Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Top parenting stories this week
Toilet Training your Toddler
How to tell if your child is ready to start toilet training and what you can do to help him leave diapers behind.
by: Sydney Loney
In This Article
Toilet Training
- Your child may be ready to start toilet training if he’s bothered by a dirty diaper or is aware of the fact he’s about to go to the bathroom.
- Putting too much pressure on a child during toilet training can lead to constipation.
- Letting your child simply sit on the potty for a minute or two before bath time helps make it just another part of the routine.
- Cotton underpants let him have a chance to feel wet so that he realizes he’s had an accident.
- Nighttime dryness can take months or years longer to achieve than daytime dryness as children’s bladders often still need time to mature.
oing from diapers to totally trained can take your toddler anywhere from three to six months or longer. Here’s how to make the process easier for the whole family.
When to start toilet training
The two biggest mistakes parents make when it comes to toilet training are starting too early and putting too much pressure on the child, says Alyson Schafer, a psychotherapist and author of Breaking the Good Mom Myth. “Sometimes the earlier you start, the later you’ll finish,” she says. Starting too early or pushing a child can also create problems.
Pressuring children about toilet training (even talking about it too much in front of them) can lead to power struggles, as well as a lot of angst and frustration on both sides, Schafer says. Children can also become constipated if they’re under too much pressure and get stressed or upset about using the toilet. “They begin holding, which can make things painful when they finally do go–to the point where they become constipated again and the cycle continues,” she says. “This is something you want to avoid at all costs.”
You need to let your child take the lead, Schafer says. “Forget about your agenda and just offer them your support.” Most children are physically and psychologically ready (they need to be both) between the ages of 2.5 and 3.5, but it depends on the child.
Your child may be ready to try toilet training if he:
- shows an interest when you use the bathroom
- remains relatively dry after a two-hour nap
- is aware of the fact he’s about to go and knows how to “hold” (“It shows he’s figured out those muscles,” says Schafer.)
- is bothered by a wet or dirty diaper
- has regular bowel movements
