Toddler Toilet Training

Your Child Must Be Physically Ready For Toilet Training

Your child’s body has some pretty complex maturing of nerves and muscles to do before he or she is able to control toileting. Until these changes occur there is absolutely no point trying to train your child.

It will be a stressful and disappointing experience for you both.

Physical maturity usually occurs somewhere around the age of two years.

Yes, I know your Great Aunt Gladys; your neighbor’s sister; and the postman’s wife all had their kids sitting on the potty by the age of six months. You are safe to ignore them and here is why:-

This very young toilet training is all down to a reflex action. It goes something like this – you eat a yummy lunch of mashed pumpkin and rice pudding, mom puts you on the potty, tummy is full so it’s time to go to the toilet.

This automatic reaction starts to disappear at around one and a half to two years of age, the same time that physical maturity brings self control and awareness into play. So I bet Great Aunt Gladys failed to mention that her kids all had relapses around the age of two and had to be trained again?

A Toddler Toilet Training Check List

• Does your child ever tell you when she is wet or soiled?
• Does your child ever seem uncomfortable with they are wet or soiled?
• Does your child ever ask to use the potty – hey, the brainwashing is working!!
• Does your child have long periods where they remain dry?
• Is your child ever dry after a daytime sleep?
• Does your child tend to have bowel movements at around the same time every day?
• Can your child follow a series of instructions?

So You're Ready to Start Toddler Toilet Training?

• Once you feel confident your toddler is physically able to start potty training, then it's time to look at how to get ready. Remember, the more time and effort you put into the lead up, the easiest it should be. Read more here...
• Or, go back a step and look at the introduction to toilet training here...
• Find out what other parents think about toilet training. Read feedback from other parents here.

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