Potty Training Age
Can you tell me what is the ideal potty training age? My daughter is 21 months and I am wondering if this would be a good age to begin teaching her to use the toilet.
This is one of those issues that many parents have strong feelings about. Some parents feel a child should be potty trained by a certain age, much like they should be weaned from breastfeeding or a pacifier before they are actually ready.
However, potty training is something that takes time and patience, and can’t be rushed. It is something that a toddler will only do when she is ready.
What Age To Potty Train
There is really no ideal age to start potty training your toddler, as each child will develop on her own timeline. In some cases a toddler will start potty training as early as 18 months, while others may have no interest in doing this until four years of age or even older. It is all dependent upon the child and her willingness to start using the toilet.
How Will I Know My Child Is Ready To Be Potty Trained?
Again, this is a process that is most likely going to take time and a big heap of patience from both parents. Some signs that your toddler may be ready to use the toilet include:
- can understand and follow basic instructions
- asks to use the toilet
- dislikes having dirty diapers
- can go more than 2 hours without wetting or soiling her diaper
- tells you when her diaper needs changed
How To Make Your Toddler Comfortable Using The Toilet
The key to potty training is to familiarize your toddler with a potty chair and allow her to become comfortable with it. This includes having her sit on the potty chair fully clothed, until she is quite familiar with it. Once she has become comfortable sitting on the chair with her clothes on, you should then encourage her to sit on the potty chair without a diaper or pants on.
Once you feel your child is ready to start using the toilet, you will want to take the bowel movements from her diaper and put it in the toilet. Always be sure to allow your toddler to observe this. Then show her how to work the toilet and allow her to observe the bowel movement being flushed away.
In general, your child will usually have to use the bathroom within 45 minutes to an hour after having a meal. Whenever your toddler tells you that she has to use the bathroom (or makes a face like she has to go), you will want to place her on the potty chair and encourage her to go. When she is finished, remind her to flush the toilet as you taught her, and offer plenty of praise and encouragement.
You should be aware that a younger toddler will have trouble controlling when she has to go to the bathroom, and many times may not be able to make it to the toilet before she has to go. Try not to scorn her and be patient as this can be a long learning process that can last up to six months or longer.
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