Can it ever be too soon to start potty training? Parents and caregivers can't wait to ditch the diapers, but sometimes little ones can seem perfectly content avoiding the potty forever. Rest assured, your child will get it eventually--and here's how to know when it's time to start.
Potty Readiness
To determine if your child is ready to begin potty training, check for any expression of discomfort after wetting or dirtying a diaper. If your child lets you know that she wants to be changed, that's a great sign that it's time to introduce the potty. Any interest in the potty--such as following you into the bathroom and wanting to see what you're doing or wanting to sit on a potty chair--is also a positive sign. Your child should likewise have the ability to follow simple directions, to pull his pants up and down, and to stay dry for about two hours at a time (especially during naps). The surest sign that a child is ready is when she tells you before wetting or dirtying the diaper.
Age and Ability
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that while many children are ready to start potty training between 18 and 24 months of age, some children are not ready until 30 months or older, and that's OK. Most of the time, babies and toddlers don't have enough strength in their muscles to be able to control their bladders and bowels before the 18-month mark.
Not Ready Yet
The reasons a child may not be ready to start potty training may be physical, psychological, or both. "Fear often plays a major role: fear of failure, fear of disappointing one's parents, or fear of the potty can derail the process," writes famed children's doctor and author Alan Greene.
Average Ages and Length of Potty Training
Most children are reasonably potty trained during the day between the ages of 2 and 3 ½. It may happen quickly--within just a couple of days--if the child is ready, or it may take several months to complete the process. Accidents are part of the process, and parents must be willing to make the commitment right alongside the child to be consistent and encouraging. Even once a child is potty trained, though, expect that there may still be bed-wetting until about age 5 or 6.
Time Pressures
The prevailing wisdom about potty training is that it will happen when the child is ready, and no sooner. But that's not always practical: some preschools, day cares and camps will require that a child be potty trained. And parents may have their own reasons for trying to hurry the process, such as the anticipation of a new baby. There are certainly ways to encourage the process along, but trying to force it may just cause further problems and create more fear. Do your best to keep your sense of humor no matter how long it takes.
