When is the right time for potty training?

As with many other developmental milestones, the rule is: Every child develops at their own pace, that you can only influence to a limited extent. Some children are clean by age two, others still show little interest in giving up their diaper at four. Some children fundamentally reject the potty and others are already dry during the day but still need a diaper at night.

Parents quickly become unsure when it comes to the supposed rules for becoming dry. Try to stay relaxed about the subject. There are quite a few children who are still not reliably dry even at five years old. Above all, it is important that you do not put pressure on your child and instead observe when they become increasingly interested in the potty.

Only if your child has not fully mastered bladder control by the time they start elementary school should you seek advice from a pediatrician to rule out possible medical reasons.

First signs: When does my child want to stop wearing diapers?

There are a few typical signs that your child is ready to give up diapers:• If your child notices or indicates themselves when they need to go.

• If your child shows increasing interest in the toilet or, for example, wants to watch you use the toilet.

• If they sit on their potty voluntarily and without pressure.

• If they no longer want to wear a diaper or find wet diapers very bothersome.

Not all of these points need to apply to your child. Perhaps it only shows one or two of these patterns – but the chances are good that potty training will work now.

Is potty training advisable?

Starting potty training at a set time, for example from the second birthday, makes little sense. Only when the neural connections from the bladder to the brain have fully developed can your child recognize the urge to urinate and control bladder function. This development varies in duration among children. On average, children are dry during the day by 28 months and at night by 33 months.

Of course, one-year-olds can be taught to use the potty — but this is usually more of a 'potty drill' than genuine toilet independence. And not infrequently, too early potty training is associated with great frustration for parents and children or even with later bedwetting.

Still, it doesn't work entirely without training. True, children learn control over their bladder more or less on their own, but they still need some practice for going to the toilet with everything that entails. Only over time do children learn how much time they need to allow for peeing and that they can also go to the potty 'preventively'. If your child is physically and mentally developed enough to understand and consciously make the trip to the potty, then is a relaxed (!) potty training absolutely sensible.

Toilet training – more than just the trip to the potty

It's not called 'toilet training' for nothing. Because besides the actual peeing, children also have to learn everything, what else is part of going to the toilet. Take the opportunity and practice a few things right from the start: The more independent your child is in going to the toilet, the harder it will be to remind them about handwashing and so on.

Opening buttons and zippers:Many children initially have difficulty with pants buttons, especially when they're in a hurry. Help if necessary, but let your child try on their own for a while.

Wiping:Even children who already go to the toilet independently often still need help wiping their bottom – most of the time their arms simply aren't long enough.

Flushing:Children who are already practicing with the toilet seat should ideally operate the flush themselves and practice this as a fixed part of using the toilet. Some children find the flushing noises frightening – it may help here to press the flush button together at first.

Handwashing: Handwashing should be an integral part of potty training from the very beginning. Your child will soon naturally associate handwashing with going to the potty.

The most important rules for toilet training

• stay calm!

• integrate the potty 'casually' into everyday life without much fuss

• pay attention to bodily signals

• offer regular trips to the potty

• be prepared for small accidents (even more frequent ones) and don't scold

• practice the surrounding aspects (e.g. handwashing) from the very beginning

• don't compare your child to others

• don't put pressure – neither on your child nor on yourselves

• if it just doesn't work: simply wait a few more months

Image credits

Parents sit on the couch, a yellow potty is in the foreground of the image © danr13 - stock.adobe.com

Toddler playing with his teddy bear and using the potty © Tomsickova - stock.adobe.com