As you’ve already found out, each child is different when it comes to toilet training. While one child may pick it up in a matter of weeks, others seem to take a little longer. When it comes to toilet training it is best to let your child set the pace. There are really no hard and fast rules – I find the most important factor when it comes to the speed of training is how ready the child is. Most children are not ready to learn to control their bowel and bladder until aged 2 and some not until they are 3 – so she is well within the usual age parameters. In order to be ready to train she needs to be able to hold on for a short time, she needs to take an interest in using the toilet as well as show a dislike for wearing nappies. Look out for signs that she is about to do a wee or poo (my daughter used to go off into a corner of the lounge room) – and take her quickly to the potty. Help her to identify these cues by talking about what it feels like when she needs to go. Winter can be a tricky time to train as children usually have multiple layers making it harder for them to get their clothes off in time – I find track pants are often the best option as they can be easily pulled down. Even if she doesn’t make it in time you can praise her for whatever she has managed (like getting into the bathroom or pulling her pants down). If she feels at all pressured this will only prolong the process – if you think this is the case sometimes it is helpful to just put it on the back burner for a couple of weeks and then start again when she shows renewed interest. You should still leave the potty out during this time as she may decide to use it on her own. Remember – it is common for young children to experience occasional daytime accidents even for a couple of years after they have been toilet trained. Good luck!

Ask Dr Cathrine a question