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What potty training age is the perfect age?
Honestly, there is no perfect age for potty training. I have toilet trained four children of my own, both boys and girls, strong-willed and compliant and I can tell you that potty training readiness signs are far more important than chronological numbers in determining what age to potty train.
That being said, most children in the western world today are potty trained sometime between the ages of 2 and 3 years. Potty training babies is also done, but it's not the potty training concept you're probably thinking of.
Some kids don't potty train until late 3 or even 4 years old. And plenty of children are still having accidents right up til school age and beyond.
Every child is unique. And that's why knowing when to start potty training is more important than knowing how to start potty training.
What age to potty train? Here are the keys to watch for.
Look for your child to be able to stay dry for at least an hour or two before you begin potty training. If your child cannot hold their pee and poop at least that long, they are not physically mature enough to be successful at potty training. If you start them then, you'll only frustrate the both of you.
The right potty training age is happening when your child wants to see what you do when you use the bathroom. Be sure and let your child watch you or your spouse and ask plenty of questions.
Are you embarassed? If you are, that's okay, just dive in. You're going to have a lot of opportunities over the next 15 years or so to get over your child embarassing you.
Remember, others have been through this, too. You and your child will do just fine. Trust me.
- Awareness of bodily functions.
Does your toddler pull at his diaper when he needs to pee or poop?
Does she squat or get quiet while having a bowel movement?
Does he try to remove his diaper once he's wet or soiled it?
These are all signs that your child is aware of his bathroom needs and point to a ready-to-learn potty training age. These are positive signs for toilet training toddlers and help you answer the question of what age to potty train your boy or girl.
Is your child NOT showing these signs? Then relax and wait. Believe me, your child will show these potty training signs at some point in time. Don't worry. Especially if your child is still very young, don't be pressured into potty training if she is not ready yet.
What about YOUR potty training age?
What do I mean? I have found that Mom or Dad need to be just as ready to potty train as does the child. It's your attitude which will make all the difference in how long the toilet training process takes and how difficult it is.
Yes, your child is going to have to do the actual work of being toilet trained! But he will take all his cues on attitude and confidence from you.
So please check within yourself and see if you are showing readiness signs and are, indeed, at the correct potty training age for this important step in your toddler's life.
You'll need to set aside time - several days to a couple of weeks - to be able to focus on the potty training process.
Yes, it is possible, with proper planning, to potty train in a day or just a few days, but truthfully, that is usually just a strong introduction to what will be a process of learning healthy bathroom habits over several months.
After all, did you learn to ride a bike in one day?
While you are in the middle of a major work project, difficult family times or other heavy emotional issues is not the best of potty training times even if your toddler is at the correct potty training age. Give yourself the chance to clear your emotional calendar, so you can give yourself more fully to the needs of your toddler.
You will need to be patient, relaxed and matter-of-fact for the potty training process. You will be tested on these attitudes, so you need to determine ahead of time how you will react when your little one
- stops cooperating.
- tells you he doesn't need to go pee and then wets or soils in his pants in front of you.
- gets bored with the whole toilet training process.
- begs to wear a diaper again.
- hides wet or soiled underwear because she doesn't want you to know and give her a hard time.
Yeah, it really helps to go through a few of these scenarios in your head, when you're just comtemplating if you're even at the right potty training age. You may never see some or even all of these. But you'll probably deal with a thing or two you never considered before during potty training.
Just remember. Your child has never dealt with ANY of this before.
And he's counting on you to lead the way with calm, love and confidence. Even when you don't feel like it.
The potty training age that's right for you and your child.
What age to potty train? Remember...
- look for readiness signs, both physical and emotional.
- Make sure you are as ready as your child for potty training.
- Understand that while potty training is only rarely easy, it doesn't need to be overly difficult either.
It is what it is. A natural, normal part of growing up. Keeping that in mind will help you and your child sail through this potty training age together, one day at a time.
Popular potty training topics.
Potty Training Child
A list of all of our articles to help you while potty training your child.
Toilet Training Tips
Many times just one new piece of toilet training advice that I hadn't considered before was just the help I needed to help my child over a potty training hump.
Potty Training Boy
Additional tips to help if you are potty training a boy (I've trained two boys myself).
Potty Training Girls
Specific tips to help potty training for girls move smoothly (I've trained two girls myself).
Colleen Langenfeld is a mother with over 29 years of parenting experience and helps other busy moms around the globe at www.paintedgold.com.
Note from Colleen: Remember, I earn my living making excellent recommendations to you, Mom, so when you choose to click any of the links on this website and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.
Naturally, that means I care about what you think! If you try a product or service I recommend, I'd love to hear from you. How else can I keep my recommendations top notch for all my visitors?
And thank you, for stopping by.
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