When raising children, potty training is another great adventure. With some kids, potty training is a breeze, while other kids will take their parents and caregivers for a wild ride before reaching this goal.
Potty training can be a stressful time, but you can make it a little easier with your patience, positivity and an understanding of your child’s needs to be successful.
Your child will start showing signs they’re ready to potty train. This will give you an idea of when it’s time to start trying.
Signs Your Child Is Ready to Potty Train
- Stays dry for a couple of hours between diaper changes
- Sometimes wakes up dry in the morning or after a nap
- Indicates dislike of having a wet or soiled diaper and may ask to be changed
- Tells you before or after urinating or having a bowel movement
- Is curious about parents or siblings using the bathroom
- Can pull his or her pants and underwear or training diaper up and down
- Has an interest in using the toilet and has the intellectual concept of what going to the bathroom is
- Physically ready, as in the muscles that control bowel and urinary function are developed
- Has enough language to indicate a need to go to the bathroom
The average age in the U.S. to begin potty training is about 2½. Approximately 60% of children are trained by age 3. On average, boys tend to train a little later than girls.
How to Start Potty Training
A good recommendation is to set a time limit for potty training. This will usually be four to six weeks, and then you can evaluate. If after six weeks you think your child is making progress, keep going. If you decide that very little progress has been made, you can stop for a few months and then try again. Don’t feel like this is failure; simply take a break before trying again.
At first, take your child to the potty about every two hours. Set a timer if you need to. If your child goes, you can wait another two hours. If your child doesn’t go, try again in a half hour or so. Leave him or her on the potty chair for short periods of time during these tries, otherwise the process will be associated with boredom or control.
What you are trying to do is “catch” them going potty so they start to make the connection between the feeling of a full bladder and the feeling of releasing the muscles. For bowel movements, look for cues that your child is about to go — stops playing, turns red in the face or hides behind the couch.
Potty Training Dos
- Do talk about body functions without negative language. For example, don’t use “ew, gross, stinky,” but “You went potty in your diaper; soon you’ll go potty in the toilet.“
- Do use common, non-embarrassing language, such as “pee” or “potty” and “poo” or “poop.”
- Do allow your child to start exploring the potty chair. This might include putting toys near it, opening and closing the lid, and sitting on it.
- Do allow your child to start potty training in one location — typically the home. They may become curious about toilets in public places.
- Do begin by focusing on potty training during a certain span of time during the day; for example, during the morning hours, and then going back to diapers for the rest of the day.
- Do opt for simple clothing during this time, like training diapers or elastic waist pants, to encourage confidence in getting to the toilet on time. Avoid zippers, difficult snaps, buckles and belts.
- Do focus on progress, and not the end result. A piece of paper on the bathroom wall your child can add stickers to can motivate going and trying.
- Do allow your child to wear pull-on diapers at nighttime if they’re not dry all night. This is even normal for 3- and 4-year-olds. Invest in waterproof sheets until your child achieves this skill.
Potty Training Dont's
- Don’t choose a stressful time to potty train, like moving to a new house, removing a bottle or moving from crib to bed.
- Don’t use punishment. Accidents happen and punishment increases stress and makes training more difficult.
- Don’t use labels like “good girl/boy” as this might unintentionally imply “bad” if they have an accident.
- Don’t go overboard with your potty purchase — it doesn’t need to make noise or include games. Learning that this is where to go to the bathroom is enough.
Talk to a Child Expert
If you have questions about your child’s health or development, schedule an appointment with an Avera pediatrician who is glad to help.
By our Child Life Specialist team at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center.
