Stand or Sit?

I would potty train him however he is comfortable. My son potty trained standing up, but he would not sit to go pee because he sees daddy. He also was barely tall enough with standing on his tip toes to pee into the potty, but you could always use a step stool (he would not though). Good luck. Remember it can be a long process and patience.

I used a little stool in front of the toilet and cheerios (sinking them helps to keep things aimed in the right direction and improves the desire to learn!)

I was a single mom when I trained my oldest, and since there was no guy around, he learned to sit. My hubby was also trained sitting, and I think it's a good idea. It's not as likely that you'll have to deal with "target practice" with the toilet area, so the room will stay cleaner and smell better! Also, you know that they are eventually going to learn to do it standing, but if that happens when they are older, they will hopefully have better aim and control by then and will be more responsible about where they go.

What worked for my mom and what i use as a teacher of 2-3 year-old is that they sit first and then when they are tall enough to stand up to the toliet and make it in without a step stool then teach them to pee standing.

I really encourage you to train them to sit. My boys are now teenagers and my bathrooms stay so much cleaner then my friends bathrooms who's boys stand. So much more ends up in the toilet if they sit.

Hi S.,

My son's doctor told me that it puts less strain on their testies if they sit and pee. He said that studys show the less gravitional pull they have the less likely they could have prostate cancer later in life. I hope this helps you.

I potty trained both of my boys to sit on the potty. It was simply less messy for me. They now both stand up all the time but it took a few months until they wanted to or were able to do that.

Somthing to consider is that a lot of public toilets are too high for them to reach and they are usually in a rush to use the toilet so it creates a hassle for everyone.

I really liked the Baby Bjorn potty b/c the protector part in the front was fixed as oppoed to ones that can be taken out of the potty or that fold down.

Good luck!!! I also found that bribey w/ candy and being naked worked best for us. I bought them both a really cool truck and put it on a shelf in the bathroom. There were allowed to have the truck once they pooped in the potty the first time.

I have three sons and two are potty trained. Both were trained to pee sitting down. We came to relize that was easier cause they would sometimes need to poop as well. Once they get a little older they eventually learn to pee standing up. We did not use the little urinals for the boys. We just used the potty traing toilets that have the pee guards. The first is usually a little harder. My oldest was almost 3 by the time he was trained and the second was 2.

I potty trained both of my sons when they were a little under two years. I chose sitting for both of them (on the potty chairs) and that worked very well.

I chose a warm summer day and we basically camped out in the kitchen for most of a day with lots of drinks, junk food (one of the rare times) and Skittles, M&Ms, etc. I gave them a baby doll to teach how to go potty, and they were the teachers. They had loose fitting cloth training pants (easy and quick to get down) and whenever they had to urninate or defacate, they would pull down the pants, sit down, do whatever needed to be done, wipe off (if necessary), empty the potty contents into the toilet, flush, wash their hands, and get a treat.

I typically don't do a lot of reward/punishment teaching, but the Skittles were fun and they got the concept down in that one day. For my oldest, that was all it took. For my youngest, we needed a little more work, but within a few days he was also very dependable. On long car trips, I took a potty chair with us. It was very easy, then, for them to transition to standing when they needed to urniate.

Hope this helps.

C. (middle 40's, sons 15 and 11, now)

HI, since you are married and daddy is in the household, I would say standing and let daddy help out also. I was a single mom when I had my son so he was taught to sit but when he went to his dads then his dad taught him to stand. I wish they had the urinals for boys back then. He is now 12. I have a friend who has a 2 1/2 year old and had suggested to her that she buy the urinal since she is a single mom. I would buy one for my son if I had one. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter. Good Luck
Stephanie

Hey S.,

I potty trained my little guy right before he turned 2 and we did it sitting down but he immediately wanted to go like daddy so within weeks he was peeing standing up. I was told that boys typically dont stand to go until they are 3 or 4 and I really wouldnt waste money on a little potty, just get a child friendly stool and maybe one of those things that fit over the toilet seat that makes the opening smaller so he doesnt fall in. Just be very consistant and he will have it down within days! I run a daycare so any child that has come to me and is over 2 has been potty trained that 1st wk. I would also recommend not using pull ups, they are so expensive and I believe that it makes the little guys train of thought relapse. I would get a full bed protector and if he pees in his pants at night he will hate the feeling and stop doing it very soon...that may mean a couple loads of laundry on your part but its worth it. I watch a 4yr old that still wears them at night and when he is home he wears them at naps...but does FINE when at my house.
GOOD LUCK!

I can speak as a wife of a husband who's mother taught him to sit. It makes bathroom clean up much more enjoyable and there is little mess. The biggest perk is the seat is always down. Your husband may be the example if he watches and learns that way.

