Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Toilet training

The best time to begin toilet training is when the child is ready to learn. Genuine readiness occurs between 2 and 4 years of age. Girls are usually trained faster than boys. Most children by around age 3 are competent, confident, and comfortable enough for successful toilet training. Many children, even when toilet trained, do not have nighttime bladder control until the age of 4 or 5.

Behavior is a better guide than age for readiness. Children will be ready at their own pace, not when the parents or day care centers want them to be.

Premature efforts to toilet train can cause problems if a child resists. The price of "pushing," especially with improper methods, can be a loss of the child's self-esteem, damage to the parent-child relationship, and chronic anxiety or distress.

It is important to be patient with the process. Expect accidents and do not punish or shame the child for them. Children often are caught up in what they are doing, forgetting to take potty breaks. Making the child feel bad when an accident happens adds stress and hinders progress.

A child is ready for toilet training when these signs are clearly present:

• wakes up dry after sleeping all night, after naps and dry for longer periods during the day
• tells caregiver about the need to toilet
• physically able to unfasten and remove clothing, wipe himself, replace and fasten clothing, and wash hands
• toileting can be delayed briefly
• the child has watched others use the toilet and
• the child wants to be changed when wet or dirty

Try these toilet training tips when the child shows readiness:

• always praise and hug the child for success on the toilet and for sitting quietly and cooperatively even when not successful
• use a child-size potty chair or potty seat
• provide a small footstool for the child to use when having bowel movements
• keep a container of pop-up wipes in the bathroom for easier clean- up
• be prepared with a spare potty seat in the car trunk
• have a boy start out sitting to minimize sprays and dribbles on the walls and floors
• do not allow toys or playthings during toilet times and
• switch to easy-to-remove clothing and cloth panties, or pull-up type diapers, for daytime wear

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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