Month 18 Worry: How Do I Start Potty Training?

Reviewed by Dr. Mary Ann LoFrumento in February 2010

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Potty training is a two steps forward, one step back kind of process. But rest assured: Your child will get there. Our pediatrician offers simple toilet training tips.

What's the Issue?

Potty training is an interesting developmental and behavioral milestone. The average age of controlling voiding and stooling habits varies by culture, race, socioeconomic status, and whether your child is male or female, just to name a few. Potty training theories abound by the so-called experts. So let's break it down. What are the fundamentals in beginning potty training for your child?

Consider the Numbers

In the United States, the average boy urine trains at 39 months of age, according to a Medical College of Wisconsin study. The average girl trains at 36 months.

In other cultures (Africa, Eastern Europe, China, the Arctic), babies learn to potty train about the same time that they learn to walk (about one year of age). This process, termed "elimination communication," begins between birth and 6 months of age and consists of very attentive parents reading subtle infant cues. Keep in mind that the average young infant pees five to six times per day. Those are a lot of cues!

What Parents Can Do

Start the potty training process in your child's second year of life and start gently. Put the potty in or near the bathroom and allow your toddler to see it as part of the environment. Allow her to sit on it with her diaper on.

Know that potty training is usually a two steps forward, one step back kind of process. Initial excitement may lead to general indifference or even anger … and then there are the toddler's feelings to deal with! Try putting your toddler on the potty without a diaper. Read a book on the potty while the bathtub is filling. If the process becomes stressful for you or your toddler, back off.