How to Potty Train a Boy

Time to potty train?

Most parents eagerly look forward to the time when they can potty train their boy. For many parents, potty training their son marks his transition from babyhood to boyhood. But potty training a toddler boy can be a bit of a challenge. Frequent accidents, messy clean ups and bad aim too often result in lots of frustration and little progress. But if you follow these steps for how to potty train your boy, you'll say goodbye to frustration and diapers and hello to big boy underpants in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Potty chair
• Underpants
• Chocolate coated candies
• Clear jar

Instructions

1. Ask yourself if your boy is ready to be potty trained. Training a boy who is not ready is a waste of time and energy. Indicators that your boy may be ready to be potty trained include your boy shows some interest in learning to use the potty, that he can pull his pants down (and up) on his own, he stays dry for a few hours at a time and can follow simple instructions.

2. Once you've decided your boy is ready to be potty trained, make a trip to the store. Pick up a potty chair, underpants, chocolate coated candies and a clear jar. Allowing your boy to help pick out his underpants and potty chair can go along way in promoting the potty-training process.

3. Commit to the process. Potty training is a process, and when you fully commit, you win half of the battle. Once you commit to the process, set aside a few days to stick around the house. During waking hours, insist your boy only wear his underpants. Place his potty in the bathroom next to yours.

4. Sit your boy on the potty at regular intervals throughout the day. Upon waking, before meals, after meals and whenever you use the potty are good times to have your boy sit on the potty. You'll also want to have him sit on the potty if you notice he is trying to go the bathroom in his underpants. Allowing boys to sit as they learn to use the potty is easiest. As they progress in potty training, they can switch to standing.

5. Fill a clear jar with chocolate covered candies. Each time your boy sits on his potty, allow him to choose one candy. If he urinates, allow him to choose two. If he has a bowel movement, allow him to choose three. Giving your child control over such a simple thing as choosing the color of a candy can help to transfer any control issues he with using the potty to picking a candy and minimize a potty training battle of the wills.

6. Teach your son proper bathroom behavior and hygiene. Wiping, flushing the toilet and hand-washing are all learned skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Make potty training a positive experience. Avoid high-pressure training methods.

• When transitioning to a standing position to urinate, try using a piece of cereal in the bowl as a target to help with your boy's aim.

• Although many boys are ready to be potty trained between ages 2 and 3, readiness indicators are a better gauge then age when determining if your boy is ready to be potty trained.

• Avoid using pull-on disposable underpants during potty training. It absorbs urine so your boy may not feel wet.

• Don't expect your boy to be night trained until later. His body may not be mature enough to hold waste all night and the urge to go may not wake a heavy sleeper.

• Potty training is a process, so expect minor setbacks.

References

• Keep Kids Health: Potty Training