When to Toilet Train

When to Toilet Train

As your baby approaches one year of age you may be asking - will baby be ready for toilet training soon? Probably not. Many parents are anxious to leave the stage of diapers behind, but be patient.

Child development research shows the average child is not fully toilet trained until 2- 1/2 to 3 years of age. Some take longer. Night-time control takes until 3 to 4 years-old. Your child must be ready before he can start to be toilet trained.

Learning to use the toilet is a complicated task. Your child must:

understand what you want her to do
feel when he is about to urinate or have a bowel movement before he actually does it
be able to tell you in words that she needs to go
get into the bathroom
undo clothing, including snaps and zippers
sit on the toilet
relax and let urine or bowel movement out.

If you try to toilet train too early, your child will be so upset that he can't do what you want, or you may become frustrated when things don't go smoothly.

Sometimes a child goes on the potty once or twice by accident, and then parents feel that she is being disobedient on purpose when she won't do it again. You can avoid a lot of problems by waiting until your child is ready, probably after his second birthday. Your child will want to stay dry, "like a big boy," and toilet training will go much more smoothly for both of you.

Title:	When to Toilet Train	Number:	896
Script writer:	Dave Riley	Source:	Univ. of WI Extension Service Pub. Parenting the First Year
Date:	1996/2002	Reviewers:	Ron Pitzer, Rose Allen

Info-U Home Page

University of Minnesota Extension Home Page