Peeing Standing Up

Updated on November 03, 2008
J.G. asks from Waipahu, HI
32 answers

Aloha Happy Mommas!
My question is regarding our just turned two year old son. I can handle potty training him, my question is really about the whole "peeing standing up" concept. How soon did you start introducing this? Any problems with waiting until they are older? What did you do if Dad (nor any other male) absolutely can not demonstrate it?

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So What Happened?

Wow! Thanks for all your responses - Can't believe how many we got! Lots of great ideas. Will keep everything in mind and implement these when he seems a bit more ready.

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D.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

My little boy is 4 1/2 and he still likes to sit down except for in preschool where the potties are really little. I think it is better since he is still too small to stand above a regular toilet. He has learned how to angle himself so that it stays in the pottie.

Do what ever is comfortable for him.

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A.H.

answers from San Diego on

I had my boys aim into the potty. I told them to aim their bottom into the potty. I've also been told you could put cheerio's in the potty for targets. It's not as hard as you might think. Have fun:)

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A.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

We never really made it an issue. He was going to preschool at 2 years old, fully potty trained by 2.5. He was seeing the other boys, 3-5 years old stading and I guess he just caught on that way. It was not something we ever "practiced" at home. He will do it eventually on his own

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L.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm a single mom to 2 boys. No dad in the picture at all.
I taught them to stand up with the good old toilet paper in the bowl trick. From day one. Rip up a sheet of TP and let it float in the toilet. Tell them to try and sink the paper.

Cheerios is great -- however it didn't work for us because, One of the boys loved cheerios and would try and dig them out of the toilet. HA HA makes me laugh even now.

Lysol wipes are a godsend..keep them handy they will miss! My boys are 9 now and we still have wipes at the ready...because they still sometimes miss the mark.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

We started our son peeing in the shower using the drain as a target. He was hesitant at first, but we made it fun. He was under 2 and he is the cleanest of his friends. He rarely, if ever makes a mess and when his friends come over who are 6 and 7, they are the ones I have to clean up after.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

J.,

I am a proud mother of a now 4 yr old who has been peeing standing since he was 2 1/2 yrs old... and believe it or not, all thanks to his mommy... ME...

My mother taught him how to pee sitting and sometimes that made a mess...

So since my husband was too embarassed to teach him how, I figured who better than mommy right... until he told me...(WELL I'LL leave the HE TOLD ME STORY FOR THE END OF THIS Message)...

So one weekend when we were home alone (daddy at softball tournament) I decided to teach him how to pee standing and told him. I knealed (sp?) behind him and told him to hold on to it... he already knew that part as he'd been very curious at that point. I told him ok so now you put the top (toilet cover) up and then you hold yourself to make sure it goes inside the toilet. As he was aiming, I sort of helped him by moving his hands to aim in the right place and not all over my wall... And so, that's when he learned that boys pee that way and girls pee sitting. He understands that when he's too sleepy or his feet hurt, that it's ok to sit for boys... Practice that over the weekend and you'll see he'll catch on.

And so, back to my story, UNTIL HE TOLD ME when he was closer to 3 yrs old, mommy let me show you how you're supposed to pee. You pull down your pants and your underwears, then you pull this and hold it like this... OK mom now its YOUR TURN...

I blushed so badly and was cracking up at the same time. I decided to clarify to him that mommy had to always sit and that boys like daddy could stand or sit if they wanted to...

Since then, there hasn't been any further blushing on my behalf. Now there are those times, when he sneaks a peek of mommy changing and he says "Mommy, I saw your big booty"... hahaha

Good luck and trust me there's nothing wrong with mommy teaching the boys how to stand and pee.

Take care and good luck

~C.

p.s. share your results...

1 mom found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi,
I agree heartily: target practice was the key to getting my sons to pee standing up. But we used colored ice cubes -- our kids got points, depending on how much of which color cube they could melt. My kids may have been a little more 'into it' than most, but at one point we actually had a score chart up on the wall to record their points. Of course, now that everyone is older all that target practice kinda needs a refresher course! (sigh... c'est la guerre!)

Good luck! :-)

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S.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

hi J. i have a 4 yr old son. if he sees other boys his age pee standing up he will know and understand that that is what he is soposed to do. try to get him to stand up and pee when he goes to the restroom. sometimes he may feel more confortable sitting if he just got the hang of going. just a thought.

