Tops Day Nurseries has launched a Potty Teaching initiative that is helping children become nappy free earlier, while reducing waste, carbon emissions and costs for families and local authorities. The programme combines earlier potty learning with washable nappies and more sustainable practices across the nursery group.
Since opening in 1990, Tops has supported parents with toilet training, but over time staff noticed children were taking longer to come out of nappies, with most toilet training between three and four years old by 2020 and some starting school still in nappies. Cultural differences highlighted that earlier toileting was possible, and in 2024 detailed tracking through EyLog was reinstated, with a dedicated staff member now overseeing data for ESOS, B Corp and internal impact reviews.
Disposable nappies were convenient but costly to the environment and to local authorities, which spent around 4% of their total waste budgets on nappy disposal. In 2015, Tops chose to pay £24,752 per year across 34 nurseries for “offensive” waste collection so nappies could be incinerated rather than landfilled, a cost largely offset by a drop in general waste bin charges. By reducing single-use plastics, moving from two gloves per nappy change to one or none, removing single-use aprons and switching to washable wipes, Tops cut consumable spending from 2 percent of income to 0.5 percent.
Research and international collaboration strengthened the case for change. In 2023, Cheryl Hadland attended an international meeting in Copenhagen on sustainable incontinence products, confirming that washable nappies are less environmentally damaging than disposables, although their carbon footprint depends on how they are laundered (Jana & Shu, 2021; J. Mendoza et al., 2019; Mirabella et al., 2013; Khoo et al., 2019).
At an OMEP conference in Sweden, Cheryl reviewed research showing that delayed toilet training is linked to more bladder and bowel infections, constipation, medication use and emotional distress (Engdahl et al., 2021), while in places such as Vietnam, children are typically toilet trained by 9–12 months (Duong, 2013).
Tops first piloted washable nappies at Tops Southsea, providing reusables free of charge so the team could test practicality and gather feedback, with all parents eventually choosing to take part. A second pilot at Tops Bearwood in Poole created a Laundry Hub serving eight nurseries, using grey water, solar energy, efficient machines, a green energy supplier and electric vehicles, with sanitation verified by external experts. An MBA research project at Bournemouth University confirmed this as one of the most efficient models in the sector, and Tops now hopes to secure funding, including through GECCO or government support, for three more regional hubs that could also serve other nurseries.
In 2025, Regional Director Jess introduced Potty Teaching, where children start learning about toileting as part of everyday care from six to nine months old. Staff in baby and toddler rooms talk about and use potties after meals and naps, making toileting a normal, relaxed routine, and all children, including those with special educational needs or disabilities, are included for equality and consistency.
The impact has been immediate. In 2024, the average age of being nappy free was 2 years 11 months; in 2025 this reduced to 2 years 3 months, an eight-month improvement in just one year. In October 2024, 1,683 children were in nappies with an average age of 3.1 years, and 296 were using reusables; by October 2025, this had fallen to 1,432 children with an average age of 2.1 years.
So far, the environmental gains are clear:
- 63,900 nappies saved from landfill
- £6,500 saved in costs
- 2.6 tonnes of carbon saved
These savings are expected to grow as consistency improves across all nurseries. All Tops nurseries now use washable pull ups for one and two year olds to support a smooth transition to underwear. Potty teaching pants, discovered by a Senior Nursery Manager at Tops Musgrove, have been rolled out company wide for children from around 18 months, and are most used with two year olds, helping children recognise the feeling of being wet while building confidence and independence.
Tops now use the term “potty teaching” instead of “toilet training” to signal a positive, developmental approach focused on confidence and independence rather than pressure. Potty teaching is treated as a shared journey between home and nursery, and Tops is creating a clear guide and resources for parents, including practical steps, language tips and positive ways to handle accidents, so that potty teaching becomes as normal as learning to walk or talk.
Tops have set an ambitious but achievable goal for all children to be nappy free by the age of two, supported through gentle, consistent routines and shared understanding between families and colleagues. The work benefits the environment, reduces operational waste, saves money for families and, most importantly, supports children’s wellbeing and confidence, embedding a culture of independence and sustainability from the very start.