What Age Should You Start Potty Training?

It's one of the most debated questions among parents of toddlers: When is the best age to begin potty training? While most experts and parents agree on a few things, such as the generalization that boys complete training later than girls do and the recommendation that punishment should not be a component of potty training, there is a great deal of debate about the best time to start.

  1. Look for Signs of Readiness

    • The most common opinion today, which is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, is that you should wait until your child exhibits signs of readiness to begin potty training. The signs of readiness were first proposed by pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton in 1961. These signs appear at different ages in different children; a child could be anywhere from 18 months to three years old before he exhibits the signs and is ready for potty training.

      The physical signs of readiness for potty training include being able to walk and run, being able to dress and undress himself, and staying dry for several hours at a time. Behavioral signs include demonstrating interest in toileting, telling you when he's wet or dirty, and being more interested in independence. Cognitive signs include knowing the words for urine and stool and being able to follow simple directions.

    Start as Early as Possible

    • However, there is a growing movement today toward beginning potty training earlier. In 1957, before disposable diapers became widely available and affordable, 92% of toddlers completed potty training by the age of 18 months. In 1999, only 2% of two-year-olds were out of diapers, and by 2008, the average age of training had crept up to three years old. Concerned about these statistics, some experts such as psychologist Linda Sonna recommend beginning training earlier, certainly before age two. Younger toddlers are not as independent as older ones; they are very interested in imitating adults, and they are less resistant to change. By beginning earlier, Sonna believes that parents can actually make toilet training less stressful for their children while getting rid of diapers sooner.

      Proponents of elimination communication, or EC, believe you should start introducing a child to the toilet before the age of six months. Using a method common in undeveloped areas of the world, where diapers are unavailable, EC parents learn to read an infant's signals to determine when the baby needs to go. The parent makes a cue sound while the baby is eliminating, thus teaching the baby to eliminate on cue. In this method, potty training becomes a very gradual process, and babies are often out of diapers around the age of one.

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