Why you need a Pediatrician’s Perspective on Potty Training

There are a lot of self-proclaimed experts out there, people who claimed to have potty trained 12-month olds, or maybe even cats. Good for them! I’m not here to discredit their accomplishments. I’m here to make sure that YOU have the most painless experience possible while potty training.

While there are some potty training prodigies out there, the truth is that most kids can’t be fully potty trained until age 2–4. This has nothing to do with the “method” of potty training that the parents use, or any of the other controversial issues out there. It’s a matter of physiological development.

As a pediatrician, I can walk you through what developmental changes are happening to your child at this time, and how that can affect how successful you are with potty training and assessing whether your child is ready.

If you’ve already started and are experiencing challenges or frustration, hopefully this will help you see what the real underlying issue is and to have a little more patience with your child or reset your expectations.

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What is happening to your child’s PHYSICAL development

• Bladder control
• Bowel control
• Ability to recognize urges