Little boys take longer to potty train than little girls, though doctors still aren’t entirely sure of the reason. This may make your job more difficult, but you can be sure that one day, your son will get the hang of it. Customize your approach to fit your son’s needs and interests. If he’s excited about using the potty, there’s a better chance that he’ll want to use it. This makes your job a great deal easier.

Step 1

Allow him to watch others use the toilet. Let your little guy in when you use the bathroom. This shows him what others are doing when they go into the bathroom. It helps if he can see a range of people using the toilet–mom, dad and older siblings or cousins. He’ll start to notice the differences in sitting and standing.

Step 2

Take him to the store to choose a potty. You have a number of boy-themed potties to choose from, such as a prince’s throne, a simple blue potty or potties that feature his favorite characters.

Step 3

Create a potty training chart. On a large piece of poster board, make a chart to track the number of times that he uses the potty.

Step 4

Encourage your son to sit on the potty at regular intervals. When first training, he won’t know when he feels the urge to go. Help increase his chances of success by putting him on the potty once every 30 to 60 minutes. Note that you should initially teach your son to pee while he is sitting down. Once he’s mastered that, you can teach him to pee while he is standing.

Step 5

Add a sticker to the chart when he tries to use the potty. You may want to use different stickers for when he simply sits and another for when he actually goes.

Step 6

Teach him to pee standing up after he understands when he only has to pee. If you want him to pee in the toilet, you’ll need a step stool so that he can reach. Prepare for sprays and drips to land outside the toilet. Putting a few pieces of cereal into the toilet can give him something to aim at.