What’s the Best Age to Potty Train? Pros & Cons of Early vs. Late Training

That depends on your preference! There are two main approaches, and each has its pros and cons. Let’s break them down.

Option 1: Potty Training at Age 3+

If you wait until age 3 or later, the process will probably go faster—sometimes as quickly as one day, but more commonly around three days. By this age, children have greater bodily awareness, which makes it easier for them to recognize when they need to go.

If you have a 3-year-old still in diapers, you’ve likely noticed they have a favorite place to poop and may even seek privacy. (In our nanny share, the other child liked to go behind the recliner to poop.) You can take advantage of that by taking your child immediately to the bathroom when you see them head to their favorite pooping spot. 

Pros of Potty Training at 3+ Years:
 
✅ Stronger body awareness makes the process go more quickly
✅ Less cleanup overall 
✅ More independence, more quickly, because a three-year-old may be able to pull down and up their pants themselves. 

Cons of Potty Training at 3+ Years:

❌ More likely to resist potty training if they don’t want to do it (hello, power struggles!) ❌ Refusing to poop on the potty is common at this age and can last for weeks or months
❌ No amount of stickers, M&Ms, or screen time bribes will work if they don't want to cooperate (lack of cooperation is much less common with toddlers) 
❌ You may end up paying for an extra year and a half of diapers
❌ You will be diapering a much larger kid in the meantime, which may have a certain ick factor

Option 2: Potty Training Between 21-28+ Months

This is the approach I’ve chosen for all three of my kids. It takes a bit longer—usually about a week—but it avoids the battles that can come with training a strong-willed 3+-year-old.

Pros of Early Potty Training (21-28 Months):

✅ Toddlers are generally more compliant and eager to please
✅ Less resistance = fewer power struggles
✅ Simple rewards (like clapping) are enough motivation
✅ Significant cost savings on diapers
✅ More environmentally friendly

Cons of Early Potty Training (21-28 Months):

❌ Takes longer than training at age 3+ because body awareness is still developing
❌ Requires patience and a zen approach to cleaning up messes

Common Potty Training Myths & Realities

Some parents believe diapers are easier than dealing with the potty, but I haven’t found that to be true. Yes, it’s inconvenient for about a month—right now, we don’t go far without a potty, and we’ve rolled up our rugs to make cleanup easier. But the long-term benefits are worth it to me, because I dislike the cost and ickiness of changing diapers after the first year of life. Also, I have never (knock wood!) had to deal with potty poop refusal and that can take a lot longer than a week to resolve, months, sometimes. 

Need Help with Potty Training?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a cycle of accidents, or just don’t know where to start, I can help (whether you are potty training early, late, or somewhere in between). Book a free parent coaching consult, and let’s make potty training easier for you and your child!