the warmer months of the year is also another top tip. That way, children will be wearing less clothes and what clothes they are wearing will be easier to dry on the washing line.
  3. Teach little ones all the appropriate words around the topic of potty training and toileting. By empowering them to use such language, they’re much better placed to ask to go to the loo in good time.
  4. Try rewarding your child for successful use of the potty. The promise of a treat for a successful ‘number two’ can often be all that’s needed to convince a reticent child to attempt it on the potty. Colourful reward stickers and a toileting chart celebrating successes also encourage children.
  5. When a number one or two are each achieved, especially early on in their potty training, celebrate and congratulate your child — these are huge milestones! Giving them praise will encourage them to build on their success.
  6. There are lots of different types of potty and toileting accessories on the market.Allowing your toddler to help choose their potty can automatically make it less daunting and instead more of a ‘friendly’ thing to have in their life.
  7. Potties and toileting accessories that feature your child’s favourite characters, for example, dinosaurs, unicorns, or TV characters, will also make them much more friendly and even fun to the little one.
  8. Indeed, choosing the ‘right’ potty and toileting accessories is important on many levels. There are many different kinds to choose from, each suitable for different circumstances and preferences, including:
    Portable potties for when you’re out and about (some even come in a travel case format with wheels).
    Training seats that attach to an adult toilet.
    Musical potties that activate a song when they’ve sensed a successful use; these are great for children to sing along to and doing so will encourage them.
    A set of suitable steps will also help little ones get themselves to the right height once they’ve progressed from a potty to a toilet. These are also useful for reaching adult-level sinks to wash their hands.
  9. Encouraging children to 'teach' dolls and teddy bears to use the potty will help normalise it.Children can also be encouraged by having their own toy potties. They, and parents, can ‘train’ teddies and dolls to use these during play. Doing so will help them be both relaxed and more educated about potty training — even proactive.
  10. Parents can also source potty training-themed books, stories, songs, YouTube videos and even games that will help children engage in the potty-training process whilst also making it fun.
  11. When potty training first begins, it’s a great idea to encourage your toddler to visit the potty at initially short, regular intervals. This could be every 30 minutes at the start but can be gradually extended to longer intervals once the child is showing signs of success.
  12. Ensure your child tries to use the potty immediately before bedtime, of course, and when they wake up from any period of sleep (day or night). It’s also a good idea to encourage them to use it after meals.
  13. When progressing away from using nappies, the use of ‘pull-ups’ is a good tool for the transition. Pull-ups are midway between a nappy and traditional underwear and, as such, will both protect and get children used to not wearing nappies.
  14. When starting potty training, picking a quiet time will help children focus, so they do not get distracted or put off.
  15. Setting a toileting schedule that doesn’t conflict with other items in your child’s routine will also help. Sticking to such a schedule will get little ones used to using the potty — and indeed they’ll expect to do so.
  16. Don't forget to make potty training fun!Don’t forget to make potty training fun! Many of these tips will help towards that, including the rewards idea (#4), praise (#5), characters on potties (#7), toileting-themed music (#8), and so on.
  17. Normalise the whole process. The last thing potty training needs to be perceived as is a ‘problem’, so making it just a normal part of everyday life is essential to success.
  18. Let them know that their friends or peers are also potty training (or trained). Ensure children know that you also went through the process of potty training, as did older siblings, friends, and relatives. In this way, they won’t be made to feel ‘different’ or that something is ‘wrong’.
  19. Keep calm in front of your child even if they begin to get stressed during potty training or toileting. Don’t let them hear anything negative about potty training, including any accidents, which will happen however swimmingly the training goes.
  20. Remember that part of potty training is also teaching your child good hygiene practices including the need to always wash hands after use of the potty or toilet. They need to understand that this is essential for their health,Mastering the potty and toilet will boost children's independence and self-confidence. household cleanliness, and for their independence.

With successful potty training comes an easier home life for parents, improved cleanliness and hygiene for children and, with no nappies to buy, less household expense. Mastering potties and later the toilet will also be a huge boost to children’s independence and self-confidence; both being hugely important at nursery/preschool and, in particular, when they begin school.

Our Nursery in Streatham, London SW16

Little Cedars Nursery: High-Quality Childcare Services in Streatham

Little Cedars is a nursery & preschool offering high-quality childcare in Streatham, near Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Common, Tooting Broadway, Furzedown, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.Ofsted rates Little Cedars Day Nursery as a Good Provider

We hope that today’s potty training tips help to make the process go smoothly. We are Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham, London SW16, situated conveniently close to Furzedown, Tooting, Norbury, Balham, and Colliers Wood. As a Good Provider of early years childcare, we give babies, toddlers, and preschoolers under 5 the very best start in life. We bring out the best in them, so they’re ready to hit the ground running by the time they start school. We also support many of the Government’s free childcare schemes to make it more affordable for eligible families.

Contact Little Cedars Nursery today to register your child for a childcare place, ask a question, or book a free tour of the setting: