what is the best way to start potty training my 2 1/2 year old son?

Question

My son is 2 1/2 and I want to start potty training him after the first of the year. The thing is he is my first boy (i have 2 daughters) and i'm not quite sure what the best way to potty train him is. Do I sit him down or stand him up? Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I did both.

You want him to sit down on the pottychair, for the mess factor alone. Your pottychair should have a little guard that goes in the front of the hole. But you might have thrown it away, your girls wouldn't have needed it.

But he also needs to learn how to stand up and "shake it off". Start him on pottychair, then after he is getting the hang of that, have his dad (or uncle, grandpa, any adult male you trust enough) to show him how a man goes. After that you can let him do whichever he prefers.

Is he showing signs of wanting to potty train? Some boys take a lot longer than most girls getting to the point where they are ready. My son was absolutely terrified of the toilet/pottychair, so it took me a while just to get him to sit on it.

Good luck, and yeah, be prepared. Your bathroom will never be the same again... :)

Answer 2

Well most of the time it is better when you have a guy around the house so when it is the potty time he can take him into the bathroom with him to see how its done. But first sit him down on the potty then stand him up thats how my brother learned.

Answer 3

I bought a childs clip-on toilet ring and a little step stool. Put the kiddie ring onto the regular toilet ring so he doesn't fall in and have him use the step to get up on the toilet. Put cheerios or fruit loops in the potty. Tell him he has to hit all of them to win the game. It usually happens pretty quick. My son was trained in a few days. He did have an occasional accident, but that was mostly when we were out of the house. Don't teach him to stand and pee until he's tall enough to be able to aim down into the bowl without standing on the step. It worked for me.

Answer 4

It's better for him to sit down later when he gets the hang of it he'll start doing it standing especially if he sees daddy doing it. But I don't think he's old enough to do it standing he'll make a mess everywhere. And if he's bearly potty training it's easier for him to learn to sit.

Answer 5

Let him get the target down before you let him attempt to stand! I'm a single mom and let his uncle show him how to stand and pee outside! The cheerio thing was fun, but he liked the "bubbles" best. Keep a bottle of soap at the toliet, squirt it in the water and tell him to make bubbles..... It's pretty funny. Keep in mind though, and I found out the hard way... boys do what they want when their ready! Good Luck to you!!!!

Answer 6

It too mine a bit to get the hang of it but I found the best way to do it with my kids was anytime I needed to go to the bathroom to take them along and set them on their potty too. Make a big deal if they do go!!

Answer 7

I didnt know either my ex was never around so I taught my son, It was during the spring months so I let him pee in his favorite dump truck, sanitized very well afterwards and gradually he started peeing in the potty.

Answer 8

Teach him to sit down, He'll make messes every where if he stands. He can teach him self to stand once he is like second or third grade. Dont encourage standing, you'll regret the mess all over your floor.

Answer 9

well this worked on my baby brother ( i raised him) i put Fruit loops in the toliet and had him sink them. he had a blast doing that before i knew it he was potty trained

Answer 10

Tell him to poop in the bowl. If he doesn't punch him in the back of the head until he learns.......