For all parents the time to potty train a boy arrives sooner than later; the little angels grow so fast that soon it is time to help them learn how to use the potty. It is a big step forward for the little kid as well as a great time and money saver for the parents. Once your boy is toilet trained, you don’t have to spend on diapers and your child learns an important lesson in becoming self-dependent. It will stand your boy in good stead when he steps out to face the world for the first time in preschool.

Start with potty training boys at an appropriate age; the right age is between eighteen and twenty-four months. You don’t want your boy to get too comfortable with using the diapers and then getting cleaned afterwards. Pediatricians recommend that in the beginning boys should be taught to urinate sitting down on the potty; this gets them used to the idea of staying seated on the potty. Constant gentle reinforcement of the idea that the potty has to be used every time will help immeasurably in accelerating the learning. But remember, don’t create opportunities to teach the kid; be alert for the ones that arise on their own and use them.

And if both parents are involved in the potty training, then both should teach the same things following the same pattern. A difference in approach will only end up confusing the boy about what he has to do. In fact, it is a good idea to brief the managers at a daycare that your child may be placed in. Tell them about the child’s potty training progress or any particular quirks or difficulties that you face when getting him to use the potty.

Maintenance of hygiene is entirely your responsibility. Do not let the boy take the potty out of the bathroom; it is not a plaything. Along with the coaxing, cajoling, and commending the child’s efforts a little gentle firmness may also be required to see that the kid does not get unduly distracted or soil itself.

When potty training a boy help the kid focus on the job, talk to him and as mentioned above praise him when he does something right; it may be getting out of the pajamas independently or using the potty without creating a fuss – let him know that his efforts mean a lot to you. Involve the child, don’t direct him to do this and do that. Give him some space and a sense of ownership of the process. For example, if he wishes to place the potty at a particular spot in the bathroom, then let him. Keep the toilet roll at a height where he can reach it. You have to think and be creative. No two boys are going to be the same.

Finally, ensure that your boy does not experience difficulty in passing motions, if you see that he has to strain too hard then give him adequate liquids and roughage in the diet or a mild laxative in consultation with the pediatrician.