Early Childhood Physical Development: Toilet Training
Angela Oswalt, MSWDuring early childhood, children learn another self-care skill that gives them more independence than any other skill they will learn during this phase of life - toilet training. It's also one of the self-care skills that caregivers most anticipate, as leaving diaper duty behind is a huge relief. Surprisingly, toilet training is a controversial topic. How soon should children learn to use the toilet on their own? What is the best method? Should parents use training pants (sometimes called "pull-ups") or go cold turkey with real underwear? We provide a brief overview of toilet training in this article. Caregivers interested in learning more specific and detailed information about toilet training can consult our article about toilet training. (This article is not yet complete.)
In theory, children could be ready for toilet training as early as age 2, because most babies of this age recognize the urge to urinate or defecate and can control the sphincter muscles that facilitate waste elimination. Before this point, infants are simply unable to physiologically monitor and to control waste removal from their bodies. In other words, very young babies and toddlers can't tell that they have to "go" before it's too late (they already went!), and they are unable to control whether or not they "go".
Age 2 is also typically the earliest age that toddlers have developed the gross motor ability to walk to the restroom, and the fine motor ability to dress and undress themselves. However, as stated before, each child develops individually, and many children will not have these physical skills mastered by age 2.
Most often, the best way to tell that a young child is ready to start toilet training is to watch for signs of readiness. Typically, children will show you clear signs that they are ready to try using the toilet on their own. For example, a child might want to watch Mom or Dad use the bathroom. Or, a child may sit on the "potty" on her own without prompting, or come to you and tug on his diaper (or use a word for diaper or dirty) when it's wet or soiled. Even though child development experts do not agree on the best technique to use for toilet training, they do agree that it is extremely important that the toilet training phase not be rushed. Just because children are physically ready to toilet train does not mean that they are mentally or emotionally ready to do so. Successful toilet training depends on having all three factors (physical, cognitive and emotional readiness) in place.
Children normally master toilet training tasks in a specific developmental order. Typically, children first learn to notice the warning signals and react in time to master daytime defecation, and then nighttime defecation. Next, children typically learn how to react to their bodies' signals for daytime urination. Nighttime urination is the hardest for young children to control, and this step may take longer than the others to achieve.
Most children are toilet trained by age 5 or 6, in time to begin school. Most kindergartens require that students have mastered toilet training; some preschool settings require it as well. However, at this age, this new skill isn't perfect, and accidents can happen. Bed wetting may still be a common occurrence, because nighttime urine control is the last and hardest task to master. Young boys may take longer than young girls to toilet train, and boys may also have a longer period of nighttime accidents.
Practicing patience throughout the entire toilet training process is important. You may hear some parents tell stories about how their little ones simply ripped off their diaper one day and never looked back. This is rare and unusual and NOT the norm! Each child will toilet train at his or her own pace, and parents should offer guidance and encouragement in a consistent, calm manner and let nature take its course. Again, more specific tips and advice about toilet training can be found in our Toilet Training article.
Resources
-
Articles
-
Development During Early Childhood, Toddler, and Preschool Stages
- Introduction- Development During Early Childhood
- Early Childhood Physical Development: Average Growth
- Early Childhood Physical Development: Gross and Fine Motor Development
- Early Childhood Physical Development: Toilet Training
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Introduction
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Symbolic Function
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Intuitive Thought
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Information Processing
- Early Childhood Cognitive Development: Language Development
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Emotional Expressiveness and Understanding
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Reflective Empathy
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Aggression
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Identity and Self-Esteem
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Social Connections
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Social Connections Continued
- Early Childhood Emotional and Social Development: Conclusion
- Early Childhood Moral Development
- Early Childhood Moral Development Continued
- Early Childhood Gender Identity and Sexuality
- Early Childhood Gender Identity and Sexuality Continued
- Early Childhood Conclusion
-
