How Frequently Is It Normal for a Toddler to Go to the Potty?

Updated on February 09, 2009
G.P. asks from Pittsburgh, PA
12 answers

We began potty training our daughter about 2 months ago (in response to reports from her daycare center that she showed strong interest in their potty). She has done very well and now rarely goes in her pull-up during the day, other than during her nap or if we are out somewhere and can't get to a toilet quickly.

However, I am a little concerned about the fact that when she is at home, she seems to ask us to take her to the potty at least once an hour, or sometimes more like every 20-30 minutes. Does this seem normal? I find it hard to believe that she really has to go that often, but most of the time she does actually produce something when she goes, even if sometimes just a small amount. I feel like on the weekends I am spending half my day in the bathroom with her! Often we can't even get through a meal without her asking to use the potty. Will she outgrow this (she is currently 2 years and 3 months old)? Is there anything we can do to get her to wait a little longer between potty trips, or do you think she really can't hold it in any longer at this age?

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So What Happened?

Well, I'm glad to hear that apparently this situation is not as strange as I thought. I guess I'll just try toning down the praise a bit when she uses the potty (it's hard to maintain enthusiasm by, say, the 8th trip of the day anyway!) while also not discouraging her. And maybe try to redirect her now and then, so as to encourage her to wait a few more minutes to go. Thanks, everyone!

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B.W.

answers from Erie on

I am guessing that at day care, they put her on the potty a whole lot more than they need to. Either that, or she gets so much praise for producing a result, that she's looking for the clapping and excitement that goes with success.

Maybe you can go with her to the potty some of the time, and allow her to go herself (as long as she's using a little one and not the big toilet) and call you when she's done. If it's not a big family occasion every time she goes, maybe she'll hold it a little longer and go all at once.

However long it takes her to decide she doesn't have to go all the time, I guarantee you, at some point, she'll move to a more normal routine.

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A.R.

answers from State College on

Once she becomes more familiar/used to the potty, she will go less frequently. She may just be excited about this new control she has over her body. If you are really concerned, it wouldn't hurt to take her to the doctor.

1 mom found this helpful

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

Going to the potty was constant with my daughter too when she was newly trained. If I would try to make her wait longer, she would pee in her pants, so I would just go every time with her.
Thankfully, the times spaced out a lot more over time. She's now three (I dind't train her until 2 and 1/2) and holds it a really long time even on long car trips etc. Hang in there!!!! Good job getting her trained by two-that's awesome!

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K.W.

answers from Scranton on

Hang in there! I know how you feel. The other day, my husband and I took the kids to the bathroom 9 times in a one and a half time span while at a restaurant. Ugh, we wanted to scream, but its just a temporary thing. The more she uses the potty, the more she'll learn to control her body and pee less frequently.

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R.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Well, I doubt I'll make you feel any better...believe me, I thought I would go insane during potty training.
Your daughter sounds like she is doing an amazing job at potty training! When I started teaching my daughter, I took her every 5 minutes. Believe it or not, she went most times, as well as in between times on occasion.
You can limit some of her drink intake, however, for my daughter it only caused what seemed like the starts of an infection as well as constipation. Until she got better at going willingly on her own, it remained every 5 minutes. She sounds she may be ready for you to encourage her to wait longer, however, there are more chances of accidents, of course. I started by asking Jordan if she really had to go bad, when she said yes, we rushed her as quickly as we could...if she didn't seem to be too desperate, sometimes I would encourage her to hold it a second. Like I said before, there were more accidents (which she did not get in trouble for...I just told her if she really had to go, she needed to tell me and we went on). To make her try to hold it sounds cruel, but we have had times, we had no choice, so it has helped her.
My family lives 12 hours away, and we make at least 2 trips a year, and were making 2 hour trips at least once a month to my inlaws, so it has helped her to avoid embarrasing accidents.
She now goes to the potty regularly and we haven't had an accident in a long time, that she physically could have avoided, anyway. We aren't night time trained yet, but we are trying, however, she gets up in the night when she realizes she has to go, and wakes up instantly when she gets wet.
As far as the meal thing goes, we still have the occasional meal potty break, but I tried to encourage her to go right before the meal, and they have lessened in frequency.
By the way, my daughter is now 3 1/2 and she is doing much better and still drinking constantly through out the day. My guess is that she is still trying to learn the "routine" as well as needing to go often.
My daughter still rushes to the bathroom 2-3 times in a 30 minute period, however, it is a huge relief from the 5-7 minute intervals we were having. I did give my daughter more plain water or extremely diluted koolaid (3/4 cup sugar and 1 pkt koolaid per gallon) till she got older. I don't know if it made any difference, but she seems to "need" to go more now that I have started giving her 3/4 cup and 1 pkt per half gallon. (Which is still less sugar than the packaged directions call for.)
I know it feels like an eternity, but she sounds like she has taken really well to potty training, so just try to keep encouraging her and keep in mind - it won't last forever, and there will be a time she'll start going on her own (while you are at home.) Good Luck! I hope this helped at least a little.

