How on earth do you potty train a boy? He's 3 and 1/2 and he just won't do it.

Faith - posted on 03/17/2009

Hi Barbara, 

I don't know if this will help you but I have three boys now much older, however I couldn't figure out how to get them to potty train and a friend of mine told me the funniest thing that WORKED!!!

Make it a game for them, go buy some fruit loops throw one or two in the bowl and have him shoot at them.  My kids thought it was the funniest thing and in three days they were going to the bathroom by themselves.  The only down fall was my youngest boy wanted a fruit loop to shot at for about 6 months....

Hope this helps!

Amanda - posted on 03/17/2009

Now that is summer out, you can let him run around with only underwear!! I have been trying to potty train my twin sons who are turing 4 in september and they still wont do it. My doctor told me that dont push them to do it becuase you want it, push them because they want too...

Amanda - posted on 03/17/2009

Now that is summer out, you can let him run around with only underwear!! I have been trying to potty train my twin sons who are turing 4 in september and they still wont do it. My doctor told me that dont push them to do it becuase you want it, push them because they want too...

Amanda - posted on 03/17/2009

Now that is summer out, you can let him run around with only underwear!! I have been trying to potty train my twin sons who are turing 4 in september and they still wont do it. My doctor told me that dont push them to do it becuase you want it, push them because they want too...

Lana - posted on 03/17/2009

cheerios.... put cheerios in the potty and have him aim.  it's fun and it's also training for later in life since most men seem to have a hard time keeping it IN the toilet.

Katrina - posted on 03/17/2009

The way that I got my little boy to potty train was by giving him a book to read. He loved reading books. Every time he had to go potty we would get a book and go to the potty and just sit and read and then once we went we always made sure that we said goodbye to the potty. I had a friend at work that her little boy would pee in the potty but would never go number 2 and she got him to start reading on the potty and it worked for her. Maybe it will help you. Good Luck.

Andrea - posted on 03/17/2009

I am in the same boat! Son is a little over 3 years old and no interest in potty training. About six months ago he was into it for about a month or so and then decided he didn't want to do it anymore. My daughter was 3 when she was fully potty trained and we didn't force her, just let her take her time. And we have been trying the same route with our little man and so far its a no go. I guess only time will tell! I have been told many times that boys are harder to train and are usually older when they are finally completely trained. Good luck to you!

Keri - posted on 03/17/2009

try putting cheerios in the potty and letting your little one pee on it as a game. It won't be long you won't need the help.

Gillian - posted on 03/17/2009

Boys are later than girls generally and as in later life they generally can't do 2 things at once. So be prepared for getting pees or poops first but not both!!!. We had problems with poops with my son - he just wouldn't go and then he got constipated or pooped in his pants. Lots of patience and washing undies may be required. But remember if they're ready it'll be a lot easier.



Also agree that once you are in underwear don't go back - just put up with accidents and when you start be prepared for a week in the house just cleaning up accidents. Devote your time to just doing that and making it fun time too. Bribes for successful pees & poops in the potty are a good idea.



Lastly the potty training book by Gina Ford is a good read - good luck and remember he'll get there when he's ready.



Gillian xx

Sarah - posted on 03/17/2009

We had that same problem. My son was the same age as yours and we decided that we would make a weekend  of it. Because both my husband and I had obligations during the day, it was hard to keep the routine when we first tried. We decided to try over a weekend. We would talk about how exciting it would be, went out and had our son pick his underwear out and made sure that we had several surprises on hand. To our amazement, he was potty trained in one weekend. We never had any issues after that either. But I really think because my husband and I commited to nothing else and made sure that this event was our only focus. I think the most imortant thing during this entire adventure, was finding what worked for our child. Every child is unique and needs their own way of doing things. Be patient, it will happen, when he is ready.

Usana - posted on 03/17/2009

with my 4 yrs old I just let him run around in his spider man underwear (his favorite caracter).

 I'd take him to go potty 15 mins after he had anything to drink and no drink an hour before bedtime.

good luck!

Kristy - posted on 03/17/2009

I made a sticker chart for my son. A calendar that had big enough blocks so that every time he went potty he got to put a sticker on the chart which was right in front of the toilet. This way he got to look and see his progress. I made sure to get stickers of his favorite things. Thomas train, animals and cars.

Holly - posted on 03/17/2009

I have one boy and three girls - my son was BY FAR the most difficult to train.  Finally, we got him regular "big boy" underwear for his 3rd birthday.  I think it was a combination of the prestige of big boy underwear and that he didn't like being wet when he wore them.  It sort of happened all of a sudden after we introduced the underwear.  Good luck!

Carol - posted on 03/17/2009

Give him time! My son was almost 4, but he went dry within a matter of weeks day and night - there is no right time for boys - they are later than girls - but don't worry he will get it!

