Children master potty training typically between the ages of two and four years. Be patient, not everyone is “typical.” More important than your child’s age is whether she shows she is developmentally ready to train. These signs include:
– is generally agreeable/ can follow directions
– gets a funny expression on her face before passing urine or poop, or runs and hides, then produces a wet or soiled diaper
-asks to be changed/ pulls on her diaper when it becomes wet or soiled
– remains dry during the day time for at least two hours
-NOT because grandparents are pressuring you to start training their grandchild
– NOT if the child is constipated—the last thing you want to do is to teach withholding to a kid who already withholds
-NOT if a newborn sibling has just joined the family. A new baby in the house is often a time of REGRESSION, not progression. However, if your toddler begs to use the potty at this time, then by all means, allow her to try.
Hit play to listen to our potty training podcast:
Naline Lai, MD and Julie Kardos, MD
©2014 Two Peds in a Pod®
