Health Guide

When is the right time to start toilet training in children?

There is no fixed age at which the parents "must" start to toilet train their child. However, there are some guidelines which may help.

• She can wait several hours before urinating, and, when she pees, she empties her bladder instead of urinating only a small amount at a time, which is typical of younger children.

• She knows the words that your family uses in connection with toileting, such as "pee" and "chichi."

• She can get on and off of the toilet or the potty chair by herself and can raise and lower her pants unassisted.

• She generally understands and goes along with your verbal instructions. If your child typically won't follow most of your instructions, you should work on that for now and wait to start toilet training.