Occupational Therapy

Typical Development of Toileting Skills

It is important to remember that all children develop at different rates. Below are some general guidelines for how most children develop toileting skills, as well as some of the reasons that parents might ask for help when it comes to toileting or potty training.

Parent Handouts

By 2 years of age, your child may:

Let you know when she has wet or soiled her diaper
Let you know when she needs to use the washroom

By 3 years of age, your child may:

Be able to use the toilet during the day with few accidents
Go to the toilet by himself, but still need help with wiping and clothes
Need reminders and/or diapers at night

By 4 years of age, your child may:

Be able to use the toilet during the day and night with almost no accidents
Need a little bit of help with wiping and some clothing

By 5 years of age, your child may:

Be fully independent
Note: It is still very common for children at this age to need reminders or diapers at night

When to Ask for Help

It is important to ask for help early (by age 4) if you are experiencing difficulties with toilet training. Remember, toilet training happens at different ages for different kids, and there is not a "one size fits all" timeframe.

You may want to ask for help from an Occupational Therapist when:

Your child is extremely fearful or anxious of the toilet/potty
Your child has extreme emotional reactions around toileting, either at home or in public
Your child has physical difficulties making it hard to get on/off the toilet, wipe bum, or manage clothing
Your child has unusual behaviours around toileting such as smearing poop
Your child has developmental delays in one or more areas, such as motor skills, speech/language, thinking skills, social skills
You have been toilet training for months and have not made any progress
Your child is getting close to entering the school system and is not yet using the toilet

If you do have concerns about your child and would like some help, you can contact us and/or make a referral.

You should talk to your doctor when:

Your child has frequent constipation
Your child is holding poop in on purpose, causing constipation
You see any blood in the stool/urine
Your child is crying while passing stool/urine, or saying that it is painful

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What people are saying about CTFRC

CTFRC Parent

We received physiotherapy for our daughter who was being considered for a helmet for plagiocephaly. From our first appointment to our last, we received wonderful care. The staff at CTFRC were always very friendly, welcoming, and had a great spirit. The Physiotherapist was very kind, gentle and provided us with so much knowledge!

The outlet to have a professional available for help and advice and direction was key in our success, along with the tips, tools and education I received. They are so great at checking in and making sure I know there are supports, if necessary.

Having someone to talk me through the stages and calm my nerves about [my child's] development is what helped me the most. the sessions were always super informative and gave great advice on what to work on with [my child]. Just having the peace of mind that we were on the right track. I appreciate the service so much and I would recommend to any concerned parent!

Typical Development of Toileting Skills

Parent Handouts

By 2 years of age, your child may:

By 3 years of age, your child may:

By 4 years of age, your child may:

By 5 years of age, your child may:

When to Ask for Help

You should talk to your doctor when:

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Recent Reviews

What people are saying about CTFRC

CTFRC Parent

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