My daughter reached many physical developmental milestones later than her same-age peers. Of course, this hindered her capacity to potty-train early in toddlerhood. While I saw some kids completely removing their own clothes at 18 months of age, my daughter still couldn't pull her pants down at two and a half. I found myself wondering not only if my child was "normal," but also if she was going to be able to potty-train on the same time line as most other kids in her developmental range.
If your toddler seems to struggle to pull down her pants to use the potty, you may be concerned about its impact on her development or her capacity to potty-train. Here are a few points to consider if your toddler can't pull her own pants down.
It's fairly normal.
According to BabyCenter, "Until about 3 years old (sometimes even older), most children need often need help undressing in order to use the toilet." Although there are certainly plenty of toddlers who can completely remove their own clothes to use the potty, it's not at all unusual for a two-to-three-year-old to need help removing his pants. If you have to assist your child in this area for a few more months, you are certainly not alone.
Watch for other developmental milestones. Your toddler should be able to remove at least a few articles of clothing by the time she's old enough to begin potty-training. By the time a toddler is 18 to 30 months old, she can usually take off her socks, diapers, and possibly shirts without assistance. However, the complex maneuvers involved in removing pants may take slightly longer. If your toddler can take off some of her own clothes before 2.5 years of age, she is likely developmentally on track.
Encourage your toddler's independence.
Some toddlers who appear to struggle with removing their clothes are simply not getting enough encouragement. I noticed that my toddler started undressing herself and using the potty correctly only when I began specifically asking her to do it herself. Even at three and a half, she would prefer that I undress her before a bath -- even though she is entirely capable of doing it alone. When your toddler asks for help with undressing to use the potty, gently remind her, "You can do it. I know you can." She'll likely surprise you (and herself) by acting independently.
Offer help when needed. While it's great to encourage your toddler's independence, it's not a good idea to force your child to act independently when she is in no way capable of reaching a specific milestone. If you refuse to let your child potty-train until she can entirely manage her own clothes, you may find yourself waiting an unnecessarily long period of time before getting your tot out of diapers. At least in the early stages of potty training, give your child a hand with her clothing when she needs it.
Talk to your child's pediatrician.
Rarely, difficulty with gross motor skills -- including removing clothing-- can be signs of developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy and autism. If your toddler's difficulty removing his clothes seems to be significantly delayed for his age, get in touch with his pediatrician. The doctor can screen your toddler for other developmental delays and possibly diagnose an underlying problem. Although your toddler is likely healthy and will catch up to her peers soon, it can't hurt to schedule a check-in with a professional.
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