HELP! Potty Training Boys?!?

My kids would sit at first and then stand on my feet to make them tall enough.

None of my 4 got potty training until they were around 3, so my advice is not to push it. It's one thing you cannot control and they do it when they are good and ready.

M.

I have to agree with the age...he may be a little too young. I'll share my experience and you can do what you want with it! :)

My son started pooping on the potty around 2-2 1/2 (not all the time, very sporadically) and then stopped after 2 1/2. We didn't push it at all and when he went to the doctor for his 3 year check up she told him he was too big for diapers now and didn't need them anymore (explaining to me sometimes this works and sometimes not, but worth a try!) We came home from the appointment, took his diaper off and he's been trained ever since, with only 1 accident about a month after that! Oh, I also just put underwear on him. I think the Easy Ups and Pull Ups are confusing and may hinder the learning process so we only use them at night. He's never worn one during the day except when we went on an airplane ride and still kept it dry! He uses the seat that fits over the toilet seat with the splash guard, sits for everything. Only occasionally does he want to stand (which is fine with me...his aim is HORRIBLE!) haha

I wish you the best of luck. It's still early, so don't get too frustrated. Maybe ask your pediatrician to tell him the same thing at a check up and see if that works?

Good luck!
M.

S., be patient. Boys sit. Take him to the bathroom with you. Over the big toilet seats work best, rather than a "Potty chair".

My son learned to go backwards. It was easier - no messing with potty seats and he could go even out in public. Eventually, he stood, at first on a stool and then when he got tall enough on his own. He still does #2 backwards.

When we first started, he was about 32 months old and I was home on maternity leave, so I had the time. We did not do pull-ups during the day, he went straight to underwear. He had a few accidents, but I thought it was no big deal. He did wear pull ups for naps and at bed time. Eventually he gave up wearing them at nap time and now he doesn't wear them at night either.

We would set the kitchen timer. When it rang, we would sing the "potty time" song and he would go to the bathroom and try. We would reset the timer when he was done for 60 minutes and do it again. We pretty much stayed home that weekend. Eventually, the time on the timer got longer and he learned to tell us that he had to go.

Good luck! It is an adventure!

I have four boys who were all a breeze to potty train! All I did was have them sit down at the beginning (had to remind them that the "plumbing" had to be pointed down into the bowl) and offer M & M's to them each time they went (just a few at a time because they would go A LOT in order to get the candy!). I always made sure to act VERY excited when we had a successful venture. When they were ready to try it standing up, I would throw a couple of cherios in the potty and tell them to aim for them. Still showed lots of excitement and still gave M & M's!
Another thing...I skipped the whole pull ups thing. Went straight from diapers to underwear. Made a big deal about the big boy underwear and how only big boys who use the potty get to wear them (just like Daddy!). We did keep the diapers at night time, but it wasn't long till the diapers were gone for good! We chose a time that we were going to be home for a couple of days(with no errands or anything to do) and pushed liquids like crazy (got some special fun drinks too). We were done potty training before we knew it!! Make it an exciting time and always let them know how proud you are! Good Luck and remember to be patient....it will happen faster on their time if they're ready!

We are training our son to sit down right now. He is almost 2 and a half. Sitting down is easier at this point because they don't get the whole aiming thing. Plus, it's a lot cleaner! We started out with the potty chair, but then my son insisted that he sit on the big potty like mommy and daddy. We taught him to sit on the back of the toilet seat and lean forward a little so he aims down. He holds himself up by placing his hands on the seat in from of him. It works really well for him at home, because we just take his shorts and underwear completely off. When we are out and about or when he has shoes on, it's harder because he can't sit on the seat the way he does at home. So I take the back of my right index finger and physically point his "pee-pee" down so he pees in the toilet. It's harder, but it works. When he was using the potty chair, we had him sit on it for 20 minutes at a time while he watched a t.v. program and he usually got a sippy full of water or juice a half hour before so he would have to pee when he sat down on it. This went on for about 2 weeks until he knew what it felt like to pee without his diaper on. Good luck!

Hi S.
I agree with the first two responses. 22mos is very early. Let him take the lead. I wouldn't even talk about it. Just leave the potty there and see what happens. Parents think they can train their kids, but they can't. Kids do it when they want to and when they are ready, so we need to bud out:)! If you work and he is in daycare, it may happen sooner than you think, as they usually have those cute little child size toilets and stand them up to change their diaper and let them have a chance to try and go on the potty (this is how my son figured it out. I didn't have to really do much except buy the underwear when he asked for it. He was at 1 month before his 3rd birthday) My daughter was not in daycare, but I left her alone and she took a bit longer. She was trained at about 3years, 6 months. Your house will also be a lot happier and stress free if you let him train himself. Just give him the tools and set a good example and he will figure it out. Good luck! Ps. You didn't mention if their was a husband/ male influence in the picture. If there is, he should help with the nuts and bolts of standing, aiming etc. or you are just going to have to show him (you can do it!:) )

We started out with the sitting, but he was usually so excited he was going that he'd get it everywhere! He was very interested in standing, so I went with it. If he's too short still, you can get a little step stool to help boost him up. I've heard of parents using fruit loops in the toilet to aim at...the first time my son tried to reach in & grab one to eat it (yes, I caught him!) I stopped with the cereal & he still figured it out. The sitting was easier to keep him occupied by playing games...so maybe start out sitting, then quickly move to standing once you are in a bit of a groove.

Oh my gosh he's too young.

Congrats on getting him to poop on the potty. In truth, don't expect too much at this point. When we were trying to train my older son, everyone (teacher and Dr's included) told us that it's closer to three for boys. They just take a little longer. We started at just over two and it was hit or miss. Jacob turned 3 and then about a week later told US he wanted to go potty and we didn't look back.

Our second son is 22 months and has shown a huge interest in it (probably due to his big brother). We brought the little potty up for him and he loves to sit on it. He hasn't gone yet, though.

We trained Jacob to sit down and pee first because he would go when he pooped. After he got the hang of it, Dad showed him how to stand and he stands now.

With Ryan (our 22M old), it's a little harder because of the way he sits down. His "little buddy" is not pointed in the toilet and if he DOES pee, it's gonna shoot straight up. So, we've been showing him to stand (like Jacob does).

Whatever works the easiest for him is the best method. Just let him take the lead and don't push it. I'm not sure about your son, but Ryan is really at a power struggle stage right now!

Good luck!

try have him sit backwards,facing the tank, on the potty to pee. He is able to sit, hold onto the lid, but still "pee like a boy" and see what is happening. there is still enuf open area of the seat to pee into without having to "steer". We started this last week with my son and he loves peeing "backwards"! Hope that helps you...

Hi S.!

CHERRIOS!!! We would make a "game" to get him to pee in there. Sink the cheerios! He loved it and would get sooooo excited when he felt the urge. After a couple weeks of course, the game went away as the urge overcame the game i guess.