Potty training is an important developmental milestone. But sometimes it can be more stressful for parents than it is for kids! Most children complete potty training by 36 months. The average length it takes toddlers to learn the process is about six months.
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.
Accidents sometimes continue for months after the toilet-training process appears to be complete—even when a child is three or four years old. Such daytime accidents are part of learning new physical habits and should start to taper off by about six months after training. (Nighttime wetting can continue much longer.)
“It works for some kids, but others may not be ready,” says Dr. Posner. If, at the end of the three days, your toddler is still putting up signs of resistance, pack up the potty seat and try again a few weeks, using either the three-day potty training method or a different technique altogether.
Accidents when potty training
On the first day of going without nappies, a third of children have around three or four accidents, while 12% can have up to seven. You just have to persevere because they will get it eventually. And perseverance is key.
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.
In fact, refusal is the biggest challenge facing parents who potty train. Does it mean you shouldn't do it (NO!). The truth is, refusal happens because most children start in the toddler years when this way of being is a la mode. Toddlerhood is the breeding ground of refusal, but don't let this put you off.
Many parents and experts recommend that your child stay naked—or at least without bottoms—during the three-day potty training method. That's because underwear might feel similar to diapers, which could lead to accidents. It's also easier to place your child on the toilet ASAP if they're already naked on the bottom.
Encourage your child to blow bubbles or try to inflate a balloon while they're sitting on the toilet – it uses the same muscles you need when weeing and pooing, so will help them get used to the sensation.
Around 36 months: Most children make the potty training leap around their third birthday. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some 40 to 60 percent of children are completely potty trained by 36 months of age. However, some children won't be trained until after they are 3 and a half years old.
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.
Luckily there isn't really a reason to fight with your child about potty training. Moving from diapers to being self-sufficient to use the toilet is a natural process. Humans have been doing it for a long time — they all get out of diapers sooner or later. So you don't actually need to “potty train” your child.
Potty Training Day 4. Day 4 is all about staying consistent and challenging her to ask for the potty. Everything is the same as day 3 with regards to my expectations. I am telling her it is time to go before events such as eating, napping, or leaving the house.
Expect setbacks: Often the first day of potty training can go so well because your expectations are lower that you don't even realize how high they have gotten for Day 2. But remember, potty training Day 2 can be worse than Day 1 because the novelty is wearing off.
It may take time for your child to learn how to relax the muscles that control the bowel and bladder when they're on the potty. If this happens often or persists beyond the first several days, however, it may mean your child is not ready for training.
It may be called 3 day potty training, but really you're just in boot camp mode for the 3 days. After that, resume life as normal, but switch to commando or underwear at home and a pull up when you are out. Your child will not be fully potty trained in this amount of time at any age.
Schedule potty breaks.
Have your child sit on the potty chair or toilet without a diaper for a few minutes at two-hour intervals, as well as first thing in the morning and right after naps. For boys, it's often best to master urination sitting down, and then move to standing up after bowel training is complete.
At the start of potty training
With my kids, I would see anywhere from six to 10 accidents on the first day, dwindling down to about three to five the next subsequent days. This may seem like a lot, but think about how many times we typically use the bathroom.
Step 1: Allow them to poop in their diaper/pull-up somewhere in the bathroom. Start by getting them comfortable with pooping in the bathroom over anywhere else. Then, clean them up in the bathroom right after, and if you are able, flush their poop down the toilet.
Once you take off the diaper, set a timer and plan to take your child to the bathroom every 20 or 30 minutes. One of the main causes of potty training accidents is because the child is having too much fun or is too engrossed in play to listen to their body and make it to the bathroom in time.
You may have been told that potty training girls is easier and faster than potty training boys. And for the most part, it's true. Experts attribute this to the fact that little girls tend to be more advanced in physical and language development and these skills help move potty training forward.
Common potty training problems include anxiety, refusal to use the potty, and attempts to delay or avoid defecation. In addition, it's common for kids to have daytime accidents and wet the bed. Children may also feel reluctant to use toilet facilities when they are away from home.