How do you start to introduce potty trainer for a little boy?

Patricia - posted on 02/23/2010

We realized it was time to start potty training this summer when he would rip off his diaper and pee in the yard, so we bought him some undies with transformers, spiderman, and spongebob on them and in the mornings I ask if he wants to wear big boy pants or not, there's no point in forcing him to wear them if he's not even wanting to try that day. And if he is wearing underwear we take him to the bathroom every hour but let him know ahead of time that its coming so it doesn't abruptly interupt his playtime. If he doesn't go we shorten the time to 30 minutes. When he does go we make a HUGE deal about it and I pick him up dance around the house singing "pee pee in the potty". It sounds silly but he loves it, he actually starts dancing before he gets off the toilet. I also use a sticker chart that when he fills it up he gets a special prize or toy the first chart he got a hot wheels semi truck and car. Next chart we're taking him out for ice cream and then to the park and to the dollar store to pick out something small. The chart worked for us because of the tv show Sid the Science kid though, Ave saw it and asked for a chart so we made one.

Vanessa - posted on 02/23/2010

Buy a potty put it in the room where he plays let him play with it. While he is playing with it tell him what it is and what it is for. Try sitting him on it now and then with nappy on, eventually he will sit on it for a period of time. Take him to the toilet with you also. Once you think he is ready remove the nappy, place him in good quality training pants (don't even bother with pull ups, children just think they are nappies, because they are!!) so he can feel the wetness when he goes in his pants. Get a routine going put him on the potty every 45mins to an hr regardless if his pants are wet or not. When he actually does something in the potty make such a big deal out of it eventually he will do something on the potty everytime to get a reaction out of you. Rewards are good my son reacted well to stickers. Make sure you are always calm & as frustrating as the whole process is never make it a bad experience for him because this will only stop or even regress your childs progress. Make it fun for him, sing songs, play little games, read books. My son and I learn sign language together while he sits on the toilet (he is 2years we started when he was 1year old) He has learnt a lot of signs now among them is toilet & poo so he can communicate to me what he needs which has helped a lot. This is a tough & long process so be prepared and don't give up because once you get there you & your son will be so much happier. You because you no longer have to change a nappy or buy them (which means more money for other things) and your son because he has gained some inderpendence and made you very happy indeed. Goodluck.

Ashley - posted on 02/23/2010

Fruit loops in the toilet, and tell him to aim...it sounds strange, but it gives them a target, and it gives them a fun reason to want to go potty...