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Potty Training "Older" Children

image of girl sitting on training potty

A recent topic in our Facebook group has been all about potty training children past the age of 2. (And who decided that age anyway?)
If your little one is soaring past 2, 3, 4, 5 and older, you are not alone, your child is not "behind" and there is nothing to gain by worrying about when potty process will begin. 

*if you have medical concerns about your child, such as constipation, diarrhea, food allergies, pain, straining or nausea, please consult your doctor*
Sometimes, our little ones need a little help until their muscles have developed, and their brain can properly communicate with those muscles to make everything go smoothly. And sometimes, this isn't until well into school age. In past generations, potty training has been treated as a behavioral milestone, not a physiological one, and often punitive measures were taken to hasten the process. We now know that patience and guidance is what works, and if your child needs more time and is not battling medical or emotional hurdles, we are here to help with that process!

*If your child is non-verbal, have a discussion with their doctor or therapist on the most effective way to communicate with your child on this process*

Tips Potty Training Older Children

01. Bring your child with you or your partner into the bathroom on occasion, so they can see and understand what happens in the bathroom. The noises of flushing, washing hands, bathroom fans running can be overwhelming, so exposing them to this in a gentle setting can help.

02 During diaper changes, use the anatomically correct words for what is happening. Different muscles control urine and fecal output, so telling them "you went pee pee/poop in your diaper" can help them identify which urges have that specific result.

03 Understand that you will have many unsuccessful attempts along the way, and that is ok!

04 Life changes, such as a new sibling, starting school, a move, a work assignment or deployment, can mean your child will regress. Allow some time to pass before starting over, and if your child is hesitant, have a discussion about how you can help them. It is normal for months to go by when a significant change happens before your child will want to start again.

05 Rewards may help, finding a chart or system for successful attempts can be motivating for some children. Make sure that they don't "lose" their incentives if they are not successful, and make the reward short-term enough to where it can be earned in a few days.

Toddler wearing a Thirsties Organic Cotton Trainer for potty learning

Training Pants Can Help

Thirsties organic cotton Trainers are available in three sizes for a range of little ones, enough absorbency to catch or hold one accident for those first car trips, a wetness reminder, or light protection for newly trained children.

Remember, parenting is a marathon, marked by milestones of love and acceptance. While this journey may have a few extra hurdles, the end result is what matters = a moment where you and your child know that patience paid off after a gentle learning process.
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28 comments

  • I still have awhile before potty training but I will reference this post when the times comes

    Gia on

  • Looking forward to building our xl pocket stash while we continue to work on skills our three year old with Down Syndrome needs to potty train.

    Rebecca P on

  • Our little one with Down Syndrome is three and we are continuing to work on skills to ready her for potty training. :) So until she’s ready we will start building our xl pocket stash.

    Becca on

  • This article is very helpful as my roommate is struggling to potty train her two year old.

    Rosemary McClelland on

  • Hopefully going to start potty training my little one soon.

    Kelsey Moreno on

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