What is the best way to teach a 2 year-old boy to potty train?

Answer 1

I put real underwear on my son during the day, and he has a potty chart that he gets to put stickers on every time he goes. He really likes this. When the chart is filled out, he gets some candy. He really loves that! He has a Fisher Price Royal Potty that plays a tune every time he goes. This is VERY cool, and quite an incentive. You have to use real underwear; after he wets it a few times and soaks himself, he will get the idea. Pull-ups just don't offer this same type of negative feedback; they're too much like a diaper.

Answer 2

First of all, make sure he is ready to potty train. My advice (and I potty train about 10 kids each school year in my pre k class) is to ditch the pull ups,they feel the same as diapers and keep the wetness away from the child. Buy training pants, which are lined with thicker layers of material in the crotch area. Expect accidents and lots of laundry initially, but it will be worth it in the long run. Many parents expect their child to tell them when they want to go. That is not so. When I'm potty training a child, I only begin when I notice the child is retaining urine for a long time; in other words their diaper is dry often when I check ( check every half hour at first), then you may notice that they "flood" around 10:00 each morning (or whatever time). This tells me the child has enough control of his bladder to hold it for awhile- good time to start potty training. After you see somewhat of a pattern developing for urinating, then try the training pants. Of course you'll be reading them all those cute little potty training kiddie books to prepare them before they start. You may even buy a little potty chair, but don't let them play with it; a toilet is not a toy. It may confuse some kids if they can play with it, then they won't want to pee in it. As you begin potty training, take your child to the potty about every 30 minutes. Have him sit for just a few minutes. Let him read the potty book if you like, and praise him for sitting, but reward with a sticker or M&M only if he actually pees, even if it's only 5 drops. I make a chart on a piece of paper with a picture of the child and it has about 6 places where the child can stamp the chart when they actually pee. They get to reward themselves by stamping the chart, and when the chart is full, they can get a special treat (keep it simple). Children will not learn to control their BM's until later, so don't expect it right away. And they will not tell you that they need to go; don't ask them, TELL them it's time to go- you are in charge. If they fight you because they want to play or go out, tell him "Potty first, then play (or whatever the desired activity is). Eventually, your child will not resist because he'll learn it's quicker to go and get it over with, and soon after that, you'll find he'll start going on his own. Each child is different in the amount of time it takes to potty train, so be patient, and don't punish if they dont go or if they have an accident; it will come in time. Punishment, yelling will only cause the child stress and they will regress in their training. I have had children with developmental delays potty train in three days and others potty train in 2 years (talk about being patient!!). But the difference in the kids that learned quickly is that the parents consistently followed the advice even thought it was a lot of work. The parents that didn't follow through at home had to buy diapers a lot longer. As a teacher, I insist on everyone involved with the child working together as a team so the child doesn't get confused or regress, and so they can progress and have success with potty training. Good luck.

Answer 3

Positive Reinforcement. When he goes potty praise him! Say, you're mommy's big boy! Things like that work wonders I promise. Try a sticker chart, or small toy when he goes potty. Never get angry when he has an accident, simply change his clothes and sit him on the potty and tell him firmly but gently, this is where you go potty.

At night put him in pull ups, NOT a diaper. When you go out somewhere and you'll be out for a while, put a pull up on him and bring a couple extra ones just in case.

Answer 4

If you have the time and the patience, the easiest way is to put him directly into underwear during the day so that he understands what wet feels like and gets to understand the sensation right before he pees. Then, every half-hour or so, take him and put him on the potty. Eventually he will get the hang of it on his own. I think it usually takes 2-3 days of solid work at it for him to understand what is going on. Of course pooping sometimes takes a little longer because they are sometimes scared to do that on the potty, but it will come in due time as well. Then, at night, just put a diaper or a pull-up on him and he should be fine.

Answer 5

i've just really started digging into potty training my almost 2 1/2 year old son. what is working so far is: i have him in nothing but a shirt all day unless we leave the house or he is taking a nap, for those times and at night i put a pull-up on him. he doesn't like not having pants on so he stays on the potty a lot. also when he does potty he loves stickers so i give him a sticker. not the cheap ones either, i went out to hobby lobby and bought disney stickers, cowboy stickers, etc. and i went to the party supplies section in walmart and bought a pack of each of those stickers. i put a large piece of sketch paper from one of those big pads on the bathroom wall for the stickers to go. gold stars are too boreing. also i keep stickers in my purse so that when we are out of the house any time i notice he's dry he get's a sticker. the only time he gets to keep the sticker and not put it on the poster (sketch page) is when i notice that he is dry and if he potties when we're not home. so far it's working.

Answer 6

every time you go to the restroom have him go in there too... i think it really is easier for the dad to do this but if he can not you have too.. my boys were in the country then and you could pee anywhere almost..but not now adays anyway... but the only way is to show him and get him to understand to tell you and go with him and help him use his potty stool.. make sure you tell him how proud you are of him every time he does go in the potty chair..really make a big deal out of it.. and it does work..i have a 2 year old grandson and he goes with me and i sit him on the big stool and i hold him there... but it is better by far to have a potty stool.. he wants to try on the big stool anyway.. and he tells me when he has a dirty diaper.. and he is really pretty smart.. if i had him more i know if put the time and effort into it he would not be hard to train...

Answer 7

We got it over with our children by showing that the older sibling got over it easily. We taught the first child how it was done properly so that she would not ever fear of doing it wrongly. Fear of being alone in an enclosed space was gradually reduced by having a well-lighted potty place and letting the door ajar. Later, they would be leaving the room and getting used to finding out that nothing bad happens even if we did not stay behind the door to watch over peeps, ghosts and monsters. Potty trainers were of no help but we tried. All my kids used it as a toy seat instead.

Answer 8

It takes patience...but when we were potty training our grandson....we tried everything from watching grandpa when he went to steps and a pottychair. The thing we found to work was an idea from his step mom.......
Everytime he used the potty...he got to drop a penny or some coin in a jar...then......he got to take the money and get a toy or surprise...He was being rewarded and learning at the same time.
Good luck......I did find that boys are easier than girls though....

Answer 9

Have lots of patience! Always tell him He's a big Boy when he does go. Buying pull-ups sure help also, and let him know that they are big boy pants.
Tell him if He uses the potty instead of going in the big boy pants, you will take him shopping and
let him pick out a toy. If he follows thru, be sure to
keep your promise!!!! That's very important!!
Good Luck-try not to lose your patience--all children are different.

Answer 10

tell him all of the big cool kids do it and that if he wants to be a big boy he has to go in the potty. Or if that dosent work do what my aunt did she would let him sit in his diaper/pull up when he went so he doesnt do it any more it will make him feel uncomfortable and he wont want to do it any more.(only for about 10/15 mins so he dosent rash)