Supernanny Jo Frost issues harsh warning for parents using essential baby item and urges them to ‘wise up’ because they’re ‘being fooled’

Renowned for her stern and sometimes controversial approach to child rearing, Supernanny Jo Frost is not one to mince her words when it comes to parental advice.

Now, in a new social media post, the childcare expert, 54, has urged British parents to ‘wise up’ and stop ‘being fooled’ by adverts for baby nappies.

In a grid post on Instagram, the British nanny urged parents to begin potty training their children as soon as possible, and warned there can be a ‘power struggle’ between parent and child when potty training takes a long time.

‘Diaper brands want your toddlers in nappies longer so you spend more money but helping your child ASAP with their developmental milestone should be your focus,’ she urged. 

She told parents to ‘move forward’ and practice perfecting the milestone moment to get youngsters out of nappies. 

She wrote: ‘Parents wise up, these companies are loving the excuses you make for why you haven’t potty trained your child yet, the longer they stay in them the more they make. 

‘I’ve been potty training children for four decades and never is it longer than a week if you are CONSISTENT. In fact if you’re not it creates power struggles with your child.’

The no-nonsense expert added that even ‘training’ nappies were a folly and warned that children could end up starting school without knowing how to use the toilet if parents don’t act fast.

She said: ‘Even those ‘training pants’ are pants! Parents you are being fooled….

‘They look like underwear but feel like a diaper, so toddlers are in them longer because they feel LESS uncomfortable whilst you become complacent….and in the meantime your teachers are left trying to do a job you should be doing.

‘Help your child asap move forward with this milestone for their sake.

‘Tip – when you commit you must be all in, so invest in a little travel potty because you can’t change up when traveling in the car, it will delay the process.’

It comes after a recent report revealed that 90 per cent of teachers have vouched for having at least one child who was still in nappies. 

The charity, Kindred, also reported that around half of teachers claimed they have been forced to sacrifice time in lessons dealing with hygiene issues with children who haven’t been taught to use the toilet.

According to the parenting advice website, WonderBaby, a child is considered ‘late’ in potty training if they are over the age of three and haven’t mastered it within three months of trying. 

The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity suggest that parents should begin the process when children are aged between 12 and 18 months.

According to the organisation: ‘Disposables are undoubtedly an amazing labour saving device, but when it comes to potty training they can make the process harder and take longer.’ 

Several took to the comments to agree with Jo’s suggestion. One wrote: ‘Unless something medical wrong, there is no excuse for a 4-5yr old to be in nappies. Again this is for health children who haven’t been diagnosed with any medical conditions. (sic)’

A second wrote: ‘Facts. All my kids were pooping in the potty at six months. They would hold the poop until I put them in the potty. The trick is to know their poop schedule & also look for signs that they need to poop.’ 

Jo Frost, who is the face famously associated with the childcare Channel 4 show Supernanny, regularly shares tips to parents on her social media page. 

Earlier this year, the child expert slammed parents in an impassioned rant on her Instagram page, accusing parents who post their children’s morning routines were turning them into ‘grandiose little beings’.

‘Parents, STOP with the Back2School reels, you are turning your children into grandiose little beings!’ she said in an Instagram post. 

Jo said parents need to take more responsibility instead of trying to make content of their children which takes away from the ‘smooth operation’ of their breakfast routines and family connection.

She said the act is the perfect example of ‘performative parenting’, a term the Supernanny coined herself to describe those who use their children to gain likes and attention online.

‘So now I’m watching seven, eight, nine year-olds doing back to school morning routine as posts! Parents, what on earth are you thinking? No, seriously?’ she asked on Instagram.

Jo explained that the morning routine is a time when ‘family connection should be at its highest’ and there should be a ‘smooth operation of a well practiced routine of breakfast together’ rather than posing for social media videos.

‘It is bad enough seeing how many parents are dependant on iPads and screens in the morning as babysitters turning into bad habits and chaotic mornings but please, now this?’ she wrote.

‘Look, you’ve got to take responsibility. I’m tired of hearing when anybody speaks the truth they are shaming, this is NOT shaming this is YOU CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR CHILDREN and you must! You must.’

Jo went on to beg parents to ‘get their priorities straight’ and let their ‘children be children’ away from the eyes of strangers on the internet.

Nobody wants grandiose children…Do you really understand what you are breeding here in your home?’

Supernanny fans applauded Jo for calling the ‘toxic’ and ‘attention seeking’ behaviour out.

‘Kids are not content. They can not consent,’ one user said and another replied: ‘Imagine the damage of growing up with a camera constantly in your face’