My son is 5 now, but we potty trained him at 2 1/2. We took away all the diapers and put his big boy undies in a basket on his changing table. We let him pick which ones he wanted to wear every day, this was a big help in the process. We had him stand and pee, and it worked great. At 1st he was hessitant, so a few times we would throw cheerios or froot loops in the toilet as if it were a game, and he would try to "shoot" them.. It only took a few days before he got the hang of it. I reccomend starting the training on a friday that way you have the whole weekend to keep them focused! Good Luck!!!
A.

Hi S.,

I started my boy sitting - because it seemed simpler if he had to do both - and because he started on a potty chair. But I never used that little shield thing after the first few tries - he would just rip it off as soon as he sat - and sometimes I would find it in other parts of the house - yuck! I think he started standing at the regular toilet shortly after though. While I was drawing his bath I would lift the seat and encourage him to go.

Oh - and I never did any of the "aiming" tricks either - such as cereal in the toilet, etc. Last thing I wanted to do was encourage him to put things in the toilet! He never really had aim problems...and still doesn't. It is the bigger boys that have those problems in my house - too far away from the toilet! haha!

As much as I detest public bathrooms - I would have him sit to go in them until he was about 4 (he is 5 1/2 now). Otherwise he tended to miss some and end up with it on his underwear and pants...not to mention touch more of the toilet with his hands. Instead, I would take him in there, tell him not to touch anything but me, put down the little protector, and lift him onto the seat - all the while holding on to him while he held on to me. That way I minimized what creepiness he might touch in there!

Now that he is 5 he is more able to do his business without dripping on his clothes - and is less likely to touch random things in the bathroom!

Check out Don Aslet's Web site. He is a professional cleaner and travels all over teaching how to have a clean house without spending every waking minute doing the cleaning. In his seminars and as a man himself he say's everyone should sit down ALWAYS!. It is rude, selfish and disrespectful of everyone who either uses or cleans the bathroom to leave a mess. Think about how you want your son to treat his future wife and teach him accordingly.

Definately sitting. They stand up when they are ready. I did the "little potty" for my first. But I'm training my 3-year old son now and I just put him to sit on the big potty - much easier!

We began training our son to sit but then he chose to start standing when he was ready to do so. See what works better for your child, if he is more comfortable the potty training will go better for everyone.

Hi S.!

Besides my own son, I have potty trained a handful of other boys that I have been a nanny for. I always start them off sitting down. It takes them awhile to learn the standing part. At least in my experience.

I had a friend who bought the urinal for little boys. She absolutely loves it. It did look cool. But we haven't made that investment. It would be cool for my son who is smaller than many other kids and is at the age where he stnads to pee half the time. He is too short to stand on his own and the stools make him too tall. A urinal at his level would be just the thing! Hers didn't smell bad either, which would have been a concern for me.

Have fun!!

I have a 3 year old, and I found it easier to start teaching him to sit first with a trainer potty, but had my husband help him stand when he was getting the hang of the toilet. In public restrooms, it is almost impossible for them to stand, because so many toilets are too tall, so I figured teaching him both ways was easiest. He only wanted to sit in the beginning, but after several months, he chose to stand up on his own. I don't think it really matters what way you use, just as long as it's working for your little guy. Good luck!!

I started my son off by sitting. That way if it took a while for him to pee, he was more comfortable. I found a potty by Bjorn that had a solid pee-guard that didn't move when he went to sit down. Once he had the control of peeing when he needed to go, he was able to begin standing up. To learn that skill, he watched my husband and his grandfather pee standing up. I think it's very handy to have a son that can either stand or sit to go.

We began with our son early, so had him sit on a small toilet for almost a year. He began standing only a couple months ago (barely three), but it was because it was fun for him and he asked to. He felt like a big boy. Whichever your son would find more fun, easier and have more success with. Try both and see which he does better with and is more consistent with. Whatever helps him succeed using the potty on his own, the better and less stressful for you.

I am looking forward to this in about a year but both my sisters had boys they taught to sit then stand 1st. Also to help with the aiming but cheerios, fruit loops, fishy crackers or something else for them to sink It helps alott with the aim not as big as a mess for mom. Also I recommend Dad take him in as often as possible boys wanna be like there daddy.

We trained my son about the same age. We ended up taking away his diapers completely and taking him to the potty when he was ready. He was trained within 2 weeks. We trained him to sit at first. It was about 6-8 months later that we taught him to stand. We didn't bother with the urinals, I personally think they are a waste. The only time he would use one is in a public restroom, and even now my son is 4 and I don't have him using the public urinal yet. As for a potty chair, don't bother with the guards that come with the chairs, they never stay on. We just had to teach him to aim down.

Hope this helps,

C.
(Mommy of a 4 year old boy and 7 month old daughter)

I taught my son to sit down. I don't want it all over the bathroom, and an added benefit is that he is much more likely to poop if he is already sitting to pee and we struggle with getting him to poop. I teach him to always sit to pee and will continue to do so, even as he gets older. My dad remodels homes and he said it is so disgusting how much urine there is all over the place in bathrooms, seeped into the tile and everything. So because of his experience he advises sitting for all men unless there is a urinal available. I wish my husband would!

