- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Expert Q&A
 |  |  |
| By John Dorsey, M.D. Pediatrician | ||
 |
My 20-month-old daughter is not showing any signs of wanting to potty train. How can I encourage her?
Some toddlers start toilet training around age 2. Others don't start until age 4. What accounts for the wide age range is a matter of physical and emotional readiness.
She is still on the young side to be expected to start potty training. Your child has to be able to understand and follow simple instructions. She has to be able to walk to the bathroom and help undress. You don't have to encourage her. Let her give the signals and tell you when the time to start training is right. She'll indicate that she wants to wear underwear like grown-ups and use the toilet or potty chair.
Most children achieve bowel control and daytime urine control between the ages of 3 to 4. And it often takes longer before she has complete control and doesn't have bedwetting accidents at night.
Trying too hard to toilet train your child before she is ready can result in long-term problems with bowel movements. So let her tell you at her own pace when it's time to move forward with the training.
Related Expert Q&A
- Is 2 too young to put a child in competitive sports?
- Is it OK if I sometimes let my children play by themselves?
- I tried to enroll my child in a dance class, and after the first class, she just didn't want to go back. Is it OK to allow her to quit or is that setting a bad precedent?
- What should I look for in an organized physical activity program for my child?
- Should I enroll my child in an organized physical activity program?
More Answers by this Expert
- What is the main cause of birth marks?
- How can I get rid of a terrible diaper rash?
- Why did my baby getting a rash when I switched him to whole milk?
- Is it normal that my 7-month-old isn't even attempting to crawl?
- My baby is 12 weeks old and has just cut two teeth -- with more on the way. He can't hold a teether, and the gels are all for babies over 4 months. What do you suggest?