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Top Tips for Potty Training Boys
Potty training boys can take longer than potty training girls so you may find it more frustrating in many ways. However, by trying to remain patient and calm and avoiding too many comparisons with your own girls or those of friends, you will achieve success eventually!
All children are different and some are ready earlier than others to begin potty training. In general though, children usually are ready to start using a potty anywhere between the ages of 18 months and 4 years, with many successfully using the potty by the time they start pre-school.
Here are some of our top tips for potty training boys:
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Look for signs that your little boy is ready to move away from nappies. Your son may start showing more of an interest in using the toilet like mummy and daddy do and it's a good idea to let him see his father using the lavatory, if possible, as he will learn by imitation.
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Spring and summer time are good times to begin potty training as it will be warm enough to let your little boy run around without so many clothes on. Many parents like to let their children wear just a pair of pants or go naked at this time as it makes it easier for the child to make it to the potty on time.
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Be prepared for a few accidents and watch carefully for signs that your son needs his potty. He may start dancing or clutching at himself at which point you should suggest he sits on the potty. You should also watch for facial signs. Often children who are ready to start potty training stop what they're doing when they are using their nappy and pull a few strange faces!
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Take your son shopping for new "big boy" pants! Let him choose some that he likes and that you know he will be keen to wear. Most children have a favourite fairytale or cartoon character and if you can buy pants with these on them they can help encourage your son to try to keep them dry.
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Read stories to your son about potty training. There are many suitable books in bookshops and local libraries which help to make potty training fun and exciting.
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Buy him a potty of his very own! Little boys love having their own things and a potty is less intimidating for small children than sitting on a big toilet. It's also mobile which means he can keep it close by so there's a reduced risk of little accidents! However, if you would rather not use a potty then buy an adaptor seat for the big toilet which fits securely and provide a step so your son can get onto the toilet easily and safely.
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Let your little boy have as many practice runs on the potty as he needs. Remember, potty training is all very new to him and it will take time for him to get used to the idea of using a potty. He may want to look at it, feel it, show it off, decorate it and so on. When he is feeling a little more confident he may try sitting on it fully clothed or you could play some games with it, for example, letting some of his teddy bears or other toys sit on it and explaining to him that they are doing a wee or a poo!
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Make a fuss when he uses the potty! You can clap or heap lots of praise on him or let him choose a dvd or story. It's not necessary to do this every time as he may not like attention being drawn to the fact that he is using a potty, but the first few times it's important so he knows he's doing it right! Some children respond well to using reward charts and this can be a great way to encourage use of the potty. Every time he uses his potty let him choose a sticker and place it on a reward chart which the rest of the family can see.
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Try not to get frustrated or cross if he isn't picking up on the concept as quickly as you'd like. He'll get there in his own time and by getting annoyed with him you may end up setting things back. Try to remain patient and calm and just keep encouraging and praising when he does use the potty. If things aren't going according to plan it may be that he's just not be ready yet and it may be necessary to call it a day and try all over again a few weeks or months down the line. Don't see this as a failure on your part or on your son's part. It's just not the right time yet.
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Try to have some sort of a schedule especially if you aren't the sole carer. Let childminders/ grandparents know what is going on and ask if they're willing to go along with it. It's important to keep some sort of a routine going as you are more likely to have a successful outcome if everyone is working towards achieving the same. It's also important that everyone is using the same training technique!
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When he is feeling more confident and is using his potty regularly, it's a good idea to encourage your son to wipe himself after passing a bowel motion. It's important you show him how to do this and explain how important it is that he wash his hands after using the potty.
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He may start having dry nights before or during potty training and if that is the case it's a good idea to sit him on the potty or toilet first thing every morning. At this point he will probably use the potty and will soon get into the habit of holding on during the night. However, for many children, especially boys, night-time training takes much longer and depends on physical and hormonal development, how deeply they sleep, the size of their bladder and even a fear of the dark. To help things along you should encourage plenty of drinks during the day to help the bladder expand and then no or limited amounts of fluids after 6pm. You should ensure your son uses the toilet immediately before going to bed and it may even be necessary to waken him and walk him to the toilet when you are going to bed. Don't lift him out and let him go when he is asleep as this will just confuse his body. He needs to be awake and aware that he is using the toilet.
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Once he is ready to use the big toilet it can help to have little toilet balls floating in the toilet bowl to help him direct his aim. These can be bought in many local pharmacies and supermarkets and can be a great way to prevent spills!
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Avoid using nappies once potty training is established; this can lead to confusion and may set things back.
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