Tips on Toilet Training Your Son

Every child responds to toilet training differently, and it takes different amounts of time for every child to be come accustomed to using the toilet. As you being to toilet train your child there will be very hard times and very easy times. For instance my child went through an awkward phase, so to speak, he was doing very well when he decided he would only use the toilet when he was totally naked! This went on for weeks at home and out in public, I thought it was hopeless. I tried everything from time out to praise when he did it right. It seemed as if nothing was working; then, one day he started to use the toilet when he wasn't naked. When you toilet train your child be prepared for anything.

Toilet training seems to be harder for boys than it is for girls. I don't exactly know why this is; it's simply a pattern I've noticed with my own children. I believe it has to do with the fact that mom is teaching the boy differently than dad would. My husband had terrific success training our second son, while I had a terrible time with our first; even after having trained 2 little girls.

In light of this fact I've compiled a list of tips from myself, other mothers, and fathers on how to toilet train a boy. (Some of these tips will be easier for men to do than women).

1. This will be the most important step in training not only for the child but for you as well. You have to show him that he has to aim his pee downward. The better he is at doing this, the less you have to clean up.

2. If you can, drain the toilet and draw a target in lipstick or nail polish; tell him if he hits the target he gets a prize.

3. Throw some fruit loops in the bowl and ask them to sink the boats. This way he feels he is playing instead of learning something.

4. If it is nice outside when you being to toilet train your son take him outside and let him practice his aim, little boys get a kick out of peeing outside. Be sure to make sure that the neighbors can't see.

5. If its winter let your son draw in the snow.

6. Most boys are too short to pee into the bowl when they begin training, so you'll need to make sure that you have a step stool ready for him.

7. Have the man of the house show the little boy how it's done.

8. If you can get away with it, teach him that the seat needs to be put back down after he is done.