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N.H.

answers from Harrisburg on

Sounds normal. My niece had to go every 20 minutes when they first trained her! She'll start to be able to hold it longer soon. My son, who has been trained for 6 months now could only hold it 45 min - 1 hr in the beginning but now consistently holds it 2 hours. I think it's not only a maturation thing, but also a practice thing.

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N.T.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I have two boys who are close in age (3 and 4) and potty trained at the same time. They were doing the SAME THING for a while when they started training. We realised that they were just kind of "addicted" to the praise we used to hype them up about going potty to begin with. All the "YAY! You're such a big BOY!" and one-on-one time where we literally had to be within a foot or two of them giving our undivided attention was making them want to return there over and over.

We backed off a bit and focused more on praising them about it during the day outside of the bathroom. We'd make it a point to tell people how they're such big boys that they go all by themselves and don't need diapers anymore at all, and praise them very heavily when they tell us they have to go and start up the steps themselves. We stayed pretty silent in the bathroom and just calmly stood by and reminded them that we can go play downstairs once they're done.

Now that they can go mostly by themselves (they need help wiping or it just gets gross) we actually stay outside the bathroom and wait for them them to call for us. If they ask us to come in when they don't need wiped we just say "Hey, I'll be waiting for you to tell me you're done, OK? We play downstairs not in the bathroom". Occassionally they need to be reminded to come back downstairs because they get sidetracked by looking at bath toys, but overall staying out of the bathroom but within reach keeps potty trips down to a minimum.

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K.K.

answers from Erie on

I definately think it's normal. She's just practicing and is pretty proud of herself, I bet. What you could do is try distracting her a bit, and extend the time between going just by 5 mins or so. She might be doing it because that means mommy has to stop what she is doing and give kiddo attention. just don't distact her too much!!!

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F.B.

answers from Harrisburg on

She may not be able to hold it at that age. Don't discourage her from wanting to go to the potty. If you do, you risk having a relapse in your potty training success. As her bladder matures, she will start going less frequently. Just hang in there and be patient with her.

C.W.

answers from Pittsburgh on

G.,

let her go when she wants, some kids will not even go near the potty. Her telling you she wants to go potty she can sense that she needs to go even a little bit. Also when potty training you should take them every half hour or hour so they learn to go. I know at times it seems like you spend your day in the bathroom but just think of the outcome...soon no more diapers and she will be able to go all by herself. Good Luck

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B.D.

answers from Lancaster on

I would take her to the doctor and have them test for a urinary tract infection - if that is negative, then maybe she just has a small bladder, or can't hold it yet.

B.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Hi G.! Sorry, but your question made me giggle just a bit. The potty is her new toy! It sounds like she is really having fun with it and I wouldn't be surprised if she slows down on her trips if you tone down your reaction to her using it. I remember finding myself going in and out of every bathroom in our mall with all three of mine as they potty trained!! We spent more time going in and out of the bathrooms than shopping!! LOL those were the days!! Relax, smile and think of all the funny stories you'll be able to tell when she's 16!! (But if this doesn't calm down in a few weeks you should talk to your Dr. about it!) Best wishes!!

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