Oh gosh we have reached that time in Elian’s life where we have to tackle potty training, and honestly it all seems a little daunting. So I turned to the best source of mass parenting advise I know, my fellow parenting bloggers! Here are some of their top potty training tips for boys
Oh gosh we have reached that time in Elian’s life where we have to tackle potty training, and honestly it all seems a little daunting. So I turned to the best source of mass parenting advise I know, my fellow parenting bloggers! Here are some of their top potty training tips for boys***Edit: So I wrote this post quite a few months back but never got around to finishing it off. I am happy to report that Elian is completely dry day and night now. He managed to blitz it in 2 weeks solid and we were super proud of him. He hasn’t really had any accidents since, except for not pointing his winky down once or twice and managing to soak his own t-shirt! hahaha! I will write a follow up post soon to tell you all our own potty training tips for boys!***
- My tip is get a portable potty, they are absolute genius! Lucas chose a ladybird design, it is small enough and light enough to easily carry around and it is leak and odour proof if there isn’t anywhere to empty it. – Jenny from Chilling with Lucas
- Leave it until they are ready! I potty trained my son at 39 month old, and he cracked it in a week, including overnight dryness in 2 weeks. The other thing I can suggest is to go completely nappy free from day 1 and talk to them beforehand what day are you going to say bye bye to the nappies. – Eva from Captain Bobcat
- Be patient. It’s took us 2 years. I see people getting frustrated after a few days. It’s really hard for some kids to get it! – Gail from Yammy Mommy
- Let them tell you when they are ready and try and introduce straight to the toilet if possible. Will make things so much easier than having to cart around a potty if they aren’t scared of going on the toilet from the beginning. – Kirsty from The Money Saving Mum
- Start them without pants. If they feel something that resembles a nappy they are more likely to go. Wearing joggers will do to begin with. You can always introduce pants later. – Nadia from Scandi Mummy
- We introduced a step on toilet seat & potty to get her used to the idea months beforehand & I took her with me everytime I went for a wee and talked her through, “listen for Mammys wee, Mammy wash her hands now, Mammy flush the chain” and we didnt it all together. Then when it came to actually wearing knickers and going on the toilet she wanted to be like Mammy. Wait until they’re ready, she just got it. She can talk clearly and understands when she needs to go & how to ask. Even when she’s distracted, at nursery or play group she’s fine. If she was having accidents all the time, I would have just popped back her nappies and waiting a few more months. We give her stickers (she didn’t like the sticker chart, she liked them on her top) and for her treat every day if she wore her knickers and did good she got an ice cream at tea time. Then we reduced to every other day & then we changed the goal to a day at the beach, or some other treat. – Nicola from The Merralls Home
- We put both boys straight into pants. We had a lot of accidents the first day and the second day was slightly better. My eldest was dry by the 3rd with my youngest it took us around 2 weeks.
every single child is different its about trail, error, lots of carpet cleaner and a lot of patience and understanding. – Lisa from The Family Ticket - Train them to sit down from the beginning! It means a lot less mess to clean up! – Jade from Thrifty Yorkshire Mum
- I waited until my son showed he was ready. He started showing a real interest in the way Daddy was going so we bought him a stool and a seat for the toilet- he just couldn’t get on with a potty. Once he got it that was it, he was dry day and night. He was 2 years 10 months. – Emma Reed
- Perseverance is key and chocolate buttons as a reward in the very early stages doesn’t go amiss either. We stayed at home for 3 days and had so many accidents but by day 5, he’d cracked it and was also dry at night – Michelle from What Mummy Thinks
- Waterproof mattress protector and patience. Don’t force the issue, make sure they’re ready.
Have plenty of spare pants and clothes (and take them out and about too). Be prepared to be cleaning carpets for a while – Erica from The Incidental Parent - Get yourself a my carry potty for when you’re out. The key to potty training is consistency. You literally have to potty train 24/7 – Natasha from Kiddo Adventures
- Start without pants and if you can- start in the garden with wellies on- they don’t like that feeling and it helps them understand! – Louise from Thimble and Twig
- I second the portable potty a real life saver! For us “committing” to the process worked- ie accepting that the coming weeks were going to be hard and getting on with it. Rather than switch back to nappies for a break. Personally, I think the parents have to be more ready than the child! If you are ready and can be calm about accidents and not worry too much, then it will all work out!!! It’s really hard and I wish everyone good luck (and lots of calm) – Maggy from Red Ted Art
- I swear by a reward system. Chocolate buttons for them for peeing in the potty. Wine for you for surviving – Frances from Whinge Whinge Wine
So what are your potty training tips for boys? Got any fool proof ways that have worked for your little ones?
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