While some boys may be ready to begin potty training between 18 months and 2 years of age, others may not be ready until they are closer to 3. While age can be helpful in determining if your boy is ready to begin potty training, it’s not the most important factor. When deciding when to start potty training your boy, how physically and emotionally ready he is to begin training is more important than his age.
Step 1
Evaluate his readiness. Trying to potty train a boy before he’s ready can lead to frustration and failure. Boys who are ready to potty train express interest in using the potty, can stay dry for a few hours at a time, are able to pull down and up their pants with little assistance and can follow basic instructions.
Step 2
Send him to the bathroom with Dad. Seeing how the potty is used by someone with the same boy parts can set the stage for potty training success.
Step 3
Plan a shopping trip. Head to the store with your son and let him help choose your potty training supplies. You’ll need a potty chair, underpants and a clear jar to fill with small, inexpensive candy treats or prizes.
Step 4
Commit to the potty training process. While it would be great if boys potty trained instantly, the chances for that are slim. While potty training, you’ll have to plan to stay around the house for a few days and avoid the temptation of going back to diapers when accidents occur. A consistent, structured potty training plan will facilitate success.
Step 5
Teach bathroom hygiene. Wiping appropriately, flushing the toilet and hand-washing are all new skills that boys have to learn.
Warnings
- It is not unusual for nighttime training to come later. To avoid messes, consider allowing your boy to sleep with a diaper on overnight until he wakes up dry a few nights in a row.
