Advising parents on toilet training.

Toilet training is a potential source of anxiety for parents and children. The proper approach to toilet training involves an assessment of the readiness of both the child and the parents. Parents should have a realistic idea of the chances of success, and they must be patient and supportive. The majority of children are completely toilet trained by two and one-half years of age. Physicians should initiate discussions about toilet training with parents when a child is 12 to 18 months of age.