What would it be nice not to have to buy anymore diapers! But how can you help your child to be potty trained? There is a big difference between potty training for boys and girls.
How and when to start toilet training? Hop, on the potty and you’re done, you might think. But is it that simple?

Is it true that in the earlier days the children were potty trained on a younger age?

Yes, that’s right. Thirty years ago, children were potty trained around two years, which is now more than half a year later. Reason for this could lie in the fact that today’s disposable diapers are more comfortable than the cloth diapers that were used. This also applies to parents. Just imagine that you have to wash all those diapers then you would start potty training as soon as possible.

Is it true that girls are faster potty trained than boys?

Yes, that’s right. This is obviously not for everyone, but on average girls are slightly earlier potty trained than boys. Girls are on an average of 30 months potty trained, where boys need an extra of two months for this. But remember, these are averages and do not have anything to say about your child!

What is the average age that a child is potty trained?

If we look at the average age that children are potty trained, we look at the age that children start potty training and the average age on which they are completely trained.
Average age to start potty training = 2 years
Average age completely potty trained = 2 years and 8 months
Take a look at this nice looking chart.

What are the signals that my boy or girl is ready to go on the potty?

When your child notices that his or her diaper is wet/dirty, is a first signal, interested in the toilet or potty is another sign. Also, some children suddenly stop playing, or even stand when they realize that they pee in their diaper or defecate in a corner.

Is your child ready for it?

Before starting potty training your toddler must be able to communicate. You can’t start potty training if your toddler is not yet able to tell you when he or she should have to pee or poop.

A child is ready for potty training when his diaper is dry for 2 hours on a row and when he gets interested in feces and urine.

It is also important to wait for a good moment before starting with the potty training. Are you going to move or is it his first time going to the playgroup, or may there a brother or sister be born, than it’s better to wait for a moment before starting the potty training. At that moment your child will need al his energy to get used to this new situation.

In general girls may be ready to use the potty earlier than boys. This is because the caregivers mostly are women, so girls are more familiar with the mechanics of using the potty. It doesn’t necessarily have to be related with the genetic difference between the sexes. One of the key factors to successful potty training is the child’s readiness to start to use the potty, boy or girl. Your little one is likely to signal that he’s ready to stop wearing diapers and start using the bathroom just like you do. Teaching your child to use the toilet or potty seat before he’s ready is a waste of time and energy.

What are the biggest differences between potty training boys and potty training girls?

Standing or sitting while peeing is the biggest difference in potty training between boys and girls. In the beginning it’s perfectly normal to let your boy sit down, when he gets older he will let you know when he wants to give standing up a try. When you have both a girl and a boy, girls can get jealous of the ability to pee standing up and you may need to let her try at least once to show her that this doesn’t work for her. Incorporate a post-pee clean-up as part of the routine.
When pee sitting, they should keep their legs slightly open. Boys need to do this to point their penises in the right direction, while girls need to make sure they eliminate all urine.
Wiping is also a big difference. Teach your little girl to wipe from the front to the back to avoid any infections. For women this is essential. Normally, men don’t wipe after a pee, but in the early months, a little boy’s penis may not be big enough to get dry from a few shakes, so consider to dab with some toilet paper. Check that it doesn’t get stuck to his skin, though.
Both a boy and a girl need to sweep their buttocks after they have pooped, but in the early years, this should be done by a parent.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more common in girls, and are especially more common during potty training, according to MedlinePlus. This occurs when bacteria enters the urinary tract, often due from improper wiping. So it’s very important to teach them right from the outset: wipe from the front to the back! Signs of a UTI include foul-smelling urine, high fever, pain while urination and cloudy urine. Talk to your child’s doctor if you suspect she has an infection.

Ready to get started?!