Countries that typically start potty training very early—often within the first few weeks or months of life—include China, India, Vietnam, and various nations across Africa, Central America, and South America. This approach, often called "elimination communication" (EC) or assisted infant toilet training, is common in areas where diapers are not used or are impractical.
According to tradition, diapers were used only rarely. The mothers used a whistling sound at certain times to remind their children to eliminate and frequently checked for signs of need. With this process, all children used the potty by the age of 9 months.
POTTY TRAINING IN OTHER COUNTRIES
Half the world's babies NEVER wear diapers and are potty trained by 12 months of age. In various countries around the world, babies are trained anytime from 2-24 months. In Thailand, 92% of babies start potty training between 4-12 months old.
Infant Potty Training in India - the Sikhs
They use timing, intuition and cues from baby. A mother will either squat and hold her baby in position in her arms or else sit on the floor or ground and use her feet to form a toilet seat for the baby. In traditional Sikh society, babies do not wear diapers.
The Chinese potty training method, also known as Elimination Communication (EC), involves starting very early (sometimes days after birth) by observing babies for cues and holding them over a toilet or potty while making a distinct sound (whistle or shushing) to encourage elimination on command, often using kaidangku (split-crotch pants) for convenience, aiming to reduce diaper use by getting children to "go" on cue. It's a tradition rooted in responding to a baby's needs immediately, fostering a strong connection between the sound, the action, and the toilet.
“It is common in Russia to begin training our children to use the pot early on,” she said. She went on to explain that it used to be an actual pot on the floor. When the baby woke up, the baby was sat on the pot until he eliminated. Parents typically start this around six months old.
The 7-7-7 rule of parenting generally refers to dedicating three daily 7-minute periods of focused, undistracted connection with your child (morning, after school, bedtime) to build strong bonds and make them feel seen and valued. A less common interpretation involves three developmental stages (0-7 years of play, 7-14 years of teaching, 14-21 years of advising), while another offers a stress-relief breathing technique (7-second inhale, hold, exhale).
Potty training: Boys vs girls
Believe it or not, potty training often has more to do with a child's personality and level of development than gender. That said, boys do tend to start the potty training process a little later and take slightly longer than girls.
Several cultures – traditional groups in Papua New Guinea and the Gogo tribe of Tanzania among them – emphasize the need for the woman to be celibate during breastfeeding.
In the 1940s, most children were potty trained around the age of 1 year. In the Western world that average has since increased to the age of 3 years. This is due to the convenience of the disposable nappy, as well as the current prevailing view that we should wait 'until the child is ready.
The "10 10 10 potty training" method for puppies involves taking them out every 10 minutes, waiting 10 minutes for them to go in a designated spot (like 10 feet from the door), and repeating until successful, focusing on frequent, supervised potty breaks with immediate rewards, never punishing accidents, and using a leash and crate to manage their environment effectively. It's about building consistency and positive associations for successful elimination outside.
We've been through this drill with our two older children, once in the US and once in France, with one big difference: the social norms for “potty training” in the US suggests that it happen by about 3 years old, whereas in France the age is more like 2 years old.
The potty training trick in Germany is simply removing the option: boys are taught to sit down on the potty, even if they only have to pee. It makes sense when you think about it, as this lets the kid master the basics of potty use before adding an element of balance and “aim” to the experience!
For example, researchers such as Mary Ainsworth have documented families in Chinese, Indian, and African cultures beginning toilet training as early as a few weeks or months of age. In Vietnam, toilet training begins shortly after birth, with toilet training complete by age 2.
The 3-Day Potty Training method is an intensive, "cold turkey" approach where you dedicate a long weekend to staying home, keeping your child diaper-free (bottomless or in underwear) to heighten body awareness, and focusing solely on the toilet to teach them to recognize urges and use the potty quickly, requiring immense parental commitment, patience, and preparation for accidents. It involves lots of liquids to trigger the need to go, frequent potty trips (every 15 mins), and positive reinforcement, aiming for rapid results but often needing continued practice beyond the three days.
Gifted toddlers may purposely refuse potty training because it's too boring. They're interest-driven, so they may be reluctant to do things they deem unimportant. Although these children aren't inherently rebellious, they may butt heads with adults when feeling forced to do something against their will.
Most kids start to show readiness for daytime potty training between 18 months and 3 years old, with the majority being trained by age 3 or 3.5, though nighttime training often takes longer, sometimes until age 4 or 7. The key is waiting for signs of readiness (awareness of needing to go, desire to be clean), not a specific age, as every child develops differently, notes Pampers, Northern Illinois University, and University of California - Davis Health.
"Little girls tend to be more advanced in physical development and in speaking too, which makes the potty-training process quicker for them.
Here's the deal, all the methods in the world won't make a difference if you aren't using the 3 C's of Discipline: Clarity, Consistency, and Consequences. Kids don't come with instruction manuals.
What Is a Good Mother?
Giving 20% of your attention will lead to 80% of quality time spent with your children. Your children crave your attention—not all of it; just 20%. Your attention is split into multiple areas: work, your marriage, your kids, your side hustle.
Potty training red flags include a lack of interest, fear of the toilet, inability to stay dry for 2+ hours, not recognizing body cues (like hiding or dancing), difficulty with clothes, resistance to using different bathrooms, severe constipation, or significant regression after starting, suggesting it's time to pause and try again later, often with a doctor's input for underlying issues.
The Chinese potty training method, also known as Elimination Communication (EC), involves starting very early (sometimes days after birth) by observing babies for cues and holding them over a toilet or potty while making a distinct sound (whistle or shushing) to encourage elimination on command, often using kaidangku (split-crotch pants) for convenience, aiming to reduce diaper use by getting children to "go" on cue. It's a tradition rooted in responding to a baby's needs immediately, fostering a strong connection between the sound, the action, and the toilet.
We also talk about the most common mistake you need to avoid, and the 3 C's of potty training: consistency, calm and commitment. We also share about our own potty training methods and adventures. Tips: Noisy automatic flushing in public restrooms can scare young children.