Mahaska Health Partnership Offers Tips for Potty Training

Mahaska Health Partnership

MAHASKA COUNTY – For parents, deciding when to potty train their child can be a difficult decision. As a father and doctor, MHP Family Practice and Obstetrics Physician Case Everett has some tips for parents looking to ditch the diapers for good.

“There’s no magic age that indicates your child is ready for potty training,” Dr. Everett explained. “Successful training hinges on your child’s physical and emotional readiness. Most children reach these milestones between 22 and 30 months of age, but each child is different, and starting too early can hinder their progress.

“Once a child becomes interested in your bathroom habits and show signs of wanting to be a big boy or girl, then you can start thinking about training,” Dr. Everett stressed.

Another indicator of a child’s readiness is developmental milestones. “If your child is walking, running, climbing, sitting up and has developed some fine motor skills like using a spoon, they may be ready to try using the toilet. Keep a watch for signs like a desire for dry pants and interest in wearing underwear too.”

Though children may be physically ready, Dr. Everett stressed the need to be emotionally ready as well. “Children often reach physical milestones before they are emotionally ready to use the bathroom. If they react to everything with an instant ‘no,’ they may not be ready yet.”

Once you begin training, it’s important to keep stress levels low. “If the process becomes stressful both for you and the child, you may want to consider taking a break and readdressing,” Dr. Everett shared. “If training is too stressful, it can set children back and elongate the process even more.”

Once a child can climb onto and use the toilet with little or no help, they are considered potty trained. “This process usually takes around three months, and girls usually reach this point faster than boys,” Dr. Everett said. “If you’re continuing to struggle and worried that your child may not be progressing like they should, talk with your primary care provider.

“Most children are potty trained by age three, but some may take longer,” Dr. Everett continued. “It’s best to follow your child’s development, rather than push the issue.”

Family Practice Physician Case Everett, MD, is originally from New Sharon and is passionate about serving his home community. He chose Family Practice with Obstetrics because he knew there was a need for obstetrical providers in rural Iowa and wanted to provide an all-encompassing medical practice to his patients. Dr. Everett provides primary and obstetrical care to patients age six months and older at the MHP Medical Group. For an appointment with Dr. Everett, call 641.672.3360.

Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit mahaskahealth.org.