Parenting Your Todder, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Introduction to Parenting Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Early Childhood Feeding and Nutrition
- Early Childhood Food and Nutrition Continued
- Early Childhood Food and Nutrition Conclusion
- Early Childhood Sleep
- Early Childhood Toilet Training
- Early Childhood Hygiene
- Early Childhood Hygiene Continued
- Early Childhood Exercise
- Early Childhood Love and Nurturing
- Early Childhood: It's Important to Encourage Reading
- Early Childhood Medical Care
- Early Childhood Mental Health Care
- Early Childhood Safety
- Coping with Transitions in Early Childhood: Getting a New Sibling or Remaining an Only Child
- Coping with Transition: in Early Childhood: Going to Daycare
- Coping with Transition: Starting Preschool or Kindergarten and Final Conclusions
-
Toilet Training
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Introduction
- The Right Time to Start Toilet Training: Children's Readiness
- The Right Time to Start Toilet Training: Family Readiness and Red Flags
- Pre-Toilet Training in Early Childhood
- Preparing the Space for Toilet Training in Early Childhood
- Toilet Training-Friendly Clothing
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Methods
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Methods Continued
- Early Childhood Toilet Training Methods Conclusion
- How to Deal with Toilet Training Challenges: Travel
- How to Deal with Toilet Training Challenges: Constipation and Fear of Flushing
- Bedwetting, Encopresis and Enuresis, and Conclusions
-
Disciplining Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Disciplining Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child Introduction
- Parents as Disciplinarians in Early Childhood
- Preventing Early Childhood Misbehavior Before it Happens
- The Use of Choice in Early Childhood
- A Step-by-Step Guide for How to Discipline Children in Early Childhood
- Natural and Logical Consequences in Early Childhood
- Combining Choice and Consequences in Early Childhood
- Early Childhood Time Outs
- Spanking in Early Childhood
- Coordinating to Provide Continuity of Early Childhood Discipline Across Caregivers
- Lying in Early Childhood
- Supportive Communication in Early Childhood and Discipline Conclusion
-
Nurturing Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child
- Nurturing Your Toddler, Preschooler, and Young Child Introduction
- Creating Nurturing Space in Early Childhood
- Physical Nurturing: Gross Motor Activities in Early Childhood
- Physical Nurturing: Fine Motor Activities in Early Childhood
- Cognitive Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Cognitive Nurturing in Early Childhood Continued
- Cognitive Nurturing in Early Childhood Conclusion
- Social Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Emotional Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Cultural and Spiritual Nurturing in Early Childhood
- Nurturing at Home and Outside the Home and Nurturing Conclusions
-
Child and Adolescent Development Theories
-
Infants: Parenting and Child Development
-
Development During Early Childhood, Toddler, and Preschool Stages
-
Questions and Answers
-
Book & Media Reviews
-
Links
-
Videos
- ADHD in Preschoolers: What to Look For and How to Help
- Button Batteries Sending Kids to the ER
- The Breakdown on Bedwetting
- Holiday Travel - Child Safety Away from Home
- Stuttering- A Window of Opportunity
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 18: The School Years: Psychosocial Development
- Nightmare vs. Night Terror
- Safe Seats for Baby
- 3 Tips on Swim Safety
- Big Kids Need a Boost
-
11 more
- All in On Water Safety
- Diaper Rash Dos & Don’ts
- Your Active Preschooler: Could it be ADHD?
- Sunscreen Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
- Pack Car Seat for Summer Travel
- How do I get my child to eat new foods?
- Addressing Health Disparities in Early Childhood
- 6 tips to help your children control their emotions
- Recognizing challenging behaviors in young children: Could it be ADHD?
- Classroom Managment Supports for ADHD Behaviors in Preschool Settings
- Household Poisonings and Childhood Dangers
Topics
-
Related Topic Centers
-
Addictions
-
Aging & Elder Care
-
Assessments & Interventions
-
Career & Workplace
-
Emotional Well-Being
-
Life Issues
-
Parenting & Child Care
-
Abuse
-
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-
Adoption
-
Autism
-
Child & Adolescent Development: Overview
-
Child & Adolescent Development: Puberty
-
Child Development & Parenting: Early (3-7)
-
Child Development & Parenting: Infants (0-2)
-
Child Development & Parenting: Middle (8-11)
-
Child Development & Parenting:Adolescence (12-24)
-
Child Development Theory: Adolescence (12-24)
-
Child Development Theory: Middle Childhood (8-11)
-
Childhood Mental Disorders and Illnesses
-
Childhood Special Education
-
Divorce
-
Family & Relationship Issues
-
Intellectual Disabilities
-
Learning Disorders
-
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
-
Parenting
-
Self Esteem
-
-
Psychological Disorders
-
Anxiety Disorders
-
Bipolar Disorder
-
Conversion Disorders
-
Depression: Depression & Related Conditions
-
Dissociative Disorders
-
Domestic Violence and Rape
-
Eating Disorders
-
Impulse Control Disorders
-
Intellectual Disabilities
-
Mental Disorders
-
Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
-
Personality Disorders
-
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
-
Schizophrenia
-
Sexual Disorders
-
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
-
Suicide
-
Tourettes and other Tic Disorders
-