Thinking of ditching the diapers and potty training your little boy? It’s exciting to contemplate the potty-training process, in part because it’s a huge developmental milestone for your toddler. And, let’s face it, by now parents have been changing diapers for two years (or longer!) and are probably more than ready to retire the chore.
As you start thinking about potty training your little boy, don’t fall for tired gendered stereotypes. Being male isn’t necessarily the reason your son may train later than his sister, though a few large studies have found that boys on average are potty trained six months later than girls.[1]
But all kids are different, and several factors will impact their interest in potty training. Your best bet is to focus on your son’s physical and emotional readiness and then take it from there. Good luck in your efforts!
When to get started potty training a toddler boy
If you’re looking for a hard-and-fast answer as to when to start potty training a toddler boy, you’ll be a bit disappointed. In truth, when to begin shedding diapers and using a kiddie potty doesn’t hinge solely on age.[2]
While many toddlers will show signs of being ready to potty train between 18 and 24 months, some boys may not be up for this task until they’re closer to age 3. The average age for girls to master potty training is 35 months, while for boys it's 39 months.
You can gauge your child’s readiness to potty train by watching out for some of the more common signs, including staying dryer for longer, having predictable bowel movements and using the right words, albeit in his own adorable tot-speak (“My poop big!”). If your little boy is also able to pull down his pants and underwear by himself, he’s probably ready to try using the potty.
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Tips for potty training boys
If your little guy has some of the above readiness signs, understands basic directions and can tell you he needs to go, give the process a try. Here are some potty-training tips for boys:
Hit the store. If your boy seems interested, let him tag along when you buy a training seat or mini potty for him. He might also love to choose toddler wipes and big-boy underwear in his favorite color or ones with a theme like dinosaurs or smiley faces.
Try the equipment. Place the seat or potty in the bathroom and have your tot sit on it in clothes. He can also help empty it into the larger toilet and flush (that’s the fun part!).
Decide on your terms. Will you teach him words like urine and stool? Or use pee and poo? Both types are perfectly fine (just don’t use negative terms like stinky, dirty or yucky).
Read all about it. Toddler storybooks about learning to use the potty may help along the way. And if you're comfortable, you could let your son watch when you go so he gets the hang of the process.
Choose easy clothes. Potty training clothes for boys shouldn’t include a belt in his jeans or overalls with clips. Instead, pick quick-to-yank-off pants or shorts with an elastic waist.
Watch for clues. Does your little boy start to hold himself or make noises when he has to go? Or does he retreat to a corner? Catch him when it happens and put him on the potty.
Bare it all. Going around the house with no bottoms on may help your tot tap into his body’s signals. And being clothes-free, at least from the waist down, makes going easier since there's nothing to take off.
Try Pull-Ups. These training pants are a great in-between stage because they’ll corral accidents. But they can still be pulled up and down like cloth underwear.
Sit, then stand. When potty training your son, start teaching him to go in the sitting position for both peeing and pooping. Once he masters the potty while seated, he can try standing up to pee.
Aim carefully. Coach him to point his penis down into the toilet. And when he moves to standing up, he can have fun directing his stream to bits of toilet paper or even Cheerios in the bowl.
Learn the rules. Instruct your little guy to raise the seat if he’s standing to pee and then gently lower it when he’s finished. Make sure he doesn't just hold the seat while he's going to the bathroom, but actually puts it all the way up, as it can clamp down on him and really hurt. Teach him how to put the seat down slowly when he's done so that it doesn't accidentally fall on him. Supervise your tot in case he has trouble. Flushing comes next, followed by thorough handwashing.
Offer lots of praise. Be effusive when your son makes it to the potty on time and hits his mark. And if stickers or small rewards help to motivate him, dole those out. A potty training chart to track his progress can also be useful.
Be calm. Know that accidents are a part of potty training for boys so try to roll with each one using humor and encouragement. Strive to be calm and not lose your cool!
Don’t fight it. If there are tears or other stress surrounding the potty process, take a break for a little while. And check to see if any outside factors could be impacting your efforts, such as the arrival of a sibling, a different sitter, a vacation or moving to new house.
When can boys learn to go to the potty standing up?
Once your boy has a handle on peeing and pooping while sitting on the potty, he can then move to the standing position when he has to pee. If he’s fidgety while sitting, offer a book to look at or something to play with while he tries to go.
If once he's ready to stand, your little guy can’t quite reach over the toilet with enough clearance to aim his stream into the water, offer a small stool for him to step up on.
How long does it take to potty train a boy?
Since every child is different, the length of time it takes to potty train will vary. For the most part, you can expect the potty-training process to last between three and six months, though some kids will take more or less time to shed their daytime diapers. As for staying dry overnight, that can take several more months or even years to achieve.
You can always check in with the doctor if you’re concerned about your little boy's potty training progress, especially if he’s 4 or older and isn’t out of diapers yet.
As you start potty training your toddler son, keep in mind that lots of patience is an important part of the job. Be matter-of-fact about setbacks and keep praising him, even if he doesn’t produce each time he sits on the potty. Before you know it, your big boy will be using the potty like a pro.
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