I have a registered childcare in my home and think that 3 yrs. old is old enough to be potty trained. I have parents that complain saying they will train when ready. Wouldn't you think that 3 is old enough to be potty trained and too old not to be potty trained?
I am the mother of 4 strong willed children. I thought that they would go to kindergarten in diapers. I tried for a long time to push the potty training issue but found that it just didn't work. All of my children decided on their own by about 2 1/2-3 years that they wanted to use the potty. I have been to daycares that expect them to be trained by 2 1/2 and would say that expecting it by age 3 is very reasonable.
I tried to potty train my oldest 5 times before it finally got accomplished. She was 2 months shy of 4 when she finally was potty trained. But my second girl potty trained the week after she turned 3 with very little effort. As a day care provider I think that it would be just as easy to have a 3 year old in diapers as a 3 year old that isn't reliable about going potty. But if your issue is insurance, I can understand.
You would *think* that 3 years old would certainly be a good age. But honestly - some children are just not ready at this time. I know that my oldest was potty trained well before the age of 3. Whereas my middle daughter was not potty trained until closer to 4 years of age. All children are different when it comes to this.
I do not think 3 is a standard age to be potty trained. My son was early on everything - walking, talking, physical coordination..etc but potty trained AFTER he turned three.
My daugther was pretty late on most things (except talking) and potty trained before 3.
I definitely worked with my son more than my daughter too!
Good luck to you.
Although 3 years may be old enough, it is up to the parents on how they would like to handle this situation. Usually when they leave it up to the child the child will figure it out around 3 or 4 years old when they see their friends are all out of diapers.
C.,
There is really no set age at which any child should do anything. Potty training is a very personal thing for both parents and their little ones.
Personally, I think the child should be introduced to potty training when they seem ready. My daughter is in an in home daycare and her provider is amazing. At close to two years old, she began taking them to the potty every hour. She made it a point to have the parents do the same thing especailly on weekends. All of the kids slowly began to figure out the process. We all did "potty bootcamp" at different times because the kids progressed differently. When my daughter was able to tell me that she had to go to the potty, I knew it was potty bootcamp time. I put her little potty right next to the chair where she watches tv and I told her to use the potty whenever she needed to. Within 3 days she had had her first poopie and within 2 weeks was out of easy ups and in big girl undies all day and in big girl undies at night within a month.
As the caregiver, it is up to you to guide the parents and let them know what you're doing at school. Try slowly bringing the parents into the process because many times they are afraid to push the children or too lazy to go through the process. Decide whether its the child or the parent that isn't ready. Either way, you have your rules and while I wouldn't want to see any child pushed if they aren't ready, you should stick to them. But don't forget that they are all different. Some progress much more slowly.
Yes, I think you are correct. Most children start potty training by 3 years old. However, as you stated some approach potty training as when a child is "ready". Here's a site that might help
Hi C., I am a home childcare provider as well. Also in Red Oak. While I think that age 3 is old enough to start, every child is different. This needs to be based on the child. Age 3 the child should be good and ready to begin potty training. Try a different approach. You have the child more than the parents usually. If you feel that the child is ready and it seems that you do. I am sure you know what you are doing. Tell the parent, that you have observed behavior in which you think exhibits signs that that child is ready to begin potty training. You are the one changing diapers all day, right! If they started head start or pre - K they would have to be potty trained.
I have a policy here. I tell the parents that the child is ready, usually age 2 - 3 yrs. (I do have a 3 yr. old that is training now) I have the parents sign an aggreement that they agree to being potty training and that they will continue the potty training at home as well. I have a little paper with the child's name and we put it on the wall, every time they potty in the potty we add a sticker. I suggest to the parents, let's give the child two weeks of consitency and if it doesn't work, you will agree to give the child a little longer. However, they must continue the work at home or it will not be successful as easily as possible. I would also add that you need the child potty trained at this age and if they aren't going to allow potty training then they need care elsewhere. It's strange, I have yet to meet a parent who doesn't want their child potty trained at age 3.. What are they thinking? Is this going to be the child in kindergarten at age 5 who has to still have someone wipe them? That is a pet peeve of mine. Train them correctly the first time. Anywhere they go, it's be the same. That age is the time that they should have been already started or starting very soon. Unless there is reason to believe the child isn't ready. (I don't think that is the case) I have a few years behind me and even in licesed centers. At age 14 mo. if they are still with bottle they are not getting it here. At age 18 mo. no more pacifers, they aren't allowed to walk around my house with a pacifer either unless under age 17 mo...then at age 2 1/2 I start potty training and they are usually trained by age 3. However, like the one I got now, he came from a caregiver here in Red Oak that didn't potty train. He's over age 3 and well over time to have been trained. The parents were ready which was among the reasons they moved him and we started Potty Trainging the first day and he has responded well. I told the parents, I don't know about you, but I don't want to lift this 3 yr. old to a changing table and change a nasty diaper on him. They agreed. I am rambling now, sorry! Got carried away here with my advice. You can Email me if you ____@____.com or ____@____.com
C., I too have a in home day care and not all 3 year olds are ready. I have 4 children of my own and some trained earlier than others. My first 2 did closer to 3 and the younger two right at age 2. But some daycares require that they be trained if they are to go in the 3's class, but that is not home day care. That is one reason people like home day care because you can be more flexible and allow them time to be ready. Sometimes home situations or other things effect that, like new baby, change of jobs for parents, new childcare setting. But I am sure you know all of that. Hope that helps some.
