Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Tips for potty training a boy

Jennifer Passmore
By

Potty training a child is a task that no parent really looks forward to doing, but it is something that has to be done. If you have a little boy that is transitioning into the stage of being ready for potty training and you are looking for some tips, we’ve rounded up some of the best advice from the experts. When it comes to how to potty train a boy, there are different things you can do to encourage them to use the potty when they feel like they have to go.

Potty training tips

Be sure they’re ready

You can kick start the process by talking to them about what is going to happen with potty training. Mary Gavin, M.D. for Nemours Kid’sHealth recommends that you should talk to your child about “identifying” the process, such as asking them if they have to go “poo” or “pee.” Gavin also recommends using small words in order for them to understand better. Another thing you can do is to have your toddler let you know that their diaper is soiled. That way, they can start recognizing what it feels like and how they will benefit from potty training. When they become uncomfortable in their diapers or disposable underwear or they don’t like the feeling of even wearing a diaper anymore, that’s when you know that they are ready to be potty trained.

Related Videos
Boy-On-Potty

Find the right potty

Locating the “right” potty for your son is very important. They have to be comfortable with the potty they are using, otherwise, all of your hard work will be all for naught. Many small children are rather intimidated by a large toilet seat, so it’s best to get a smaller one for them to sit on. Dina DiMaggio, M.D., writing for the New York Times, says that “Often pediatricians find it is easier to use a potty chair, or a small portable potty that your child can sit on while placing both feet on the ground.” Having these smaller potties eliminate the fear of using a big potty and many small children’s fears of falling into the toilet. A potty chair gives them more comfort and a place to put their feet on the ground.

Encouragement

Positive reinforcement is something that is so important when you are potty training a child. Dr. Michael McKenna, a pediatrician from Zionsville, Indiana tells TODAY, “Celebrate the little victories. Figure out what will inspire your kid to make good decisions.” This does not necessarily mean that you need to give them a piece of candy or a toy when they use the potty, but by telling them how proud of them you are, they will then feel that inside themselves. Toddlers enjoy that feeling and very much want more of it, so they will start doing their best to try and use the potty.

Child-On-Potty

Sit or stand?

When it comes to potty training boys, many make the case to begin potty training them sitting down. This kind of takes anymore kind of guesswork out of it for them. They don’t have to think about two things at once just yet. Many also believe that this will ease up on the “mess factor” of potty training. Dr. Maureen O’Brien, Ph.D., director of parenting and child development at The First Years, in Avon, Massachusetts tells Parents, “It’s not just because of the mess factor. When a child is learning, you want to keep the number of variables that he needs to think about to a minimum. Deciding whether to sit or stand can cause him to hesitate a few seconds—and those seconds can be crucial.”

Final tips

Help them feel comfortable

Once your child has found the right potty for them, help them choose a location in the home where it is easy for them to go and sit down when they need to. It should be a place in your home where they are comfortable. Jen L’Italien, certified Oh Crap Potty Training consultant and owner of Oh Crap Potty Training From ME To You said to CNN, “It can take time before kids are comfortable with flushing. And you don’t have to rush the child to flush the toilet.” So, finding a place in the house together is a great idea. That way, everyone is happy.

Be Consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to potty training. Even just having them practice by sitting on the potty with their clothes on, even if they don’t have to go can be effective. This is to get a sense of when to take potty breaks. Accidents are going to happen, and Joanna Vogel, education director of Kidz Village preschool in Maspeth, New York tells CNN, that when they go to school, “Several sets of extra clothes in the cubby are a must.” But we shouldn’t let accidents discourage them from potty training.

Once you know that your child is ready to start potty training, get ready for it. A good place to start is to get them some gear. A step stool for reaching the sink to wash their hands is good to have on hand. Other items include a potty seat, special soap to wash their hands, anything to make it special for them. These helpful tips will help you accomplish your potty training goals.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Show your young child you love them with these Valentine’s Day toddler activities
Valentine's Day with kids can be fun - and these preschooler-approved activities prove it
Child making a paper heart with scissors

Valentine's Day is the holiday to celebrate love, but it doesn't just have to be romantic love (like how kids join in with giving Valentine's cards at school). If you're spending Valentine's Day with kids, you may want to include them in the celebration. Engaging your little one in Valentine's Day toddler activities is a way to show them love and even build skills and self-esteem. Seriously — art, cooking, and physical activity are all on the table when you're spending Valentine's Day with kids.
Like with any holiday, you can make it your own. Here are toddler and preschool Valentine's Day activities your young children will embrace — and so will you.

Valentine's Day crafts for toddlers and preschoolers
Heart crafts
Make a garland, mobile, wreath, or card out of paper hearts, or adapt just about any craft to include the color red or pink. There are endless Valentine's Day crafts out there for any age that will let you have quality family time around the table.

Read more
Tips on how to get your toddler to follow directions willingly (seriously)
Not following directions is common toddler behavior. Here's how to overcome it together and with respect
two parents playing with blocks with a child

Toddlers are full of energy and exceptionally curious. It can make these years fun for parents and they can start learning more and more about their little one’s unique personality and interests. Toddlers are learning, too. As they become stronger and more mobile, they become more independent — which is a natural part of growing up. However, it also makes teaching a toddler directions important.

Making a toddler follow directions can feel like a steep uphill climb. Think about it: Would you like being told that you must skip lunch with a friend to power through an unexpected work project? Pushback is not abnormal toddler behavior. You and your child can work together to overcome challenges.

Read more
How to plan your toddler’s feeding schedule to keep them happy
Here are the benefits of a toddler feeding schedule
Toddler girl eating fruit in the kitchen

As children grow from babyhood to toddlerhood, a lot of things change, including how, what, and when they eat! It's an exciting time introducing your toddler to new foods, textures, and flavors, but they can also be a picky bunch. If we left it up to toddlers to create their own feeding schedule, they'd probably munch on Goldfish crackers, string cheese, and not much else.

A toddler's feeding schedule is important because not only does it help keep the growing little one from getting "hangry," but it also helps ensure they're getting the nutrients they need for their physical and mental development. Keeping toddlers on any kind of schedule isn't always easy, but having a toddler feeding schedule is a great way to keep your little one happy and healthy. Of course, every child is different, but here are some easy ways to create a toddler feeding schedule that will work for your family.

Read more