children s health issues
Toilet Training
Introduction
Most children can be taught to use the toilet when they are between 2 years and 3 years old. Using the toilet to defecate is usually accomplished first. Most children can be trained to control their bowels between ages 2 and 3 and to control their bladder between ages 3 and 4. By age 5, most children are able to control their bladder during the day (called daytime urinary continence) and manage all aspects of dressing, undressing, urinating or defecating, wiping, flushing, and handwashing. However, some children have trouble controlling their bladder or bowels. This lack of control is called incontinence. For children who have trouble controlling their bladder, see Urinary Incontinence in Children . For children who have trouble controlling their bowels, see Recognizing signs of the child's readiness is the key to toilet teaching. Readiness is signaled when the child Has dry periods lasting several hours Wants to be changed when wet or soiled Shows an interest in sitting on a potty chair or toilet and shows signs of preparing to urinate or defecate Can place things where they belong and can follow simple commands Children are usually ready to start training between the ages of 18 months and 24 months. Despite physical readiness to use the toilet, some children may not be emotionally ready. To avoid a lengthy struggle over toileting, it is best to wait until children indicate emotional readiness. When children are ready, they will ask for help in the bathroom or make their way to the potty chair on their own. 