When Should You Start Potty Training?

Like all parents before you, every time you change your baby's diaper you probably wonder, "How much longer am I going to have to do this?" There are several options, depending on how active a role you would like to take and how agreeable your child is.

  1. Early Potty Training

    • It is possible, through a technique called "elimination communication" to potty train an infant. However, the parents must essentially do all the work, since the child is, in some cases, too young to crawl to the potty.

    Two Years Old

    • Two years old is a traditional time to start potty training, and experts on early childhood agree that children this age have enough muscle control and self-knowledge to know how to go and how to hold it. However, two-year-olds are notoriously willful and may sabotage your efforts if they are not interested.

    Three Years Old

    • Some parents wait until their child is three to begin potty training, following the advice of pediatrician and potty-training expert T. Berry Brazelton, who recommends waiting until your child shows an interest.

    Nighttime Training

    • Wait until your child has fully mastered the potty during the day before trying it at night (unless laundry at 3 a.m. is your idea of fun).

    Consistency

    • No matter when you decide to potty train your child, consistency is key. Switching back and forth between potty trips and diapers can be confusing for your child (not to mention bad for your carpeting) once he understands what a potty is for and how to use it.

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