Potty Training..?? when should I start potty training my little boy??)?

Question

When should I start potty training my son he is 20 months old (he will be 2years old October 26)?? My sister-in-law has already started potty training her 17 month old daughter a few months ago( at 14 months she started training her) and I thought that was a little early. I have heard that it is alot harder to potty train boys... Is this true??
When should I start potty training my son and does anybody have any tips on potty training a little boy??... My son is VERY smart! and he tells me when he has "poppies" but I still think he is a little young to be potty trained what do you think??

I have heard that too that you need to wait until they can communicate that they have to use the potty. And I have also heard that if you try too soon it will cause problems when they are older or will take longer... Thank you so much for all your wonderful answers!!

Answer 1

I would wait till he shows interest in going potty. I had planned on starting potty training my now 22 month old girl when she was 2 1/2 but she is starting to show interest in the potty so I am starting to take her when she grabs my hand and brings me to the bathroom and points to the potty. ( She only really tt'ed in the big girl potty one time but when ever she bring me to the potty I take her) When he is ready he will let you know. Maybe when your husband goes potty your son could watch daddy go potty and say daddy goes potty or big boys go potty and ask are you a big boy? That's what I do I take my girl to the bathroom with me and think it is starting to click with her.

Answer 2

Sheesh! Boys and girls sure are different...but so are siblings and so are all children. It is true that boys sometimes take longer to train.

I was completely potty trained by 18 months (12 for peepee and 18 for...you know). I thought my son would be a piece of cake because of that. He started having fewer wet diapers...he was holding his peepee longer. I bought him a potty seat when he was 2.

My son is now 3 1/2. He's only "potty trained" at school. At home...he'll peepee, but he's terrified of pooping on the potty. So he runs to the bathroom to get a pull-up...goes...and then puts his underwear back on. It's quite a show. All things in due time.

My advice...give it time. Wait for your son to give you clues. Start taking him in the bathroom with you. Let him see how the potty works. Put him up there (buy a potty seat or a potty chair) and just see what happens. If he's not ready...he wont go. Try some pull-ups too. I know there's a big debate on whether or not pull-ups are glorified diapers, but if you potty train younger I've noticed kids really like the idea of being able to pull their "underwear" up and down on their own.

It's really going to be an expirement for you. You'll have to try out different methods and see what works best. Buy a book too. He's not too young to start though. If all else fails...wait a few months and try again.

And a little tip from me to you...I think girls are easier to train because they are always in dresses...it's easier for them to get their undies or pull-ups off. Boys take longer to undress and wind up wetting themselves when they've got to go. Try dressing him in just a t-shirt and whatever undie method you choose. It'll make it easier for him to undress come potty time.

Good luck. Hopefully it'll be a smooth transition for you!!

Answer 3

I started potty training my kids when they were 18mths because they were bringing me diapers and wipes when they had dirty diapers. Look for signs that your child is ready and remember you can start introducing them to the potty before you actually start training him. From experience my boy was a little more difficult to train, but in the end he has finished potty training first. He just woke up one day and decided to got to the potty all the time. I've heard this from several other moms that with boys it just clicks one day. Don't get discouraged while potty training it was the hardest thing I've ever done. Maybe because I had twins- a boy and a girl to do. Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

Your son is old enough to start training when he can recognize that he has to go potty. I have potty trained 3 boys so far (just had my 4th son 6 mos. ago, so I have one more to look forward to! :-p) and none of my boys were ready until they were 3 yrs. old. Every child is different, though. I'd pick up some potty books from the library to read to your son. Get a really cool potty chair ~ they now have musical ones that play a song when you potty lol. Let him pick out some big boy underwear with his favorite characters on them. I rewarded my boys with an m&m every time they pee-pee'd ~ and since poop in the potty came much later and was much more difficult, I rewarded them with a small toy for that. Once he is big enough to try standing up at the toilet to potty... throwing a couple of cheerios in the pot for him to try to sink with his pee is a fun way to get him to go in the big potty.

Good luck! Patience is the key... boys are definitely much different from girls in this area!

Answer 5

I am the father of three sons. My sons were trained before they were 18 months, or shortly after learning to walk. By making it a game and taking advantage of a boys need to be like dad it was pretty easy and there have been no problems latter on. Have the man in your sons life throw a fruit loop or cheerio in the potty and show him how to aim at it. He will be hooked for life. Going from pee to poo kinda happens natural once they start going to the pottie. Lots of bragging and praise help.

Answer 6

Other parents encouraged me to use the "fit in" soft potty seat. Started sitting him down and handing him a picture book or would sit next to him and read to him. He got use to the seat. This was after his second birthday, probably 26 mos.

Once he pees and gets encouragement, he will make the connection and understand why he is sitting on the seat.

If you use the sit down type potty, I would recommend leaving him clothed, having him sit on this in his playroom, to get use to it. Then gradually move it into the restroom, then remove clothing and diaper and have him sit down and read, or sing with you.

Potty training for little boys is a longer process than for girls.
Be creative, gather advice from other parents as you go. You and your son will probably have a battle of wills before it ends. But it's a major milestone and you will feel such a sense of accomplishment, and pride in your son.

I wish you both the best of luck ~

Answer 7

i have a 2 yr old girl an i started toilet training at home at about 18 months if she wet the floor i would tell her that next time she had to use the toilet or potti it only toke a few weeks and each time she went she got rewarded with kisses an cuddles, now she is 2 1/2 and she doesnt wet or dirty her self during the day or night, if he is telling you when he is going i would probably start training him now as it is harder to get the child out off nappies when they get up to 3 or 4 and most kinders want except un toilet train children

Answer 8

He's telling u he's ready. Boys r actually easier because they don't need to take off all their pants to wee.
First of all never rouse at your tot for having an accident as this may frighten him and he may think that toileting is a bad thing as he always gets reprimanded ( a lot of kids have bowel troubles because of this). I would also wait for summer as this is easier to toilet train.
Kids usually wee first thing from a sleep so ask him as soon as he wakes up if he needs to do a wee and bring him into the big toilet (sit him down till he is properly trained then u have the fun task of teaching him how to aim), give him heaps of praise when he does it. If he doesn't wee within 5mins take him off and try again later. You can also take him outside and put him in little undies or togs and ask him every 1/2hr or so if he needs to do a wee on the grass boys love this and he'll soon take them off to do a wee.
Poos r normally much harder but if he's already telling u he needs to go then you've won that battle.
Good luck and remember patience and persistence is the key.

Answer 9

you can potty train when you think there is no hard or fast rule. my friend started potty trainin her little girl at 1 just starting off getting her use to using the potty if you know when he wants to poo then id definatly start now and the sooner he is potty trained the more money you will save on nappies which is always a bonus!!

Answer 10

Buy big boy underpants with his favorite character on them, use pull ups only at night, but let him pick his new big boy under pants. Start letting him wear them around the house then take off the diapers and put on the big boy under pants. tell him he has to use the potty if he wants to keep them. tell him he is a big boy now. don't be to serious with him he is still young. when he goes in the potty next time make a big deal out of it and jump around, clap, call people on the phone and let him tell people about it (even if he can' talk) and . He will want to go to potty so he can see you be so proud of him, Down play the accidents.