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D.V.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had to respond to this one. Now of course this may only have been my experience but I thought I should share. Peeing standing up was an easy thing to learn and I don't think you need to worry about the male demonstrating it. Our problem was that once we started with my son peeing standing up, it then became a real struggle getting him to poop on the potty. He was "pee trained" right away but after peeing standing up, he refused to sit down to poop and it took almost a year to potty train him completely.

hope this helps.

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C.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I know most moms would gasp at this answer...Take him outside to learn how to pee on a tree. That way he can learn how to control it and have good aim before he uses the toilet! It worked for me, but my son turned 2 in the summer time so peeing outside was not an issue. It only took a week or two to get him good enough for the toilet inside.

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P.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Our son started peeing sitting down before he was 2, but wasn't completely potty trained. He watched daddy all the time, but didn't make a difference. By the time he turned three and finally started going on a frequent basis then he stood up. Prior to that he didn't want to. I guess it's the same idea of when they're ready, they're ready. You can try showing him and leave it as an option. What I also found is that it was difficult to take him potty in public toilets because he wasn't tall enough. Had to hold him up and that was a back breaker. Good luck.

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H.V.

answers from San Diego on

We started with him sitting down for pee and poop and stayed that way with no issues or concerns. I was fine with that b/c he was not tall enough to reach without a stool anyway. He saw a buddy standing up at a play date and that was how he wanted to do it from then on which was perfect b/c I did not have to force the issue. Another trick on standing up... float a piece of TP and have him try and sink it, it will keep him "misses" to a minimum. Good luck...

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L.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi J.,

I started with my son sitting down. There wasn't a male around most of the day so we didn't really have "show and tell." It works out great and in my opinion helps with training for going number 2. Beleive me when I tell you they will figure out all on their own that they need to stand up. When the time came, I bought a little potty stool so he could reach and then tossed rolled bits of toilet paper in the bowl and told him to "shoot the boats." It was a great learning tool and much easier on my walls!!! Good luck to you.

L. L

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H.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

We started training while our son was sitting down(about 2 years), and he started standing up when he was 4 years old, and tall enough to reach the toilet. It was an easy transition.

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

My nephew peed sitting on the toilet up until about a few months ago. He is now 4 years old. He just decided that he wanted to go to the bathroom like daddy.
If there is no daddy present, then I would just introduce it slowly and make it fun by putting cherrios in the tiolet to aim at them. 2 years old is still really young, so take your time and don't pressure him!
Good luck!

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J.D.

answers from San Diego on

My son is 3 and he started wanting to pee standing up and for a couple of monthes h did great. BUT He started to get lazy and started peeing on my floor and walls. I would have your son sitting as long as possible plus he probably is too short for public tiolets.
It wasn't until my son wanted to stand up I rwealized how tall public tiolets are lets say we pee in bushed often bc of this.

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C.Y.

answers from Los Angeles on

Absolutely start him sitting down first. We did and it was fine. Later, when he was totally potty trained and comfortable with the process, then we moved on and asked, "Do you want to try it standing up like Daddy does?" He transitioned with no problem. It is also better to wait for standing because when the are really little, they are too short to stand on the floor and pee -- their penises are still below the bowl level, and its hard enough to learn without having to stand on your tip toes.

One note about peeing sitting down, you have to teach them to push it down between their legs to pee. Otherwise, watch out. It is unbelievable how far a pee stream can reach and then you've got a real mess to clean up! Good luck!

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C.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Teach him to sit and pee. Once he is maybe 4 he will see other boys standing to pee and then he will have much better control and be able to do it without making a huge mess. There is absolutely no reason to have him stand up and pee this young.

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D.V.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi J., my son started from peeing standing up. (1 year old)
He just wanted to copy daddy. We kept a stool that he could stand on next to the toilet. That made it easier for him.

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

Hi J. our sons were 2 when my husband taught them, but here is what some single moms do, they put a cherrio in the toilet, and play sing the cherrio, so they aim for the cherrio. J. L.

