At what age is urinary continence typically established?

Urinary continence is generally established before the age of 4. By this age, most children have developed the physiological and neurological maturity necessary to recognize the urge to void and control their bladder function effectively. This developmental milestone is influenced by several factors, including the child's cognitive understanding, motor skills, and readiness to engage in toilet training.

While some children may achieve continence earlier, around ages 2 or 3, it is more common for mastery of bladder control to occur by age 4, where accidents become significantly less frequent and the child can consistently use the toilet independently. By age 5, children are generally expected to be fully continent and toilet trained, which aligns with common developmental expectations in early childhood.