The age to start potty training varies from child to child. One may be ready to start shortly after her first birthday, while another may wait until well past age two. Girls are typically ready to start potty training earlier than boys, according to the Nemours Foundation, and girls usually achieve success faster than boys.
Time Frame
Most children show signs of readiness for potty training between the ages of 18 and 24 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This does not mean, however, that you should insist on training your child at that age. It is entirely normal for some children to wait until 30 months or older to begin training. Successful training before 12 months of age is unlikely because children at that age have not developed control of bladder and bowel movements.
Signs of Readiness
Instead of starting to potty train according to age, the Mayo Clinic recommends that you watch for signs that indicate your child is ready to begin. A child ready to start potty training should be able to ask simple questions, understand and follow basic instructions and communicate to you, either through words or body language, that he needs to go to the bathroom. He should also be able to pull his pants up and down without assistance, stay dry for 2 hours at a time or longer during the day and have reasonably predictable bowel movements. Other indications that a child is ready to begin training include showing an interest in the toilet or potty chair, wanting to wear "big-kid" underpants and showing a dislike for wearing wet or dirty diapers.
Considerations
By 3 to 4 years of age, most children can control bowel movements and daytime urine. It may take longer, sometimes months or even years, before a child can completely control urine through the night. Most children develop this control by 5 years of age.
Warning
Most potty-trained children still have occasional accidents. These are usually no cause for concern, although they can be embarrassing for your child. Wetting accidents, however, may be a sign of a medical problem, such as an overactive bladder or urinary tract infection. You should also contact your doctor for advice if your child is 3 years old or older and not yet potty trained.
Reasons to Delay Training
Your child needs a calm, routine environment for potty training. Major changes in surroundings or circumstances may make training more difficult. Consider postponing potty training if your family has recently moved or plan to in the near feature if there is a new or expected sibling in the home or if the family is in the midst of a crisis, such as a death or major illness.