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M.Z.

answers from Reno on

We taught sitting first and then he just kinda picked up peeing standing. We explained that while he was learning he could sit, but once he could do that he'd get to pee standing up like a big boy!

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W.A.

answers from Visalia on

I would say to let him do it sitting until he is tall enough to clearly get it in the toilet. You will have enough of a mess for years to come even when they can reach. Also I am sure someone already said this but the classic thing is to put Cherrios in there for him to "aim" at. Kinda makes a game of it and will help with no male to demonstrate. Good Luck!

W.

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son just turned 3 and we taught him to pee sitting down mainly so it was easier for us. Less mess and less missing the toilet. Since he's been potty trained I've tried to have him stand up and he won't have it. My older son was taught the same way and he still sits. I don't think it's a problem. Both my son's had a role model and they still sit. Don't worry about it I say.

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi
I started my son sitting down and he graduated to standing up about 6 months later. Put a cheerio in the toilet bowl and have him aim to hit that. Also, keep a binch of lysol wipes handy for the inevitable misses.
Good luck

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L.A.

answers from San Diego on

Mom of four boys here. If he just turned two, he is WAY too young to start potty training. Boys should be trained between the ages of 3 and 4. But just so you know for later, when he is old enough to be potty trained easily and successfully, little boys do not need to be trained to pee standing up. That can come much later, when they are at least 5. Otherwise you are asking for a heck of a mess for years to come. Train him to pee sitting down. If he wants to pee outside standing up, thats great, but as for using the potty, he should start out sitting down. It sounds like you have not done any research on this subject. In twelve months, start having him try out the potty. If he seems uninterested, wait 3 months and try again. And so on. If you wait until a child is ready, potty training is the easiest thing in the world and takes only a few days. Start too early and it will be nothing but a hassle and a nightmare for everyone concerned.

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N.B.

answers from Reno on

My son did better potty training once he learned to pee stand up. He was almost 3yr and dad is at home to demonstrate but I don't know if this had a big impact or not, since I was the one to really work with him daily? What about another male child, like a friend or cousin? Good luck, potty training isn't fun but worth the pain once you can say bye bye to diapers :)

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S.F.

answers from Reno on

Hi J.!

With my two sons, they had to sit until they could demonstrate they could tinkle standing up without making a mess all over the floor. That took a few years...<g>

As for teaching it without a man to demonstrate, my grandmother always told the best story about potty training my uncle. She was an avid gardner, so she trained him by having him "water" the pansies. He wouldn't go standing up in the potty until she tossed in a pansy and told him to "water" it, which he did. Fun for my uncle, and easy on the plumbing. Food for thought...

Good luck!

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S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi,

My mother in-law and my mom say that they had dad demo how to do this and the boys took to it very easily. I remember my dad doing this with my two younger brothers and he had them standing on a little step stool and told them to aim for a colored little marshmallow that he had put in there. He did have to help them hold and aim at first and later on at night when they were sleepy. Now days they also have a training urinal for little boys and it claims that it makes the whole standing up thing much easier. I am planning on doing as my dad did with my son in a few months. I'm in disagreement with another post about starting potty training early. I began at 7 months and my son who is almost 2 has be dry during the day for 2 months. The research shows that the earlier you begin training the earlier that it is completed. It is only been during the last 40 years that there has been a shift to delay training until the child is "ready." Just ask your grandma about how they used to do it.

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S.O.

answers from San Diego on

We started in the sitting down position. But once my son saw Daddy standing up to pee, he wanted to stand up and be a Big Boy like Daddy. I would say that it started not long after we started potty training, so maybe age 2.5? Since we was still too short to reach over the potty, we just put a step stool in front of the toilet for him to stand on.

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A.B.

answers from San Diego on

The modeling inevitably will come when your oldest boy starts school and then they all do it regardless of whether they did it at home or not. Relax my dear, your boy will pee standing, and you will wish he would sit down and keep the potty clean! A :)

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L.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

My son just started doing it on his own one day, not long after he became toilet trained. No specific training was necessary. Probably saw his dad stand up to pee often enough that he just started copying.

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L.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

My younger child peed standing up earlier than my older one, but it was around 3 and a half. I put 5 or six cheerios or friut loops in the toilet and had the boys stand on a step stool and try and hit them. they loved it! Good luck!

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