It’s widely assumed that potty training girls is easier than toilet training boys, but that doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be a fast or easy process!
On average, girls tend to be ready to potty train three months earlier than boys; however, there is no ‘best age’ to potty train a girl.
Girls with older siblings might be ready as soon as 18 months, whilst others can take up to four years. The most common time to start potty training a girl is between the ages of two and three.
The most important thing is to wait until she is ready. What ‘ready’ actually means changes from person to person of course but commonly, if you look out for signals, such as telling you when her nappy is wet or taking an interest in when you go to the loo, it may be time to capitalise on that and get started. Avoid toilet training during large life events, such as when moving to a new house, changing nurseries or if a new baby joins the family.
You might find the below useful to help you successfully potty train your little girl:
Introduce an open-door bathroom policy at home – when you don’t have guests, of course! Toddlers learn from imitation and encouraging her to watch close family can spark an interest in toilet training, and help teach her the difference between how girls and boys use the toilet.
When she starts showing an interest, use her favourite toys or stuffed animals to demonstrate how to use the potty.
When you start training, don’t wait for her to tell you when she needs to go. Instead, sit her on the potty every hour or so.
When toilet training a girl, it’s important you teach her to wipe from front to back to avoid infection – especially if she has a poo. If she struggles to understand, teach her to pat herself dry when having a wee and to call you if she’s had a poo.
Although UTIs aren’t common in kids, they are more likely to affect girls than boys. Look out for signs of an infection, including a sudden or frequent need to go, complaints of an upset stomach, pains when peeing, or if she starts wetting herself again after establishing good bladder control.
When she’s ready to start using Big Kid underwear, take her shopping so she can choose it herself. Make her feel grown-up and tell her it’s a special trip – just don’t forget to buy a few extra pants to allow for accidents.
Before beginning potty training, ensure everyone involved in her childcare is on board, including childminders, grandparents and those at nursery. This ensures she’s taught in the same way and that everyone remains calm and patient – unfortunately, potty training isn’t something mastered overnight.
Consistency is key when training for day and night. It can be confusing to take her out of nappies in the day and put her back in them at night. Huggies® Pull-Ups® for girls are available in day and night options to provide consistency when training.
Here are some helpful tips to potty train girls:
There is no quick way to potty train, however tips, tricks and knowledge from those who have experienced it helps. Whether it’s real-life stories from parents or advice from our potty training experts, we’ve got your back.
To craft your personal route to toilet success, check out our other tips and tricks to support you and your Big Kid along your potty training journey.
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