Potty training is a milestone that many parents look forward to and dread all at the same time. Most little boys are ready to start the potty training quest between 18 and 30 months, states the American Academy of Family Physicians. Once your little boy shows signs that he is ready to learn to potty, such as telling you when he has a dirty diaper, and he can follow simple instructions, there are some ways to make the journey easier on you and more fun for your son.
Potty Comfort
Sitting on a potty can be a scary experience for your little boy. Get him a potty chair that is the right size for him and let him sit on it fully clothed to learn that the potty chair doesn't hurt. While it may seem ideal that the potty chair have a urine guard to keep your bathroom tidy, Baby Center recommends that you buy a potty chair without the guard or one with a removable guard. When your little boy sits on a chair with a guard, there is a chance that the guard may rub against his penis, which may make him associate pain with the potty chair.
Remind Him
When a toddler gets busy playing, chances are that he will forget about going to the potty. As such, you should remind him periodically to go use the potty. If you are busy or occupied with something else, set a timer to remind you to get your son to go to the potty. The amount of time needed on the timer will vary according to your child.
Offer Rewards
Rewards are a positive reinforcement method for little boys. If the toddler goes to the bathroom in the potty, reward him with a piece of candy or a small trinket like a toy truck. As his potty training progresses, reward him only if he stays dry and uses the potty chair. Once his potty training is complete, you can wean him off of the rewards by offering a reward at nap time if he stayed dry all morning and again at night if he stayed dry all afternoon.
Aim Practice
As your little boy progresses in his potty training, he will need to learn how to aim when he urinates standing up. To help him practice, place some round cereal in the toilet for him to aim at. Start off with several cereal rings and reduce that number as his aim gets better.
