It's usual for children to be out of nappies in the day time anywhere between 18 months and 3 years old. Most children show signs between 2 and 4 years of being ready to use a potty. Look for cues like staying dry for longer, showing interest in the toilet, disliking soiled nappies, or communicating the urge to go, before you attempt to toilet train your child as starting too early can cause stress.
Remember that all children develop at different rates and some children will not be ready to start toilet training until later than this.
Night time bladder control develops later than daytime control and it is perfectly normal for children to still need night nappies until ages 3-5, with many not achieving consistent dryness until 5 or 6 years old. Signs of readiness to stop wearing nappies can include dry nappies for several mornings, asking to stop, or waking to use the toilet during the night.
Many children with Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) will follow a similar path to being toilet trained as other children do, even if they achieve this a bit later than usual.
Children with SEND may stay in nappies longer due to a variety of reasons, including:
- Sensory sensitivities
- Communication barriers
- Developmental delays
- Resistance to change
- Underlying medical issues like constipation