Potty Training Your Boy - It's All About Confidence & Positive Reinforcement!

We all know how challenging potty training your young boy can be.

You have your own expectations, you want your toddler to start being more independent, and your child might not want to disappoint you. These expectations can create a lot of pressure for your toddler, and for you.

There are a number of things to think about before you start potty training your young boy.

It's important that you know the growth a young boy undergoes. Between 12 and 24 months, your young boy's sphincter muscles will strengthen and develop, which means he will be able to hold in his poopies for longer than before. He will begin to understand the feeling of a full rectum and a full bladder. However, this may not necessarily mean that he is ready for potty training yet.

It's important that your boy can express his feelings to you in a basic way. For example, he needs to be able to tell you "wee wee" or "poo poo" if he feels the need to relieve himself in his diaper. Before you start potty training, your child needs to be able to have dry nappies for longer periods during waking times and after naps. He should also be able to dress and undress himself partially.

You need to develop knowledge of your child's signals. Every boy is different, so different children will display different signals. Learn what these signals mean, and not only will you know when to start potty training, but you will also develop a closer bond with your child.

Never pressure your child too soon into potty training! This is important. If you do pressure him, he will start to hold his poo in when asked to potty, and this is not a good situation! Like most things, the right time to start potty training will come naturally as you observe your boy's habits, and he learns to express his feelings and intentions to you.

Like everything, when you begin potty training, use positive reinforcement methods - praise him profusely when he does something right, give him something nice to eat, make him feel a sense of achievement! Positive reinforcement is the best way to increase your boy's confidence, and before long he will be potty-trained!