You’re probably looking forward to chucking your very last dirty baby diaper, but you can’t rush the potty training process. If you start your little boy too early, be ready to deal with setbacks and unnecessary frustrations. However, you will be more successful if you look for signs that he’s ready and you are consistent and enthusiastic about helping him reach this milestone.
The Right Time
Although many toddlers start to show an interest in potty training around age two, others may not be ready until later, says the Mayo Clinic. Wait for your son to show signs of emotional and physical readiness before you introduce him to the potty. Some signs that he is ready include being able to ask simple questions, understanding and following simple directions, staying dry for two or more hours at a time during the day, letting you know when he needs to use his diaper and being able to get to a toilet and pull down his own pants.
Training Basics
Once you’ve assessed that your child’s ready to potty train, pull out a potty chair and place it in the bathroom and then encourage him to “practice” sitting on it with or without a diaper. After he’s grown accustomed to sitting on it, schedule intermittent potty sitting breaks throughout the day--particularly after eating or drinking--and let him use a special “potty-only” toy such as a plastic train or read him a potty training book while he sits. If he shows signs of needing to use the toilet, such as holding his genital area, take him to the toilet. Eventually he will recognize that the signals in his body mean it’s time to go. Praise his efforts and his successes.
Special Considerations
Girls typically potty train earlier than boys; this may be because they gain more control over their muscles earlier than boys, according to the National Network for Child Care. However, it may also be because moms tend to be the main potty trainers and they don’t have the same equipment as boys, suggests “Toilet Learning” author Alison Mack in a BabyCenter.com article. Additionally, since urine and bowel movements often come simultaneously, boys should be trained to urinate sitting to begin with, according to BabyCenter.com. This two-step process naturally takes longer than the one-step process for girls.
Extra Incentives
Take your son on a special “big boy underwear” shopping trip to commemorate his transition from diaper to potty, suggests BabyCenter.com, and enthusiastically let him choose any style he wants. If it becomes clear that he doesn’t care about learning to use the potty, an extra incentive such as a sticker or extra bedtime story for each success may be all the extra encouragement he needs. Once he’s gotten the hang of urinating sitting down, if he has trouble transitioning to standing, BabyCenter.com recommends letting him practice hitting targets such as floating O-shaped cereal.
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
If your little boy is fully potty trained and he starts to have accidents--especially if he is over four years of age--or if his potty training slows down, consult his doctor to be on the safe side. His accidents may have to do with an underlying condition, such as a urinary tract infection.
