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Nov 7 / 2021

Diaper abandonment

At what age does a child leave the diaper? When is the best time to start?

The time is put by the child

The role of parents in the abandonment of the diaper is observation: they must be patient and detect the most appropriate time to do so. If the child is between 18 months and two years old, it is the ideal time to buy a urinal or a toilet reducer and get down to work.

The important thing is not to take the issue of diaper abandonment as an obligation with an expiration date and never compare it with other cases. It is important not to force the child or force him to be a quick process. The time is set by the child. Daytime diaper removal is easier than nighttime diaper removal, but total abandonment (day and night) is a process that can take even more than a year.

Most children learn to control their toilet during the day between 22 and 30 months, although many continue to leak until after the age of three. In fact, about 20% of children continue to wet the bed by the age of four. Girls tend to outperform boys because their physical and psychological maturation is earlier. Children who have siblings may find it more attractive to put down their diapers to imitate their elders.

Is my child ready to ditch the diaper?

For a child to be able to be continent (not to pee or poop on it) two basic conditions are necessary:

  • The maturation of the nervous system: it allows to recognize the sensation of a full bladder, therefore, the desire to urinate and defecate. Until almost two years, the child does not have a clear perception of this stimulus and, if the bladder is swollen, it empties without giving the child time to feel full. For this reason, imposing the potty before this age does not make sense.
  • Voluntary sphincter control: the child is able to control when he wants to urinate or defecate. This process usually begins at 20 months.

We can recognize that they are prepared to leave the diaper when they notify when evacuating, if they remain dry for several hours and do not urinate at night. It is also important to assess the degree of global maturity of the child: if they have a certain degree of language, recognize parts of their body, if they are able to go up and down stairs or have good manual skills. All this gives us clues that the child can achieve this new challenge.

Good practices for successful diaper removal

  • Three magic words: patience, affection and respect.
  • There is no turning back… If it is concluded that it is time to remove the diaper, it must be done until the end.
  • Buy the urinal or toilet reducer together: start the process as a game in which the bear sits on the urinal first and then the child (even with clothes). Then start the routines: in the morning, before and after each meal, before going to sleep ... The important thing is that the potty does not create fear in the child. In the case of the toilet reducer, it is a good idea to buy a booster so that your legs do not dangle as it is uncomfortable, especially for defecation.
  • Have a travel potty: for the first weeks or months when you go out for a walk, to the park ...
  • Agree with the nursery: the union of teachers and parents is the key to success.
  • Dress the child in easy-to-unbutton clothes: pants with elastic bands, skirts and shirts without clasps in the crotch ...
  • Congratulate and reinforce their self-esteem: encourage the child with phrases such as “big boys like you no longer wear diapers” and applaud their successes.
  • Do not despair or scold: be patient and stay calm.
  • Imitating the elderly: having parents or siblings go to the bathroom can be of great help since the little ones tend to imitate the older ones that they love or admire.
  • Wait for the child to be ready: if there is an outright refusal to start the process, keep calm and wait a few weeks before trying again.
  • Do not initiate the removal of the diaper if a situation is anticipated that could stress the child: the arrival of a new baby brother, a separation or the change of nursery can cause a setback in his learning process.
  • The removal of the diaper does not understand the season of the year: all times of the year are good to abandon the diaper if the child is prepared. Their maturation must prevail and not exclusively the comfort of the parents.

    • Children are prepared to leave the diaper when they notify when evacuating, if they remain dry for several hours and do not urinate at night.
    • Daytime diaper removal is easier than nighttime diaper removal, but total abandonment (day and night) is a process that can take even more than a year.
    • Initiating abandonment as a game, agreeing with the nursery to initiate withdrawal, or imitating the elders are practices that will help speed up the process.

    Pediatric Specialist


    (Updated at Apr 14 / 2024)

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