how do i start to potty train my boy?

Allison - posted on 07/23/2009

It was funny I thought my son would be 10 and still in diapers! I finally got him to pee by making games out of it but the number 2 was worse, I had to tell him if he didn't poo that Santa wouldnot come see him, it worked like a charm. He started preschool and did awesome!

Lida - posted on 07/23/2009

When I potty trained my youngest son we did the reward game. I took him to the $.99 cent store bought a big jar and 2 bags of marbles when we got home we put aline on the jar so about 20 marbles would reach the line I told him every time he goes peepee he gets 1 marble every time he goes poop he gets 5. I asked him every 5 minutes lets go potty and if you go you get to put a marble in the jar. You have to let him put the marbles in and have him count them too. He was so excited if we went out same thing when we got home he put marbles in the jar. He was potty trained in 3 days.

Jennifer - posted on 07/23/2009

I made a game out of it for my son. I told him to let me know when he has to go potty. Then I would throw in some cheerios into the toilet and told him to aim for the hole. I did that for a few weeks until he got bored of it and just went on his own. Good luck!

Kristy - posted on 07/23/2009

I agree with the have "Daddy" or a man show him. My son loved doing things just like Dad. He took to it rather quickly and then we did the M&M rewards for a job well done. They also have tissue paper boats that you can buy that works with the same principal as the cheerios. I even baby sat a nephew for awhile who was almost 5 and was still in diapers. He used to think it was so funny when I had to change his "dirty" ones. I was sickened by it so, I found out his dad would refuse to take him to the potty and asked my husband to do it. And though I wouldn't suggest it for a child of two or three but, almost 5 the next time he had a dirty diaper I stuck him in the tub in warm water up to his ankles, removed the diaper and handed him the wash rag. It was no longer funny and wouldn't you know it the boy was trained just that fast.

Trisha - posted on 07/22/2009

It took my son awhile before he totally got the concept of the 'I have to pee' sensation. I would take him about ever 45 mins or so. I have also learned that children pee within the first 10 min of being awake. I was so happy when my son started figuring it out.....and then he relapsed and didn't want anything to do with the potty. That lasted about 2 weeks, I didn't push him cuz the stress that causes for both of you is not worth it. It will happen when he is ready just be there for him and support him. Give him lots of positive reinforcement about the potty. bribery works sometimes too.

Michele - posted on 07/22/2009

Boy did this bring back memories! I started to potty train my son shortly after he turned 2 but by 3, he still would not go for me. This is what I did........to my husbnad: He is your son and since he is built like you and I cannot show him, I pass this on to you. My husband took him in the bathroom with him next time he had to go and showed him what going to the potty really was....I am talking the toilet, not potty chair. After 2 times, he was potty trained! Figures, it took me a year to not accomplish what my husband did within a day.

Emma - posted on 07/22/2009

We tried to potty train our son, and it wasn't until he was about 4 that he decided to go potty, It was the Easter before his bday and he just all the sudden went an got dressed and put underwear on. It really is true that the child will do it when they are ready, we only had a couple accidents after he did this so just be patient and it will happen.

Stephanie - posted on 07/21/2009

Let him run around with no diaper or underwear. & keep the potty close (we put it in the living room). The second you sense he has to go, or he starts rush him on that potty. You'll probably have a few spots on the floor, but our son caught on REALLY quick. He couldn't hold it very long at first so that was our simple solution to get him there before an accident happened. After a couple days we tried with pullups (but he basically saw these as diapers he could pee in). So we went straight to underwear (unless we're going somewhere). Let me tell you this worked GREAT for us considering our son isn't even 2 yet. Definitely give it a try.

Linnette - posted on 07/21/2009

My sister potty trained her son by makin it a game first she would put cheerios in the toilet an told him to make them sink by peeing on them. He thought it was fun so he began doin it on his own she just left cheerios in the bathroom. I hope it helps
PS i have two girls thats y i didnt tell u how i potty trained them.

Joanna - posted on 07/21/2009

I have a son and it didn't take much to get him potty trained actually. He never used his potty but like to hide things in it. It was his treasure chest (off all things on earth !!). Anyways I made him stand at the toilet seat and opened the tap waters of the bath and sink. It took awhile at first. I also stopped using diapers and put his boxers on so whenever he did it and got wet I used to tell him that you do pipi in the toilet. He wet himself all the time for three days in a row and what a mess I had, but after that he got used to it. Whenever he wet his pants I took him to the toilet and explained to him and he got it in the end. But I also think that kids need to be at an age where they can understand what you're trying to teach them. Also as Krystle put it, you have to make it sound like an achievement for them when they manage to do it right : )

Krystle - posted on 07/21/2009

I have a daughter but found that the best way was to let her sit on the potty whilst watching t.v or sitting in lounge room with us and really celebrating when she did something! Pre school is actually really good for them to learn because they see everyone else doing it so they are more inclined to try; so much so that she used to try and stand at the toilet like a boy! The other thing I tried was just putting her on the toilet and just reading her a book and waiting till she was relaxed which in turn relaxed her bladder. Whatever you do dont' stress out over it becasue then he wont be calm. Good luck!