Like walking or talking, potty training is a developmental skill that children master at their own speed. That's worth repeating — they'll do it when they're ready, not when you are! Some are up for it before 24 months, others not until after age 3. Most, however, fall somewhere in between.
If you feel as though your 3-year-old is the last kid in her class to master the potty, you're not alone. While many kids start to show an interest in the potty at 2 years old, recent research indicates that only 40 to 60 percent of children are fully toilet trained by 36 months.
Some children are not developmentally ready to learn yet, while others resist attempts to learn as a means of control. Difficulty potty training may also be caused by a medical issue, such as chronic constipation.
What Is Late Potty Training? Late potty training is when your child is over 3 years of age, shows no signs of developmental delays, and is still not toilet trained after six months of training.
The American Association of Pediatrics reports that kids who begin potty training at 18 months are generally not fully trained until age 4, while kids who begin training at age 2 are generally fully trained by age 3. Many kids will not master bowel movements on the toilet until well into their fourth year.
Your Toddler May Be Afraid of Pooping in the Potty
"They may feel as though they're losing a part of their body when they poop. Or they may not like it if the water splashes onto their bottom, or they may worry about being sucked into the toilet."
Final thoughts on pull ups
Pull ups are an extra expense you can totally avoid having to fork out for! But it's not just about the money. Using pull ups during potty training can really delay the whole process and confuse your child.
Children who are potty trained at the age of two or older are more likely to suffer from infections and could experience incontinence, say health experts.
Shy kids will need some time to get used the idea of potty training before they actually try it. High-energy kids are always on the move—slowing down to use the potty will seems like an interruption into their play time. Be ready with extra incentives and lots of fun and games to hold their interest while potty ...
Physical Reasons: Physical reasons may explain why some children potty train later than others. Illness and some medical conditions may impact potty training ability. More commonly there is a direct link between stool holding and constipation, and age of potty training.
There are a number of reasons why potty training is happening later, such as disposable-diapering parents being less motivated than cloth diapering parents (though thanks to the invention of the washing machine, even cloth diapering parents today are less motivated than those who had to hand-wash diapers many decades ...
The average length it takes kids to learn the process is about six months. Girls learn faster, usually completing toilet training two to three months before boys do.
Truth: the first three days are the hardest
But then it gets a lot easier. My best advice: power through the first three days. Hunker down. Potty train with all your might and with total fidelity, and don't give up.
It turns out the answer to how long potty training takes is all down to your child. A global study carried out by Kimberly-Clark indicates it averages just over six months from start to finish. There are some children who pick it up almost instantly while others take upwards of a year to become confident toilet users.
Take a break from potty training for a few weeks. As you know, toddlers often say no even when they want to say yes – and they're even more likely to say no when they sense that their parents want them to say yes. Give your child a little while to get out of the refusal pattern. Then both of you can have a fresh start.
Don't Force the Issue
If your child refuses to go, forcing them to go and sit on the potty will likely create a negatively charged atmosphere and can ultimately lead to more resistance.
Only 60 percent of children have achieved mastery of the toilet by 36 months, the study found, and 2 percent remain untrained at the age of 4 years.
Most children complete potty training by 36 months. The average length it takes toddlers to learn the process is about six months. Girls learn faster, usually completing toilet training two to three months before boys do.
“Refusal” implies stubborn, willful, unreasonable behavior. But let me offer a more evidence-based explanation: Children who resist using the toilet are either not developmentally ready for toilet training or are chronically constipated.
Many children show signs of being ready for potty training between ages 18 and 24 months. However, others might not be ready until they're 3 years old. There's no rush. If you start too early, it might take longer to train your child.
Boys learn in a different way to girls
It was also found that boys like to switch between activities. This may mean they focus on potty training for a few minutes and then switch to something else, like playing with a toy, in order to learn. The amount of space boys use can also be different.
In China, where elimination communication has been the preferred potty-training method for centuries, parents hold their child by the hips over the toilet, facing away from them. To simplify the process, they may dress their kid in split-crotch pants and let them go commando underneath.
Potty Training Age 3
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some 40 to 60 percent of children are completely potty trained by 36 months of age.