For those of you following my potty training sagas on The Seahorse Lounge, you know that my efforts have been somewhat tanking even though I have another child I was pretty successful with the first go around. From the best age to begin, to her recommended steps and answers to common questions, I turned to Nonie Levi, M.A., MFT to flush out the best approach when it comes to tots on the pot.
What age do you recommend to toilet teach?
The average age for learning to use the toilet for bowel and bladder control is 28 months. It is not possible for children to have physical control until around 18 months. Early learners can start the process at 18 months and some children may not master it until four. T. Berry Brazelton, a noted pediatrician, did a study involving 1,170 children over a ten year period using a no pressure technique of toilet teaching. 80% of the children achieved daytime bladder and bowel control by 2-2 1/2. Control meaning no more than one accident a week. 20% of normal children had not learned, in fact 150 did not complete the process until 3 1/2 and 108 were not in control until age 4. So, you can view toilet learning as the first bell curve parents experience with their children. There are the early learners, then most children learn around [Read more…] about Potty Training: The Secrets for Success