Angelina - posted on 03/17/2009

Let him run around naked. It's a lot of work but you have to be on top of him and remind him about going potty. My two year old at the time caught on very fast because he didn't like being wet.

Tonia - posted on 03/17/2009

My son will be 4 in May and has only started going potty all the time about a month ago. I have issues with discipline too because there isn't anything of value to him. He has had interest in potty training since about 18 mths but won't go consistently. We made a big deal of getting big boy underwear and even switched to a Cars potty seat rather than the little training potty. Still he would not tell us when he had to go, but would go only when we asked or put him on the potty. A few weeks ago, he went to the bathroom and changed his pullup, and wanted to put another one on. Since I was about to get him a bath (within the next hour) I told him he needed to wear underwear. He refused and a battle unsued. However, we had just gotten the Wii game system, and he has a Lightning McQueen game that he loves to play, so I told him he could not play until he was wearing underwear. And after about 10 minutes of huffing on his part, he put on the underwear and came and showed me. The next day I got his pullups out and he refused to wear them and we haven't looked back. Some nights I have a hard time even using the pullup for bedtime. I have battled with potty training for a long time, and it really is true that the more you push, the less they'll do it. They'll do it when they are ready, and not before. I guess if you have lots of extra free time, putting him on the potty every hour or so could speed up the process, but that is a little unrealistic for most people.

Vanessa - posted on 03/17/2009

My goodness so many of you used the same method. Must be good. I wonder if anyone reads the posts before adding their remarks.

Virginia - posted on 03/17/2009

Hi there try putty cherrios in the potty & tell him to aim for the cherrios.i read not to even try uintil they are 35 months old.we are potty training my grand daughter she will turn3 on the 22 of march i think she is starting to finally to catch on.good lunk to you. ginny

Sheila - posted on 03/17/2009

Quoting Barbara:

How on earth do you potty train a boy? He's 3 and 1/2 and he just won't do it.

try putting a ping pong ball in the toilet and get him to aim at it will stay a float and not block the toilet it makes things a bit more fun get your partner to show him how its done

Mc - posted on 03/17/2009

with my son he was not interested, so i threw some fruit loops in there and told him to aim and he LOVED it and now he is potty trained. Not through the night yet :(  I got him underwear that he wanted and picked out himself adn he does not like to mess them up. He was very difficult to potty trained but it worked im telling you. I really hope this works for you.

Vanessa - posted on 03/17/2009

what a good idea, its all about fun not about fear!

Lisa - posted on 03/17/2009

im expetting soon however i worked at a daycare for quite some time and when we helped them out, we put dish soap in the toilet and told them to try to make some bubbles happen. it did the trick for some of them.. for the girls we did a little food coloring and watched the colors change.. its silly but their kids and they love this sort of thing.. make it fun!!!!

Vanessa - posted on 03/17/2009

Social services would take a grim view of this. Are you joking. You should never frighten a child into anything.

Dorothy - posted on 03/17/2009

Yes, another one it will help for the boys go to the bathroom with their Daddy's or Grandfather's... It does catch them very quickly!!

Dorothy - posted on 03/17/2009

It is hard as I have a daughter of my own. Hint: Fleet brand of enema for children bottle with tube. Let me tell you. It sure scared my daughter big time!!!! Don't use it unless if you feel it is nesscesarily to do.. Put the bottle on the sink explains your child what it for. Child may be scared and evenally changed their mind. Child will go their business and you'd be surprised... It works for you and child. Just to scare the child. The child 's mind "oh no, I better do that on my own no enemas!! I don't like it at all!!" Then the child finished their business... Then you can put the bottle away without child see where you put it. It really does work and the child thinks you really mean it... It will takes time but it gets better....



Urineate - used decorate the bucket (mop) beside the toilet and the boy will evenly use it a lot until he is ready to use the toilet. It took mine about a month. The boy will love any favorite characters like stickers/painted around the outside of the bucket (so he knows that bucket belongs to him and no one else). The boy gets confuse about the toilet training. It really works and I hope this message helps for you and your children.

Vanessa - posted on 03/17/2009

I potty trained my daughter at 11 months. If they are regular, anticipate what time they generally go, sit them on the potty and read them a book or two. When they discover they have done it make a nice fuss of them. Worked with both of mine. And they still love books today.Good luck with yours.

Dixie - posted on 03/17/2009

When my boys were in the potty learning mod. I would put cheerios in the toliet and get them to try hit them. It made learning into a game, and it took no time at all. I must say the boys were harder and later then my girls.

