What's the easiest way to potty train our son?

Question

he is 16 months is that too young? How can I teach him to start using the potty on his own? Any advice is appreciated thank you

Answer 1

I trained my son by putting fruit loops in the toilet and telling him to aim for them. No joke. He loved it :D

We also had a rewards system. If he went number 1 in the big boy potty, he got a stick of gum, and if he went number 2 in the big boy potty, he got a fun sized packet of M n' M's.

Answer 2

RUB HIS FACE IN THE MESS

Answer 3

He is too young.  Boys dont generally train before age 3.  Give him time.

Answer 4

16 months is too young.  He needs to be interested and be able to control his bladder.  This usually does not happen until 2 years and older

Answer 5

get the Once upon a Potty for him DVD first so he gets a sense of what's going on.

16 months is pretty young but you never know, they all take to it differently. Just know he won't be potty trained until he's ready, no matter ow log/hard you try.

Answer 6

I also gave someone else this answer.. So it's copied from that page:  

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Don't force him into doing it.. Other than that, no, it's not too early - as long as he's done by age 3, you're all in the clear!!!

You really shouldn't bribe your kids into going on the potty.

BUT! (LOL) My mom put us all on the toilet (when we were ready) and gave us a little cup full of M&Ms. She told us that we couldn't touch them until we went on the potty. Sometimes we got them, sometimes we didn't. If that works for you, hopefully your little boy doesn't expect M&Ms everytime. LOL.

I used to know a foster care mom who would take the kids to Chucky Cheeses everytime they went #2 on the potty. HAHA.

My husbands dad had put cheerios in the toilet and told him to aim at them just like he was playing an afternoon game. It totally worked for him, because his parents have told me ALL the hilarious stories!

Remember, don't force him. Let him get interested in it. Let him wash his hands in the bathroom, and flush the toilet a few times, just to see what it does. Take him to Wal-Mart and let him pick out his own 'big boy' underware, and let him know that he can't wear them unless he learns how to use the potty. Don't get aggrivated if he wets her pants or his bed now and then, it's no biggie. And please, don't put him up there on the potty for the first time, and expect him to pee - 9 times out of 10, he won't! Don't be disapointed or frustrated with him!

I've also read articles where moms would sort of time when their kids go to the bathroom (the baby in the article was about 5 months.. I know, weird.) and when it becomes almost time, they put them up on the toilet. If that's the approach you want to take, go right ahead.

Good luck!!

Answer 7

Liz is very wrong because my son was completely potty trained by age 2 1/2. LOL. You should start potty training your son now. I started potty training my son at that age. My son was completely potty trained at age 2 1/2. Recently he turned 3 years old and he's now a pro...never any accidents. He sleeps in underwear never wetting the bed.

Don't use pull-ups. They don't work.

Answer 8

Hi, 16 months is pretty young.  Usually you start around the age of 2.  Although each child becomes ready in his or her own time.  With boys I have found it is easier if a man or Dad works with him more than the woman or Mom.  But if both can work with the child even better.  #1 is easier to get the hang of first for boys, and the trick I used is this.  Place the potty next to the toilet, so he gets the idea that this business takes place in this room.  Throw a couple of Fruitloops into the pottychair and a couple into the toilet bowl, then have Daddy or the male realitive stand at the bowl and demistrate aiming for the fruitloops.  Teaching boys sitting is often done, bit then you need to teach them over to stand.  Make the Fruitloops little targets and tell him if he hits the "target"  he gets a reward, (fruit snack, cracker, cookie).  Have the guy go first so he can see what is expected of him.  After a couple of success with #1 have him sit on potty and teach #2.  This may be a little more difficult.  By now you probally are able to tell when he needs to go #2, the signals if you will.  Watch for these signals (pushing, grunting, squating, hiding), and rush him to potty, trying to get  him there in time to "Go In The Potty".  And agian each time he "Goes" reward him.  But do not punish him for not going or accidents or this will only slow the whole process down.  Good Luck!!  :)

Answer 9

hey

i would say he is still do young as it's not until 18 months old when they actually feel when they have to go. but you could try putting him on the potty before bath time just so he knows how it feels, but don't expect anything yet.

signs of being ready are knowing when they need to go, knowing when they are wet or dirty, taking their nappy off. but all children are different. the ealier you start the more likely it is that it will be harder, so for the time being enjoy the nappy days :)

Answer 10

buy a potty and start talking about what it feels like to have to go pee-pee. i think the key when they are this young is to get them aware of their need to go and what it feels like so they can recognize it before they go in their diaper.

go slow, as 16 months is a little young. its still not too young to start introducing the idea and making it appealing to him. definitely let him watch you go potty so he understands that everyone has to go and HOW they go.

one thing to look for that show readiness is whether he goes long periods of time without wetting his diaper.

at this age instead of insisting he tell you when he has to go, always ask him. every so often, like after he drinks or eats or wakes up, or every couple hours, ask him if he has to go. if he seems like he isn't sure, put him on the potty. let him read or play with a little toy while sitting on the potty because the longer he sits on the potty the more he has a chance of actually going in the potty and then you can get all crazy and excited so he understands how proud you are of him going "like a big boy!"

Answer 11

As long as your son is exhibiting signs of readiness, then you should be able to start training him now.  The signs that your little guy may be ready are:  being dry after a nap or overnight sleep period, letting you know when he has soiled his diaper, saying peepee or poopy (or whatever words you use in your house), going to the toilet and lifting the seat to try, etc.  If your little guy isn't showing any of these signs, I suggest you wait until he does.  

He's young yet, so cognitively he will be slower to learn the potty than a child that is closer to 3 years old.  You'll have to be patient, but it is possible.  Buy Pull-ups and get rid of diapers.  Take him to the potty every 20 mins or so.  Make up a routine:  ask him if he wants to go potty, then walk together to the potty, let him lift the lid, get him a stepstool to stand on, help him down with his pants, stand with him and ask him to go pee several times.  If he doesn't go pee within a minute or two, pull up his pants and try again in 20 mins time.  If he does go pee, then offer a reward and BIG TIME praise.  Make sure the reward is a small one or you'll soon regret it.  A "Good Job Book" as we called it was a big help.  We got a sticker book and let our son add stickers to it everytime he went pee or p**p.  We never let him flush the toilet unless he had produced pee or p**p.  It's tough because they love to flush, but if you let him flush even when he doesn't go - he'll soon be dragging you to the bathroom JUST to flush!!  

After he starts to get the hang of it, he will try to quit.  Potty training and stickers will loose its charm and he'll try to be lazy and go back.  That's when it becomes a battle of wills and you can't let him revert.  You may have to play hardball - we had to start peeling stickers out of my son's good job book when he had accidents.  He quickly realized that the only way he could keep his stickers was to stick with the potty.

Be patient, creative and don't give up!  Good luck!