Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

Average age to be potty trained??

103 replies

wickedthemusical · 05/12/2021 22:47

Just wondering what the average age for a child to be potty trained is? My DH has a DS who is 4 and still in nappies, I am pregnant and don't want my DC to still be in nappies when they start school, or is this a normal thing? Not being negative in any way to my DHs DS they have an agreement that works for them but wouldn't be what I would choose so just need some advice.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

DoucheCanoe · 05/12/2021 22:52

I think the average is 2.5-4 years but some might be younger and a few might be older.

Night time wetting is classed as "normal" until 7 though.

Does your step son have any medical issues or additional needs that might delay things?
Has your DH or stepsons Mum tried encouraging him to use the toilet?

Totalwasteofpaper · 05/12/2021 22:58

Based on my family and friends assuming your child as no medical issues they should be dry in the day well before reception and certainly by reception age.

flowersforyou · 05/12/2021 23:00

@DoucheCanoe

I think the average is 2.5-4 years but some might be younger and a few might be older.

Night time wetting is classed as "normal" until 7 though.

Does your step son have any medical issues or additional needs that might delay things?
Has your DH or stepsons Mum tried encouraging him to use the toilet?

Thank you! It's good to go on here cause you never get a proper answer on google. He has no medical needs etc to be honest I really keep out of how DH parents DSS as I am nacho-ing. DH does tend to treat him like a baby still but I struggle to tell him he shouldn't as it will just end up with DSS being picked on at school but it's difficult so I am nacho-ing.

nimbuscloud · 05/12/2021 23:02

I’d say the usual age is by 3 for days. Later for nights maybe

AnneLovesGilbert · 05/12/2021 23:10

DD was reliably dry in the day before 2.5. Still goes to bed in pull ups but wakes to wee if she needs to so basically dry at night and still 2. We left it up to her, bought a potty and left it out and she started choosing that when she was ready. I’ll be honest, it’s a fuck load of effort compared to nappies so I’m glad it wasn’t my idea

4 seems pretty old barring SEN. What’s this agreement they have?

Alpenguin · 05/12/2021 23:13

My eldest self trained through the day by 18 months but had regular nighttime accidents until they were 7, in pull ups until 4/5. My youngest was dry at night first from about 2 while still in nappies but not toilet trained in the day until 2.5/3 and still has accidents occasionally at 4 but never at night. There is no set time for a child.

Hercisback · 05/12/2021 23:16

2.5-3 to for the day ime. Sometimes boys are a bit later.

Your dps arrangement sounds interesting. Barring SEN I'd wonder why no one has actively tried to potty train him.

Wedowonder · 05/12/2021 23:16

My son has been dry in the day since 2.5 years. He's 5 tomorrow and still wets at night so wears pull ups to bed 😥

Whereas my 3 year old is fully dry day and night now.

They are all so different. But at 4 year old during the day, as long as the parents are trying to encourage toileting, I think this is fine. They certainly shouldn't be encouraging wetting into nappies/pull ups at that age though.

Sleepinghyena · 05/12/2021 23:17

DC1 26 months in day. Almost 7 at night.
DC2 18 months day. 25 months at night.
DC3 20 months day. Almost 3 at night.

Negligee · 05/12/2021 23:18

DS was bang on 2.5.

APurpleSquirrel · 05/12/2021 23:25

DD was dry during the day shortly before her 3rd birthday; nighttime not long after.
DS is 3.5 & we're in the midst of potty training - it's proving a challenge! No SEN just plain laziness & obstinance! His friend (same age) is the same too - think they're in cohoots.

bluetowers · 05/12/2021 23:33

4 in nappies is very late. M

bluetowers · 05/12/2021 23:34

School nurseries want them potty trained at 3. Mine were 2.5
I'd say 2-3 normal

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 05/12/2021 23:34

DD 3 and four months in day. About 4 at night.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/12/2021 23:44

School based preschool had a ln extremely strong preference they were trained before starting (they aren't allowed to say must be). But didn't have changing facilities... but helped with accidents.

My elder DD was about 2.5 day time. 5 night time. (Went from heavy night pull up to dry literally overnight). Younger DD had a little struggle just before she turned 3 and started preschool. 4 at night.

yikesanotherbooboo · 06/12/2021 05:59

My 3 were dry in the day by 3 but were 5 , 10 and 10 until they were dry at night.

A580Hojas · 06/12/2021 06:07

The average these days is around 2 and a half years. The vast majority are done by 3 (for day time).

NatalieH2220 · 06/12/2021 06:16

I would say around 3 for daytime. Nighttime is hormonal so you can't train and that will happen when it happens.

Obviously some will be ready sooner. We planned to start at 3 but my son showed signs at 2.5 so we did then instead.

FinallySomeNormality · 06/12/2021 06:23

In my experience (family, friends and my own!) 2.5-3 for dry and clean during day. Might be a bit nearer 3-3.5 for reliable dry at night (particularly so for boys I've found). My DS potty trained easily at just under 2.5.

GiltEdges · 06/12/2021 06:24

I was asking our nursery about this as DS is a couple of weeks from turning 3 and up until literally the past 2-3 days has been completely resistant to potty training. They weren't concerned at all and said the guidance was now shifting to say that training before 4 is considered normal.

Fortunately over the weekend DS randomly decided he wanted to start using the potty and did, so I guess the stubborn little things will mostly all get it in their own time.

starrynight21 · 06/12/2021 06:26

4 is very late to be still in nappies. Children are well able to learn to use the potty / toilet at around 2.5 - 3.

I waited until they were 3, didn't use a potty at all. Just took their nappies off and showed them how to use the toilet. Both trained within a couple of weeks.

cliffdiver · 06/12/2021 06:33

DD1 was 2yrs 9mo, dry night and day within a week.

DD2 started using the potty at 14mo, and was dry in the day by her 2nd birthday. She wasn't dry at night until 5.

Each child is different, but 4 seems the later end.

IME, most children start potty training between 2-3 and become consistently dry in their preschool year (rising 4).

MangoSeason · 06/12/2021 06:35

My 3 were day drained at 3, 2.5 and 18 months. Night trained at 8 years (groan), 6 years and 18 months. If I had had my 3rd child first, I would have been so smug.

Jensonfromtheblock · 06/12/2021 06:37

I work with young children. If you mean in the daytime, some are out of nappies around two. Probably 80% by age three. Some will just take longer and I know many who have been three and a half before being out of nappies. Only one or two in the last 15 or so years that have still been in nappies at four.

Nighttime nappies can carry on much longer. Plenty might still wear a night nappy when they start school.

user159 · 06/12/2021 06:51

I decided to wait until Xmas with DD being three in February but a month ago she just decided she wasn't going to wear nappies anymore and that was it. She was ready and it's been so much easier than I thought it would be. Night time she is dry 9/10 days but we still use a pull up at the moment, no rush

Flip

1 2 3 4 5