Lindy - posted on 03/17/2009

Hi, I just had a big struggle getting my 3 year old boy potty trained! I did everything from letting him run around naked, which yes he hated having accidents in underwear or naked. But he would hold his pee as long as he could (which one day was 17 hours, before he peed all over the kitchen) we would put him on the potty all the time, especially when he was doing the pee dance, but he would only scream "get me my diaper"! We finally bought a seat for the toilet, we would leave that there and have the potty in the kitchen or living room for him....we would put him on in the morning and he would sit there and not pee, he would be drinking juice boxes and cups of juice to no end and wouldn't go. He would go on the potty and sit there like every 2 hours but nothing. But finally something clicked, this may sound wierd or gross, but my boyfriend, showed him his poo when he pooed himself and say "look thats yuckies, your yuckies go in the potty" Then every time we had to go to the bathroom we announced that we were going to put our yuckies in the potty! lol. One day my boyfriend brian brought my son into the bathroom because he quite obviously had to pee, and said "here do it like dad does it" had him standing on a stool, with my bf on the other side of the toilet doing the same, saying "put your yuckies in the potty" and they peed in the toilet together, after my boyfriend started going my son just did it, and goes on his all the time now! we have had maybe three accidents since that day 3 months ago through the day and none at night! But the hole yuckies in the potty my son loved that! And I think being able to mimic his dad helped.....

Laura - posted on 03/17/2009

When we were potty training my baby cousin, nothing worked.  Until finally we had all but given up! I told him to pee off the front porch! and he did.. come to find out he was just nervous about the "large" toilet.  and it wasnt "fun". so however you do it. it may be best to make it fun, interesting and non frightening

Caroline - posted on 03/17/2009

My son was terrible and at 9 still wont always know when to go (we have to tell him). Be aware some boys justt take longer to learn the signals coming from their bladder.

I used 2 ways:

1 as below we used the summer time to let him run round the garden naked so it was no issue with accidents

2-Make him go when you (or your other half) go. I put the potty in the loo and he would sit on it when I did. Keep this up when you go out etc and he will learn to go before you go out, before bed time etc.

Good luck but try to stay patient, it takes time.

Haley - posted on 03/17/2009

this might sound silly but we drew a round target on the inside of the back of the toilet and made it fun for our son to hit it when he peed!! He's not missed the pot yet - unlike his Dad!!

Michelle - posted on 03/17/2009

try a ping pong ball with a face on it and a reward system. start slowly with wees first. we toilet trained my son by letting him go on a tree...sounds horrible i know but hey he is a boy and its just what they do.  make sure when you try for number 2s there are books and maybe a table with colouring books and pencils.  you have to remember at this age there is too much out there to do with out worrying bout the toilet too

Michelle - posted on 03/17/2009

try a ping pong ball with a face on it and a reward system. start slowly with wees first. we toilet trained my son by letting him go on a tree...sounds horrible i know but hey he is a boy and its just what they do.  make sure when you try for number 2s there are books and maybe a table with colouring books and pencils.  you have to remember at this age there is too much out there to do with out worrying bout the toilet too

Michelle - posted on 03/17/2009

try a ping pong ball with a face on it and a reward system. start slowly with wees first. we toilet trained my son by letting him go on a tree...sounds horrible i know but hey he is a boy and its just what they do.  make sure when you try for number 2s there are books and maybe a table with colouring books and pencils.  you have to remember at this age there is too much out there to do with out worrying bout the toilet too

Linda - posted on 03/16/2009

Hi,,this may sound strange but here goes,,,go to the grocery store and buy a box of Cherrios (generic will do the trick also),,,take the box home and show your son.. Tell him about this game,,,it goes like this,,,drop a Cherrio in the toilet bowl,,have him stand in front and am to pee at the Cheerio,,some boys like games,,hope this helps,,you may go through alot of Cherrios so buy them when on sale,,,,Happy Aiming(this is safer than darts,,lol)

Michelle - posted on 03/16/2009

My son was just about 3 1/2 when he decided to train himself. Until then we would ask him to sit on the toilet and he'd usually poop or pee but it was never his idea so we didn't push it any further. Then one day he told us he needed to go & within a week he was totally accident free. It was so much easier than with his older sister. She was interested in training at 18 months but wasn't fully trained until after she turned three (there were many regressions...)

Melanie - posted on 03/16/2009

If it helps, my son was 4 before he was completely toilet trained. I was anxious about it but I was told that they will do it in their own time. As long as they are reminded about what to do and are regularly asked if they need to go. My son did just start going on his own to my relief. Hope this helps.

Crystal - posted on 03/16/2009

hey my son is almost 2 and he tells me after he has done it in his pants i am thinking of taking him out of diapers all together and putting him in clother or the really thick training pants so the mess does not go alll over the house but i am not really sure i trained my daughter and it took a good few months and she still is not trained at night so i do not know if i am a great help

Michaela - posted on 03/16/2009

Hi,

I'm dealing with the same problem, our boy is 3 and 5 months and he's still in diapers, we tried book about potty, daddy showed him what to do but nothing worked so far.

