Rumor has it that boys are harder to potty train than girls, but the reason for this may be simply because moms (and other female caregivers)are the primary potty-trainers, and women may just be more comfortable teaching their daughters to use the bathroom. Boys also generally start training later and may take longer to become fully potty trained.
Ready Later
Some experts believe that boys mature more slowly than girls and take longer to reach cognitive and linguistic milestones that signal readiness to potty train (such as having words for the toileting process and its products, asking for a diaper change, communicating physical needs like hunger and discomfort, and following simple directions). It's best to delay potty training until your child is able to understand his body's signals, communicate his needs and follow the steps involved in using the bathroom, regardless of his age. Pushing him before he's ready will frustrate both of you and could further prolong the potty training process.
Stand or Sit?
One reason boys take longer to train than girls may be because for many of them, it's a two-step process: they first learn sitting down, then standing up. Teaching your son to sit down to pee might actually be helpful when he's first getting started; he'll be able to focus on the basics without worrying about the tougher tasks of aiming and trying to keep balance while standing. Once he's mastered getting to the bathroom on time, taking his clothes off, peeing in the potty, getting dressed and washing up, you can tackle the more intricate tasks of standing, pointing and aiming.
High Activity Levels
If your son is an especially active little guy, he may be unwilling to sit still long enough to use the potty. You might try enticing him by amping up the fun, like using toilet targets, bringing special toys or music into the bathroom so he can enjoy them while he sits, or singing with him.
Sensory Issues
If cold toilet seats, rough toilet paper and loud flushes seem to scare your child away from the bathroom, he's not alone. Somewhere between 5 and 13 percent of children have sensory processing disorders, and three out of four of them are boys. Kids with sensory processing disorders have difficulty making sense of the input they receive from their senses, which can lead to challenges with many everyday activities, including potty training. If you suspect your son has sensory processing difficulties, talk to your pediatrician.
