Most boys don’t start peeing standing because they don’t need to – the most important thing is that they learn to sit down to both wee and poop.
Until they do, make it fun and make them feel in charge. Try racing to the toilet and hiding potty-related items around the house for them to find.
Stickers
You may have heard that training boys to use the toilet is harder than training girls, but success depends more on your child’s unique strengths and quirks than on following specific boy-specific advice. The key to success is encouraging your son to develop good habits. If you have a boy who struggles with aim and accuracy, there are several techniques to help him improve his skills so that he can say goodbye to diapers forever.
Invest in a small potty chair that fits comfortably on your child’s toilet and decorate it with stickers and other items to make it feel like his own personal seat. Then, place it in a location where it will be easy for him to access, such as his bathroom or playroom. Make sure that your child can reach the sink, so he can wash his hands before and after pooping or peeing.
Encourage your child to sit down on the potty to poop and pee at the same time to ensure that he understands that both activities should be done in the potty. At this age, children tend to be very focused on their sense of independence, so separating the two activities can make them less willing to do both in the potty.
If your child is resistant to sitting down to poop, consider using a small toilet stool that will allow him to put his feet on the floor and stabilize himself. This will also make it easier for him to bend over and reach his private area.
Use a sticker or piece of a Cheerio (or other puffed cereal) that can stick inside the toilet bowl to act as a target for your son to aim at. This will give him a visual cue to direct his penis downwards, and it will flush away when he is finished.
To increase your son’s motivation during toilet training, try making it fun for him by racing him to the potty or hiding potty-related items, such as a potty chair or a potty-focused storybook, around the house for him to find before he can use them. Getting him involved in potty-related activities can also be a great way to boost his confidence, which is important for the success of any toilet training strategy.
Cheerios
While it’s true that boys often take a little longer than girls to become toilet trained, they do eventually master the skill. Whether your son is ready to say goodbye to diapers and hello to big boy underwear, or you’re struggling to help him improve his aim while peeing in the bathroom, some simple tools and techniques can speed up the process.
Many parents use the technique of operant conditioning, which involves encouraging children to perform toileting tasks while giving them rewards when they do so. For example, boys are especially responsive to stickers and love collecting them in binders or on their jackets so they can show them off to their friends.
If your son is struggling to reach the toilet while standing up, try providing a step stool. In addition, teach him to grasp his penis as he leans forward while on the potty and how to direct his urine stream into the toilet bowl. It takes some practice, but if your son is able to master this, it can save him a lot of embarrassment in the future and can also minimize the amount of mess he makes when urinating.
When your son is comfortable sitting on the potty while still wearing his pants, you can then encourage him to stand up. Some boys can do this right away, while others need to practice a bit and may need to sit back down for a few seconds before they can successfully urinate.
Once your child has mastered the art of peeing while sitting, you can introduce target practice. Toss a few floatable objects in the toilet, such as O-shaped Cheerios or fruit loops, and encourage him to aim at them as he stands up to pee. You can even buy a product that attaches to the toilet bowl and lets your boy know when he hits the targets with his urine stream by turning on a green light, according to TODAY Parents.
It’s important to remember that no matter what tools you use, accidents will happen. Don’t let this frustrate you or your son, and be sure to remain calm in the face of toileting mishaps. And if the whole potty-training experience seems to be creating too much stress for you and your boy, consider taking the process outside (weather and privacy permitting) until things settle down.
Potty Balls
Using a potty ball is a way to improve aim during toilet training for men. They’re available at most home and medical supply stores and designed to stick to the underside of the toilet seat, where the boy places them. As the boy urinates, the ball moves around to guide his stream into the toilet. The idea is to help him develop his sense of where he needs to aim to avoid splashes on the floor and walls.
A similar technique is to use a ping-pong ball or plastic cup filled with water on the side of the toilet. The boy can then try to float the object in the toilet for target practice. This also helps him practice the motions of urination, which can be difficult for some boys to grasp. It’s a good idea to teach boys how to wipe themselves after using the toilet and wash their hands as well to avoid infections.
Once your son has mastered peeing sitting down, he can start trying to do it standing up. A stool can be helpful to help him with this, or you can buy a toilet seat adapter that attaches to your regular toilet and has a ledge for him to stand on. Ideally, you’ll want to find a seat without a urine guard, as these can scrape the boy’s penis against the sides of the toilet and make him hesitant to use it.
Men like to be comfortable on the potty, so make sure he has his favorite pants and a big stack of comics or magazines. Also, encourage him to sit for bowel movements. Nothing derails a potty train faster than constipation. If your son still has trouble with pooping, consider using an incentive such as a special treat he doesn’t normally get.
One final strategy for enhancing aim during toilet training is to create a schedule to follow and to go over it with your child 2-3 times a day. This will make sure everyone involved in the training knows what to expect and when, so training is consistent.
Stool
While toilet training for a male is sometimes more complex than with a female, the process is usually similar. A boy is ready for potty training when he is able to dress himself (particularly pull-on pants or shorts) and communicate that he needs to use the bathroom. He must also be able to walk to and from the toilet seat, sit on it, and possibly use a step stool. He must be able to stand or sit to pee, and he should be able to grasp his penis to aim his urine stream into the toilet bowl.
It is recommended to teach boys to urinate while sitting down at first rather than standing up. Then, they can easily transition to using a urinal when they are ready. Boys also tend to like target practice, so aiming stickers on the toilet bowl or even a few Cheerios can be fun. If he is having trouble with accuracy, try putting a small urinal in the room to practice or even take him outside in his underwear.
It is a good idea to keep several potty chairs around the house so your son has one within easy reach no matter where he is. You may even want to keep a travel potty in the trunk of your car for out-of-the-house trips. Ensure your child wears loose-fitting clothing during toilet training, as he will need to move his body and legs freely. Avoid clothing with complicated snaps or buttons, which can be difficult for young children to manage during this period.
