Introduction
It is one of the questions every parent asks sooner or later: at what age should you put your little one on the potty? And above all, how can you support them without pressure, without setbacks and without turning this learning process into a source of stress for the whole family? This article draws on the recommendations of the Société Française de Pédiatrie (SFP, the French Paediatric Society) and on findings from developmental medicine to give you clear, practical, well-founded answers.
1. What the science says: the age for potty training
The Société Française de Pédiatrie is clear: children gain control of their sphincters between 24 and 48 months. The neurological and muscular maturity required varies considerably from one child to the next.
Three physiological conditions need to be in place:
1. Physiological maturity: being able to feel bladder or bowel pressure. The nervous system involved only matures from around 15-18 months.
2. Cognitive maturity: understanding the link between the sensation and what to do about it.
3. Emotional maturity: feeling secure enough emotionally to accept this new demand.
Starting too early does not save time. A study by NJ Blum (Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics) involving 378 children showed this: the age at which children become toilet trained is not linked to how early training starts – it is linked to the child’s maturity.
2. Signs that your little one is ready
- Stays dry for 1 to 2 hours at a time
- Tells you after doing a wee or a poo
- Copies adults or other children on the toilet
- Shows curiosity about the potty or the toilet
- Can partly undress on their own
- Walks steadily
Most children show these signs between 18 and 30 months. Daytime dryness is usually achieved within 2 to 6 weeks once the child is truly ready. Night-time dryness follows, on average, 6 months after daytime dryness.
3. Choosing the right potty: the criteria that matter
Stability: the potty must stay put when your child sits down, pushes and stands up.
Comfort: the rim should be rounded and the seat wide enough.
Adaptability: a 3-in-1 potty such as our Treelys Convertible Baby Potty stays with your child for several years – first as a standalone potty, then as a toilet reducer with a soft removable cushion, then as a non-slip step stool: 3-in-1 convertible baby potty
Free from harmful substances: BPA-free, phthalate-free, compliant with CE, REACH and ASTM F963 requirements.
4. The practical stages of potty training
Phase 1 – Getting familiar: introduce the potty as an ordinary household object. Let your child sit on it fully dressed and play near it. The aim is for the potty to become familiar rather than intimidating.
Phase 2 – First sessions: offer the potty at regular times (on waking, after meals, before bath time). Don’t leave your child on the potty for more than 3-5 minutes.
Phase 3 – Pants: switch to pants during waking hours at home. Accidents are inevitable – never punish. Simply say: next time you’ll try to go on the potty.
Phase 4 – Moving to the real toilet: introduce the toilet reducer. The step stool is essential so that your child can climb up on their own and put their feet flat (pressing the feet against the floor helps with pushing).
5. What you should never do
- Punish or tell off after an accident
- Compare with other children (the normal range is 24 to 48 months)
- Force your child to stay on the potty
- Start during a period of change (moving house, a new baby, starting nursery)
- Give up too quickly during a regression
6. Consistency between home and nursery
If your child goes to nursery or a childminder, coordinate your approach with the professionals. Consistency between the two settings (the same words, the same attitude, the same times) significantly speeds up the process.
Conclusion
Children become toilet trained when they are ready. Your role is to create the right conditions – a suitable, comfortable potty: 3-in-1 convertible baby potty, a caring attitude and a predictable routine. About Treelys: our approach
