Tips for potty training?

Question

My son is almost 3 and finally seems ready for potty training - what are some tips?

Answer 1

If he is ready then take him with you when you use the toilet and let him watch. Also if his dad or if you have a male friend that you trust ask him if he will take your son to the bathroom with him and let him watch the other male use the toilet. He might get a hang of it then and start to show interest in potty training.

It depends on weather or not you want him to start out sitting on the potty and first and then later on teaching him how to stand but you could put cereal in the toilet and tell him to aim for them. This way it makes it fun for him and it will also help him with his aim. If you make a game out of it for him he might actually want to do it more. I would say to use the "reward system" but once you start doing that the child will always expect a reward for each time he goes even after he is completely trained. Then he might not want to use the potty if he doesn't get the reward. The best way of "reward" is to praise the child each time he goes on the potty and/or tries to at least go. (Also if you do the reward system it will be just like buy nappies because you will probably be spending the same amount of money on rewards as you probably would on nappies.)

If he is afraid of the "big" potty then try to by him his own potty. If you don't want to do that then you can buy him a little seat that fits over the big toilet. I'm pretty sure that it comes with an attachment that you can put on the little seat so his penis is facing down so the urine won’t go everywhere. If it doesn't come with an attachment it is a good idea to have him hold his penis down into the toilet so the urine won't go everywhere. If you start to hold it down for him, later when you teach him to stand he may want you to hold his penis while he goes and then you will have trouble getting him out of that habit. If you put him in pull-ups he might think that it is just like a nappy and might just go in those. So I suggest not using pull-ups. Make a special trip to the store just for him and let him pick out underwear with his favourite characters on them. (It would be best to buy him boxers. it makes it easier for him to pull them down when he has to go. Also make sure that he is in clothes that he can easily pull down himself to go.)

Ask him every 15 - 20 minutes if he has to go to the potty. If he says "no" then take him anyway and just let him sit on the potty for a little while. That way he will get the idea of it. Make sure that he drinks plenty of water that way he will have to urinate more often and that increases the chance of him going when you put him on the potty. After a while once he gets the hang of it you won't have to keep asking him so often if he has to go. He will just be going himself. Try to stay home for a few days. It will be easier instead of going out and trying to potty train him at the same time and it will be easier on the both of you.

He will have a lot of accidents and you will probably be doing a lot of laundry but it is better to put him in just regular underwear because when he does wet himself he won't like the feeling of being wet and will soon use the toilet.

I wish you guys luck with this. I wish you the best. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Make is smooth and easy - never a battle. Believe me, you will be the looser in this one and it will push him away from it even more.
Make sure that you just praise the daylights out of him when he goes successfully.

For me the easiest thing was just slap some big boy underwear on and go for it. He knew and understood what the potty was and it took only 3 times of him wetting himself and now he tells us everytime.

Some other options are to go sit on the potty every 20 minutes or so and get him used to it.

It all depends on the child....do a lot of reading and see what options would suit your child's personality better. But no matter what route you take just remember positive and encouraging. Please don't ever try and make him feel bad for accidents or if he still isn't fully ready.

Answer 3

Okay this is my specialty.

1. bare Bottom routine- Take the diapers, pull ups, underwear off and let your son feel the sensation of the urine or Bm coming. The sensations are magnifide 10 fold when they are bare. yes their will be accidents but trust me not many! And if there are have him help you clean it up. They can with little rubber gloves or can at least throw away the paper towels in a ziplock.

2. Every 30 minutes- Have your son try at least every 30 minutes no matter what. He will eventually get the hang of it.

3. Potty Party- When you get succes no matter how small or light Party Party. make a crazy big deal about it. Have him tell grandma or Daddy or a friend. Go crazy and then they get excited.

4. Accident talks- When an accident occurs really talk to your child asking Where does the potty go? They answer the potty. Does it go in your pants? No I say it 3 or 4 times and really get the point across. then tell them over and over You are a big boy Where do big boys potty?