I really need him to be out of diapers.

Evelyn - posted on 03/16/2009

My son responded to "Shoot the Cheerios" and "Put out the fire" I would let him stand and put a few cheerios in the potty and let him aim and "shoot" or I would let him wear his fire hat and stand up and shoot the toilet paper in the potty. He also liked racing with Daddy. For doing a number 2 I told him that the potty was hungry and liked to eat poops. (I know its gross but it worked) It took him about 2 weeks of wrecking underware before he really got it. Hope this helps!

Deirdre - posted on 03/16/2009

Have another boy - or his Dad show him how! Or...use a bullseye! It will happen when he's ready.

Stephanie - posted on 03/16/2009

I believe that there is a time for bribes!!! This is one of them. My husband and I used Hot Wheels. You can get them for less then $1 and they were worth the expense. It worked like a charm!!! Wealso put him on the potty backwards with the basket of Hot Wheels on the back of the toilet just waiting and tempting. Good Luck in whatever you choose.

Shari - posted on 03/16/2009

I have 2 boys & they wouldn't train until they were almost 3 because they had to be trained for preschool. I say bribe them with a toy !! Or use M& M 's. Some kids need a big motivater , especially boys !!

Hope this helps!

Donna - posted on 03/16/2009

let him pee outside on trees and if he poops in the potty, tell him that he can flush it to grandparents house to show them. Then inform grandparents what you said and have them call him and brag on him about that wonderful poop present he sent.

Shelley - posted on 03/16/2009

I once heard that if you put a cheerio in the toilet and tell them to aim for it that it works. my son is only 6 months so I havent tryed it but you should. and also I work in a daycare taking care of 3 and 4 year old and we always give them somthing after doing it. Ive also realize working in a daycare that putting them in a pullup is not really a smart idea cuz then that still gives them the OK to mess in there pants...so I would try sticking him in real underwear for a few days.

Julie - posted on 03/16/2009

Hi all...this is Julie, but my Grandchildren call me Nana. Its been a long time, but my memory is clear. One thing I have in my favor....I got to see what happened when I did it wrong. 2 kids, the first, I made mistakes, the 2nd...did it the way I should have done the first. Yes, they were two personalities..Praise God, but still I learned.

First, throw out the word potty training with the diapers. Our kids aren't dogs. You will wish they were when they start talking back. Kids will train themselves. You do the dirty work by buying the panties/underwear and give them the idea. Punishment, yelling, threats, only make it up. You will find do do in their britches at 10 when they come home from school. Yes, the only thing I believed about Freud was anal retentiveness being caused by harshness during that time of their life pertaining to learning the big boy big girl stuff. I found out the hard way. Children will train themselves because they want to. When they are allowed the autonomy to make up their own minds......it happens. There are wonderful rewards you can use like big boy big girl schools (day care) that only take potty friendly kids, praise, positive reinforcement. The more you fret or want it because I know, its a pain in the behind to have a 31/2 year old poopi n in their pants or constantly wet their clothes. I was there. But they will hang on the more you carry on. My daughter has been there. Shes probably reading this right now saying, OMG! Good luck. This time is short although it seems long. Love them lots.

Jenifer - posted on 03/16/2009

I have the exact same problem with my son -but we were mostly potty trained about a year ago and then all of a sudden he stopped and just lost interest. Now it is definitely a battle you could say jjust to get him to try.  We have done books, music, dances, tried to make a game of it - he just has no interest. I do love some of these ideas and will have to give some of them a whirl but (sorry to say) Its nice to say I am not alone...Of course I worry too that with a new baby coming in Sept this is going to set him bnack even more!

Lisa - posted on 03/16/2009

give him some juice 5 mins later take him to potty or toilet give rewards when he goes he will want to go more eg stickers he will do it eventually send him to toilet wi dad or ur dad or brother he soon get the hang of it enjoy potty training

Niki - posted on 03/16/2009

Put him in cloth underpants all day and pull-ups only at night.  Don't make any exceptions!!  He will learn that being cold and wet is uncomfortable, and being dry feels good.  Set a timer, and make him sit on the potty for a minute or two every 20 minutes.  Reward him with an M&M or some other small snack when he goes.  Don't nag or keep him there very long.  Read him a book or sing a song to pass the time.  He'll eventually go, and then praise him GALORE!! Huge hugs, kisses, praise, a new (small) toy, even...Gradually increase the time between potty breaks once he is going fairly regularly.  I even put a potty on a bathmat in my living room so he didn't have to climb the stairs!!

Joanne - posted on 03/16/2009

Just wait - he will do it in his own time as some of the posters explained below. I believe 3 years is young for a boy. 3 out of 4 of mine didn't get completely trained until they were closer to 4 years. Don't pressure them. Boys will do it in the own time. Just my opinion!