Sit, it is much cleaner. Then once they are in school they can stand if they wish but at home mine sits, as far as I know because he is 12 now.

Hi S.,

I have a little boy and I taught him to sit and poke it down first. Then he was a the daycare and the toilets are at just his level and so he started standing up on his own. As for the urinal, I just stand my son up on the edge of the urinal and let him go and he hits the back, because he is just the right size. I hope I have been some help!!

C.

Hello S.
I also have a 2 1/2yr old boy starting to potty train him. So far I have him sitting down. Its been working for him so far. I haven't used the little urinals yet. If you have any other helpful suggestions I would really appreciate them also.
Thanks M. R.

I trained my son to go sitting. That way everything was sitting when he went to the bathroom and it seemed more consistent to me and probably to him as well. What I like about his sitting is that he's great at not missing if he stands up. I've never had to clean up after a messy boy in the bathroom! I love that. He did learn how to go standing when he was about 4 - but I think because he was so much older when he learned, he's a good aim. I figured at the very least he'll be a great husband one day -- he never leaves the seat up. :o)

Hey S.,
Let the fun begin! I have 2 boys that were a hoot to potty train. First ? is: is your son tall enough to physically position himself to stand? If so then let him stand. If not I chose to sit my boys on the regular toilet stradling it backwards- no pee out the front inbetween the lid area. Have fun & encourage Daddy to take him as often as possible. They love to copy their dad's! D.

I started training my little boy sitting down. He started wanting to stand after seeing his dad a few times a couple months after he was totally trained. Good luck!

I have always trained my boys to sit at first and when they are old enough and tall enough to pee in the potty, my husband taught them how to aim and pee standing up. I think it is easier to start them in the sitting position though.

I have two boys and with both I started with sitting to pee. I did this because I really wanted them to poop on the potty and it was easier to teach them to sit and pee and get them used to the potty. I found that it was not hard to get them to pee in the potty but it was hard to get them to sit long enough to have a bm. I suggest flash cards and books. Once they got them both down, pee and poop, then we transitioned to standing to pee. Good luck!

My boys sat in the beginning. Unless you like urine all over the walls and that sprayed look, it's probably the best choice.

T. C.
Spa Girlfriend Parties
www.spaescapescottsdale.com

Sitting will be a whole lot cleaner. I never did teach my son to sit, he just picked it up on his own by watching other boys/men.

As a nanny, I have seen 3 yr old boys who stand spray the wall and everything around it! I never experienced this with my son because at that age, he was still sitting.

I started training my son with sitting and after he got that well I moved onto standing. I'm sure you can do either but sitting worked well for me expecially since he would usually go poo at the same time. Now he will do either and I do not have to worry if we are in a place where the potty is too high because he will gladly sit or stand.

We are getting ready to start this process with our 2 year old son and everyone has told us to train him to pee sitting down. I've also heard that once they've mastered peeing standing up it helps to put Cheerios in the toilet so they have something to aim at. Sounds like fun. I can't wait!! :)

C.

I have 2 boys and potty trained both of them standing up. I would put cheerios in the toilet and let them aim. They both thought it was such a fun game so we would do it rather often.

Hi S.! I just got done potty training my 2 1/2 yr old boy. I started teaching him to sit down to pee (making sure he pointed him peepee down while doing it). I also taught him using the big potty with a small insert seat so that transistioning to the big potty later would be easier. Just this last week or so he started showing interest in standing up to pee like Daddy - and now we have stated doing that. He needs to stand on a stool in front of the potty because he is too short. I liked teaching him to sit down first because then we can use public pottys where there isn't always a stool to stand on. That's what worked for me.

J.

I have two boys (8 & 3) that I've taught to sit. My older son I had first taught to stand and realized I hated cleaning pee everyday that ends up everywhere around the toilet. So, now they both sit, and I'm a much happier mom.

i jsut saw an ad in the paper for a little boy urinal that has a little container on top that you fill with water and the kid can flush it. it looks like a stand up.

I taught my son to sit and it was nice not to have pee everywhere. I have heard, though, that if you want to teach him to stand then you can put a cheerio or other type of circle shaped cereal in the toilet for them to aim at. I haven't tried that method myself. My son sat to pee until he was in kindergarten and then he started to stand like the other boys. We never had the problem of poor aiming since he was so much older when he started to stand. Good luck!

I have 3 boys and I started them all out sitting. My oldest son sat the longest, my second son a little less and my third son didn't sit for very long at all because he saw his two older brothers standing and of course wanted to be just like them! I don't know what the urinals are but we used the little cup that goes in front of them. We didn't use it for very long I thought it was easier to teach them to just hold it down instead of cleaning that cup everytime they used it. Good luck!