What is the Best Age for Potty Training Your Child?

Potty training is one of the most unglamorous aspects of parenting responsibility, but it is something all parents need to learn. Potty training a child is not easy, but today, there are various methods and tricks to potty train toddlers, that has certainly made the task a bit easier. But, the big question is, What is the right age to potty train a baby? Should you start early or wait till the child is ready? If you’re a parent to a toddler, you will want to know when should you start potty training your little one. Well, read this article to know!

When to Start Potty Training Your Child

In many parts of the world, parents start potty training their kids as early as four months. In a method called elimination communication, parents watch for signs of imminent wee or poop and catch it in the potty. But most experts do not suggest this method as it is not similar to potty training a child who is 18 months of age or above, and may lead to problems later on. Most experts agree that children are not physically and emotionally ready to go in the potty until they are between the ages of 18 months to three years old. Also, boys take a few months more than girls to get trained properly. However, parents who are wondering when to potty train a baby need to realize that not all children are the same. Some kids may be potty trained well before they are 18 months old, and some may take more than 3 years to get there.

Ideally, what you can do (and should do) is look for these signs of readiness in your children before you choose to potty train them. Some of the signs are as follows:

• They poop regularly and you notice that they will poop at a specific time of the day.
• They will give you a clue that they are about to poop. The clues involve clutching the nappy area, bending the knees or crouching down.
• They will look for a little privacy when they need to poop.
• They will ask for a change after pooping.

Even when you are confident about their cues, there are times they shouldn’t be pushed into potty training, such as:

• When there is a birth of a sibling or other family changes.
• When moving to a new house or transitioning from a crib to a bed.
• Starting at a new daycare or pre-school.
• Stopping the use of the pacifier.
• Illness.

Potty Training at Age 2

• By the age of 2, children notice that their parents use the potty and show interest in being potty trained.
• Parents should also look for potty training readiness in their children and try to introduce them to it.
• Two-year-olds are also easier to potty train as they are still in the development phase and love to please their parents.

Potty Training at Age 3

• Most children are ready to make the leap in potty training by 3 years of age and can be fully trained by the time they are 36 months old. Some may take a little longer and extend to 3.5 years of age.
• They may still have moments of lapse in control, especially when they are sick or nervous and that’s normal.

Potty Training at Age 4

• By the age of 4, most children are fully potty trained. However, if they pee or poop in their pants three to five nights per week, consult a paediatrician. The common diagnosis is nocturnal enuresis or bedwetting.

While potty training a toddler is a must, you should not force your child to learn to use potty. Look for the signs of readiness in your child, if you think they are ready to use potty, start the training. Also remember, that on average, it takes about 8 months to potty train a child. So be patient with your child, and they will be potty trained without difficulty!

Also Read: Potty Training for Boys