Wondering how to potty train a boy? There are some obvious challenges to potty training boys, but it doesn’t have to be as complex as you might think. I have put together some of my top tips for potty training boys!
Make sure he is ready
There’s no worse setup for failure than starting potty training way too early—or even way too late! An ideal age for potty training boys is anywhere between 18-24 months. If you try and start earlier than 18 months, your child will likely not have the proper sphincter control to be successful! The older your child is, the harder it may be to potty train him, as he may be reaching the age where defiance and tantrums can pose a challenge. Stubbornness and opposition become much more prominent at age three, so potty training at age two will be much easier!
Get a potty seat for boys
Make it a fun experience by planning a day out and going potty shopping! Children this age love to make choices and have some control, so take advantage of this and have him help pick his first potty! However, make sure you get a seat designed specifically for boys, as many of them will have special features, like “winky barriers” in the front to help prevent squirting.
Have him watch a fellow dude
We all know our children love to mimic adults, so let’s take advantage of this! Boys always love to do what daddy is doing, so have your child watch daddy or another trusted male adult go to the bathroom. Put the child potty right next to the regular toilet and have your toddler give it try!
Potty training over the weekend
Find a specific week to dedicate just to potty training! You can definitely potty train a boy in three days, but you will have to dedicate a solid three days of potty training at home—without going out. If you don’t know how to get started, I can help! Check out my 3 Day Potty Plan!, a step by step guide to potty training your toddler.
Start potty training a boy with sitting
Parents always think they have to immediately potty train their boy to pee while standing, but that’s not a very reasonable expectation. Aiming can be really difficult and a child this age can easily get distracted. He may be peeing in the potty one minute, but then he turns and is peeing on the floor the next! Start with sitting and, as he gets older and gets really comfortable with this, then you can start with some standing potty training, like aiming at cheerios! Make it fun!
Be consistent and have fun
If you want to know how to potty train a boy quickly, then always stay consistent with whatever method you are trying. Trying one thing and then quickly moving on to another will only confuse and upset your child. Staying consistent will not only help him learn quickly, but will also give him the confidence he needs to succeed. Learning how to potty train a boy is as much of a learning experience for you, as it is for your child. So, have fun together, stick to your potty training method, and remain consistent. If you follow these tips, there’s no reason you can’t potty train a boy in 3 days.