5. Big Boy Big Deal- have your son Really grab hold of this concept. I am a big boy and big Boys don't...(Fill in the blanks) Then have him tell everybody!

6. Cool Undies Dude- Go out and make a big deal about buying big boy cool undies. Let him pick out his big boy undies (Get ready for the lightning Mcqueen/batman special)
Then make a big deal about keeping those dry, if an accident happens act really sad that his big boy cool undies got wet or messy. DO not use pull ups during the day... that is a diaper to your son!

7. Clean up man- No matter what, if an accident happens try to include him in the clean up. They need to take responsiblity for the disposal of part of it. Again use sanitary means as much as possible and no matter what Have him wash his hands with soap after every time at the potty or cleaning up.

And Mom for you...join a support group of moms and Take care of you!!!!!!!
Trust me you will be successful, just take the time and hang in there, he will not start high school in diapers!

Answer 4

This may sound funny, but THEY know when they are ready! I had twin boys, and one started taking off his diaper shortly after his first birthday, he could never stand being wet or soiled, so it was easier to train him than his brother, because he was ready. I would place them on the regular toilet with a removable toddler seat attached, instead of a little potty.
That way it was easier to switch over to the toilet, and I would do it at the same times each day, after meals!

Also I gave them little games to keep them occupied on the
"throne"and would sit with them and sometimes read them a story usually to do with them growing to be big boys. I didn't
have a problem because one twin ate lots slower than his brother(smile). Make sure they wear pull ups first, because then you can make a game out of it. Good luck! Oh yes I almost forgot the most important thing, lots and lots of praise rewards,and hugs! I'm grandma raising 3 little ones and 2 teens, the twins turned 6 this month, and they have a 7 year old sister, now SHE was the challenge(smile)!

Answer 5

By showing you how potty training can be
easy... If you follow a proven plan.

Most parents potty train using trial and
error and *prolong* potty training by months
instead of just days if they had used a
proven plan.

Carol Cline explains here

Answer 6

Clock him every half hour to every hour. My son had to go every half hour because at certain times he wouldn't do anything. The more consistant you are the quicker it happens. Instead of asking him if he needs to go just tell him it is time to go and take him to the potty. I would stick to either underwear or nothing at all because pull-ups are just like diapers. I work in a child day care center and have a 3 year old son *who is almost fully potty trained* we clock work our children to every hour. Keep them in a pull-up during nap time and at night. Once they wake up dry for a week at least then it is time to stop the pull-ups all together. Reward him with candy, stickers, stamps, or like dollar store toys every time. I did a chart for my son..once he collected so many stickers for potty then he got to go to the dollar store and pick a prize. be very positive and do not force him. if he says no and backs away just accept it because you don't want to terrify him of the potty. I can't think of anything else but if you have any other questions feel free to email me. Good luck!

Answer 7

It helped my son to potty train standing up: not only did he want to be like his father, it also helped for him to see what was happening and connect the sensations. He used The Potty Stool http://www.thepottystool.com This stool makes every toilet kid-sized. He could easily stand at the toilet (or sit) safely and securely. My kids immediately climbed up on this stool and were very interested in using the toilet. I was shocked how easy potty training was for him.

The handles and sides make all the difference! My son and daughter felt very secure and the sides makes them feel comfortable and closed in when they use the toilet.

My kids like to use what they know mommy and daddy use. And it really is wonderful having your kids independently use the toilet on their own. The best thing is children use this stool for years. Hope this helps you.

Answer 8

try to find something to reward him with, my three year old loved to be rewarded especially by his grandma so we told him that if he used the potty we were gonna call her and let her know, it was interesting calling my mom about five times a dy to let her know for a full two weeks but he loved it and know he sleeps accidental free in underwares. good luck

Answer 9

Make it as stress free as possible. Don't put a lot of pressure on him. Use lots of praise and positive reinforcement. Make sure you are consistent and help along the way. Most importantly be patient.

Answer 10

you could reward him everytime he did , ((once you get the potty training down))