Potty training is considered late if your child is over 3 and has been trying for more than 3 months.
If you feel as though your 3-year-old is the last kid in her class to master the potty, you're not alone. While many kids start to show an interest in the potty at 2 years old, recent research indicates that only 40 to 60 percent of children are fully toilet trained by 36 months.
The best thing to do to combat this is to schedule bathroom breaks. Ask your child if they feel the urge to pee. Give them verbal reminders and cues, and then tell them it's time to try. Then celebrate their attempt, even if your toddler sits on the potty but doesn't go.
The average age toilet training begins in the United States is between 2 and 3 years of age. Most children in the United States are bowel and bladder trained by 4 years of age. However, toilet training can begin as soon as parents and children want to start.
Potty training success hinges on physical, developmental and behavioral milestones, not age. Many children show signs of being ready for potty training between ages 18 and 24 months. However, others might not be ready until they're 3 years old. There's no rush.
Only 60 percent of children have achieved mastery of the toilet by 36 months, the study found, and 2 percent remain untrained at the age of 4 years.
Late potty training is when your child is over 3 years of age, shows no signs of developmental delays, and is still not toilet trained after six months of training.
22 percent of children will be potty trained by the time they are two and a half years old, and that number increases to 88 percent by the time they are three and a half years old. On average, girls begin potty training between 18 and 24 months, while boys begin a little later at three years old.
Many parents of toddlers wonder when to start potty training their children. While most children indicate they are ready to start toilet training between 18 months and 3 years old, some aren't ready until a bit older—and age isn't the sole determining factor for when to start potty training.
Encourage your child to sit on the toilet when a poo is more likely – for example, about 30 minutes after a meal. If your child is 3-4 years old, encourage them to go to the toilet when they change activities. For example, you could remind your child to go to the toilet before they sit down for lunch.
Soiling usually happens when a child is so constipated that a large, hard piece of poo becomes stuck at the end of their gut (rectum). Fresh poo from higher up the gut then runs around the hard poo and leaks out, staining their pants.
Here's how normal bowel habits break down by age:
6 months–1 year — Expect two bowel movements daily. 1–3 years — Expect one to two bowel movements daily. 4 years and older — Expect one bowel movement daily.
Some children are not developmentally ready to learn yet, while others resist attempts to learn as a means of control. Difficulty potty training may also be caused by a medical issue, such as chronic constipation.
It turns out the answer to how long potty training takes is all down to your child. A global study carried out by Kimberly-Clark indicates it averages just over six months from start to finish. There are some children who pick it up almost instantly while others take upwards of a year to become confident toilet users.
Don't Force the Issue
If your child refuses to go, forcing them to go and sit on the potty will likely create a negatively charged atmosphere and can ultimately lead to more resistance.
Parents should base their decision on each child's needs, said Kate Gallagher, an educational psychologist. In general though, a 5-year-old can handle going into a public bathroom but shouldn't be asked to go it alone without being taught “protective behaviors” by about age 3, she said.
Sit your child on the toilet regularly
To make pooping in the toilet feel more regular, have your child sit on it at predictable times and for a set length. For instance, have him sit on the potty for 20 minutes after each meal, or whenever he tends to poop in his undies.
Holding urine too long can cause urinary tract infections, especially in girls. Kids should urinate five or six times per day, she says — about every two to three hours.
Most toddlers urinate four to eight times each day, usually about every two hours or so. Most toddlers have one or two bowel movements each day, some have three, and others skip a day or two in between movements.
But when it keeps happening, it's clear that there's another problem, especially because the child isn't sick. As the buildup of stool stretches the colon, the nerves have trouble telling the brain that it's time for a BM. If untreated, the soiling will get worse.
They Hide When Pooping in Their Diaper
This common toddler behavior indicates two things. First, your kid is clued in to their urge to poop and knows there's a BM coming. Second, they've observed that adults do the deed in private. These are two positive signs that they're getting ready for potty training.
You need to get him into a place where he's going on the loo, rather than just when he wants in his pants. You also need to cut your losses and start again. Say to him when he does it: “We know you can do better, don't we?” and then say, “What we want to happen is..,” and talk about using the loo.