What Age Did Your Kids Start Dressing Themselves?

Updated on February 03, 2011
B.B. asks from Berkeley, IL
14 answers

Hi Moms!

I have a two fold question...

What age did your kids grasp how to dress themselves? How did you handle potty training if they couldn't get their pants on and off by themselves?

My daughter is starting to potty train (she is 27 months) and we are practicing pulling pants on and off as well as putting her arms in her shirt (I help her pull it over her head). She has a really hard time with the pants! I am glad to help, but at what age should I push more for her to do it herself?

I don't want to push too hard, but I know from other milestones she was very able to complete tasks on her own for others like Daddy and her Grandparents and when I was around- preferred Mommy to do it for her :)

Thanks for your insight!

*Amanda- yes! She can wiggle out of them ok, but still asks for help when pulling down and back up. Maybe I need to dress her in looser pants? Leggings are so in right now its hard to find loose stuff!! LOL

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K.W.

answers from Youngstown on

My son is 3 and potty trained. He mostly wears sweat pants at home so he can easily get them up and down for going potty. He can put on his own underwear and pants in the morning but not his shirt yet. I pull it over his head and he puts his arms in. My 5 year old can dress herself but sometimes still asks mommy to help, and sometimes I will.

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

Son was dressing himself on clothes & off clothes zippers,snap bittons loop buttons a little more towards 4 & fully potty trained by age 3 he was the most easiest still is he is 7...
Daughter is 4 she was fully potty trained by 3 dressing & undressing she has a fit when she can't get an arm through so I have to push her to stop & look what she is doing zippers she can do so so snap buttons great but other loop buttons needs help.
Daughter who will be 2 in March takes off clothes & dipaer will attempt to put shirt & pants on needs help,will put on a hat & coat shoes if they are easy to do,takes off diaper to go naked or to sit on potty chair.With her I plan to let her go in under wears instead of pull ups.
It takes patience on both ends & practice...Wait till they need to learn how to tye shoes...

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L.G.

answers from Detroit on

My daughter started potty training at the same age. She couldn't do her pants herself then. That was Nov. 09. Even when she started school this past fall (sept 10), I always put her in elastic waist pants, to make it easier. she still has a little bit of a hard time with jeans, and other pants with buttons. She has just started dressing herself and removing her own clothes more in the last several months. she is now 3 1/2.

When she was potty training, she would just tell us when she had to go and I would help her. Some times, she would go by herself, and now she mostly goes by herself.

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S.H.

answers from Huntsville on

When we were potty training I had a bunch of shorts (I think from Garanimals) that just had an elastic waist. So those were easy for our daughter to pull on & off.

Not sure when she started putting her shirt on by herself. But, she is about to be 5 and has been able to fully dress herself (shirts, pants, socks, velcro shoes, coat, zip up coat, gloves, hat) for a while now (note I said *able*, not always *willing*! lol)

She does still have trouble with shirts & sweaters with a tight neck. She will get it stuck on her head & start whining... lol

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K.V.

answers from Phoenix on

My daughter is four nd started really dressing herself a about a year ago, along with potty training. She can pull her pants up by herself but sincee having our 2nd she asks for help if I am there, but still does it by herself when I am not. Just wanted to let you know that when she can pull them up by herself she might still ask you just for a little attention and mommy time :-) Also I suggest cute sweat pants or stretchy waist bottoms.

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A.C.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My little girl is turning 3 this month and has just started dressing herself in the last couple months, and we are just now doing the potty training. My 5 year old was 2 months shy of 3 when she started. Maybe around the house allow her to just wear undies and a shirt. My gal sometimes cant get jeans off in time so we avoid accidents if she just has undies on, for now.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

Use sweat pants or leggings that are easy to slip up and down.

Let your daughter practice with shirts that have a bigger neck line or a button up or zip up front. Getting the sleeves figured out is tricky and getting something over their heads if the neck is small leads to frustration if they get "stuck".

It just takes practice.
She'll get the hang of it.
My daughter loved dressing herself and she picked out some pretty funky matches as far as outfits, but I let her wear them, especially around the house.
Now, she might like you doing it because it's faster, but she will want to do it all by herself in due time.

Best wishes.

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G.S.

answers from Chicago on

While it might be hard to find this time during the season, when we potty trained my daughter she was 2 years nine months. At the time, Target carried little toddler skirts with no shorts/modesty pants underneath. It was very easy for my daughter to pull up and down the skirt and panties. The short skirt also made it easy for her to hold up if needed. Even better, each piece only cost $3.00.

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A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

That sounds like a pretty average age.....Can she pull the pants off? just has trouble getting them back up?

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M.A.

answers from Chicago on

As exciting as developmental milestones can be, they can also be very frightening for a child, especially as they try to figure out what these changes will mean. If she's asking just you for help, what she's really asking is to make sure your relationship will still be close, that she'll still be your little girl and you'll still be her mommy and there when she needs you. So pull her pants up. She just needs that reassurance and it's easy enough to give. She'll start pushing your hands away soon enough and saying "I can do it ALL BY MYSELF" And if she's been pulling up by herself for a while, and suddenly calls for you again, consider that she might be feeling insecure, possibly about something that has nothing to do with potty training, and that she really just needs your reassurance again. Good luck.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter potty trained over the summer, somewhere around 30 months. She is 38 months currently and still requires me to help her pull up and down pants. She started pulling them down (sometimes) about a month ago. She always requires me to wipe her bottom and pull them back up.

About two weeks ago, she started taking an interest in putting on her own socks and is quite good at it. I am not going to push because
a) I would rather her depend on me for a little while for this since I know I get her bottom clean, etc.
b) Pushing tends to delay their progress- better to let them take a natural interest so they feel more pride in the accomplishment
c) I am not worried about a delay since I know she has manual dexterity and coordination, etc. in other areas.

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

When my daughter started potty training she was almost 3 years old. I had to help her a lot and once she was potty trained she quickly learned how to pull pants up. She dresses her self now and she's almost 4 years old. Every once in a while she is stubborn and makes me help her.

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C.S.

answers from Victoria on

My daughter I let her wear dresses around the house so easy on & off with panties only. Out & about, I was always present to assist. Son I used elastic waist pants that were loose here at house and out & about, I assisted. Mine are 4 &5 and they do for themselves, but still have problems with a certain button or belt or tying a bow on a shirt etc... and neither can wipe themselves properly with just paper! I've spoiled them with wet wipes!! LOL

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Your daughter is young, and this is normal.

You still need to help her.
Don't force it.

It has to do with fine-motor skills and coordination.

Use elastic waist pants/bottoms.

Potty training and ability to dress/undress themselves, is not at the same timing.

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