Age of Initiation and the Factors Associated with Toilet Training in Healthy Saudi Children

Abstract

With the appropriate knowledge of the age to initiate toilet training and acknowledging the factors that influence it, parents can prevent many health issues related to voiding. Our study aimed to determine the average age of the initiation of toilet training among Saudi children and the factors that may affect this training. This study was carried out by distributing questionnaires to mothers who attended various clinics in our institute. A sample included 1000 healthy Saudi children. The mean age of the initiation of toilet training in healthy children was 25.6 ± 9.4 months while the median was 24 months, the mean duration of training was 6.3 ± 9.1 months. Most children (92%) were trained in the summer months. Mother’s educational level, number of siblings, and socioeconomic status were significant factors that affected the age of initiation. However, mother’s occupation, caregiver, and the order and gender of the child did not have a significant effect on the initiation of toilet training. The median age of toilet training among our children matched other studies. Summer seems to be the preferred season to initiate training.