Do's and Don'ts of Potty Training

Best method usually involves a reward. Trick is finding what reward entices your son enough to WANT to do the potty training. Every child is different. So you know your son, figure out what reward would be best for him. As well, he may not be quite ready just yet. So don't push it too much. My oldest started training when she showed signs of readiness before the age of 2, but then regressed and was in diapers until nearly 4. It was rather shocking since she seemed to be moving along so well in training. Ah well, she's 13 now

He certainly is showing signs of readiness. You could consult his pediatrician for his opinion - he might be able to give you good advice. If you think he's ready, I'd suggest moving him into Pull Ups - they are easier for him to get on and off by himself. But if you start using them, don't go back to diapers - you have to be consistent. With my daughter, we used a sticker reward chart. Every time she used the potty, she got a sticker. After so many stickers, she would get a special treat. It worked really well for her. But it didn't work for my son at ALL. I wasn't the person to potty train my son; my mother in law did it. Apparently all it took was letting him put on a new pair of underwear every single time he went potty in the toilet. But even though he's showing some signs, he still may not be quite ready. There's nothing wrong with a child his age still being in diapers. If he's even a little resistant, don't push. And most of all, use only positive reinforcement - punishing him will only cause setbacks and fear of going potty. Good luck!

Even though your son is beginning to show signs that he may be ready for potty training, I would refrain. He still is too young to exercise control over his bladder and bowel movements. Keep him in diapers, but show him the potty chair and let him begin feeling comfortable with it first. I can tell you from experience as a mom and a teacher, that boys tend to take longer so just be patient with him. I've seen boys regress quickly when they are forced into it. Even though he seems like a big boy now, he is still very much a baby and needs to take him time before he really reaches toddler stage. Boys can toilet train anywhere from two years to four years so be patient and enjoy him as he is now. Before too long, he will be asking for your car keys.

You must have some patience for good result from your son. He will learn from his elder sister. Generally children learn everything from their parants & kids like them. I think he is learning well & right things.

If it's possible pass the chore off to his Dad, men seem to have so much fun using their equipment to pee. Also know that many boys are a lot slower to learn not to wet the bed, they tend to sleep harder and don't wake up in time. Many times boys of seven or eight still wet the bed. Good luck to you.

I have no idea what potty training a boy is like because I have three girls, but, if your son is doing what you describe at 17 months old, he is doing very well!! I started potty training as soon as my kids seemed interested simply because pullups or diapers ...whatever you use becomes very expensive. Just be patient. Seems like he's on the right track. Some people don't start potty training until age three or even later!! You're doing fine.

If you think he is ready, put him in "big boy" underwear. DO not use pull up, they are no better than a diaper!

I agree with other posts. He seems ready. What I did for my daughter is we picked out some panties and then we were ready to devote a whole week to staying home and just potty training. Don't use pull ups. She was potty trained in 2 days. She did great. We made a sticker chart and just for sitting on the potty she got a sticker and then if she went she got another sticker. When it was all filled up she got a little $1 prize that I had. She loved it. Unfortunately she got a really bad flu that lasted over a week and she couldn't control herself in that area. She got better but with in the next few months got it again. I was working for about 5 months but today is my last day of work and next week we are starting over again. She acctually goes if I put her on there but not as well as before so we are devoting days just to that. The first day I make her sit on the potty every 30-45 minutes and if she doesn't go that is ok but if she goes great she gets two stickers. The second day she was telling me it was time to go potty. That is my advice, even though my daughter regressed a little it still worked. Good luck.

Children study everything from parent and elder one. They will do what they see. I have the same problem before. In my experience, my little child will follow what the elder one do. Once they saw, they'll do it. Sometimes they cannot catchup what they have learn. But we need to be patient and let it learn from the sister. Usually they second child will be easier to manage. They learn faster than the elder one.

Normally I would say that is too young for a boy, however he is showing definate signs of readines. He is not comfortable wearing a wet diaper, yet he is uncomfortable going to the bathroom with out one. He is just not used to it. Once he does it one time he will likely pick it up very quickly and it should be easy sailing from there. Try to catch him at the right moment and quickly get him to the potty, even if he doesn't do all of it in the potty, he will see that it is not so bad. Don't push or force him in to it though. I have found that it is best to let them decide when they are ready, and they will. At just 17 months he likely has only been talking for a few months, so it is hard for him to communicate and understand yet. He will do when he is ready and he is definately not behind in the learning of potty training, but if he keeps showing signs of interest he may be ready, but don't be disappoined if it takes him a very long time.