Tips from moms on potty training toddler boys and how to make the process more successful.

I have twin boys who are coming up quickly to the potty training age. To be honest, I haven’t been looking forward to this stage. I am quite terrified to start this process and I know that is because it is fear of the unknown. I keep telling myself that I survived twin infancy so I can survive this. But nonetheless, I am still scared.

However, knowledge is power! I have done quite a bit of research and talked to many mothers (including some from Facebook) who have already gone through this process. Sometimes the most practical advice and best tips to follow are from the moms that have already gone through potty training with their own boys.

I have gotten great real world advice from great moms and now feel confident tackling this toilet training event with my little men. The following is a compilation of the best 20 tips and advices given to me.

1. Know When Your Child Is Ready - Don’t let outside pressures make you feel like you need to train your little one sooner than they are ready. Every kid is ready at their own time. Training them too early will often result in a lot of accidents and a lot of frustration. Remember boys tend to be potty trained later than girls. Many of the moms I talked to waited till they turned 3 when they have better control of their bladder and bowels. Here are 7 signs that your boy might be ready: http://www.mamanatural.com/7-signs-your-child-is-ready-for-potty-training/

2. Set Aside A Weekend - It is best to choose a weekend that you are completely free of any obligations and where you can stay at home. The focus should only be on your child and learning to use the potty. Make sure that you also choose a time where there is not a big event happening (such as a new baby or a new home) to distract the task at hand.

3. Be Patient - Potty training does not happen overnight. Try not to get frustrated. There will be accidents and it will be a challenge. It will take practice, perseverance and consistency for your little boy to eventually get the hang of it.

4. Juice Them Up! - In the beginning, give them as much liquids as they would like to drink. The more they drink the more they can practice!

5. Pee Timer - Having a pee timer is a great way to remind your kids to use the toilet. In the beginning, set the time every 30 minutes and take your child to just sit on the toilet to see if they have to go. Soon you can be setting the timer for longer periods of time. This helps kids remind themselves to use the bathroom instead of waiting to the last minute because they are too busy playing to bother with the potty.

6. Try Sitting First - Teach your son how to use the potty by sitting down is the best way to start. When they first start, it is hard to tell whether they have to go #1 or #2. This way they can do either one. Just make sure their little wee wee is pointed down!

7. Show Them How It’s Done - When transitioning to peeing standing up, let them watch their daddy. All little boys love to be like daddy and so when they see him, they will be interested in imitating him.

8. Potty Targets - You can make potty training a fun game! You can do this by dropping Cheerios in the toilet and letting them try and hit the targets. This will help them perfect their aim. To help contain messes, get a kid urinal that you can attach to your toilet seat or wall.

9. Potty Magic! - Another great way to make potty training fun is by adding a little blue food coloring to the water. When your child uses the toilet, they can watch the water turn green. They will have fun with their new little potty magic trick!

10. Accident? Enlist Their Help - Whenever you child has an accident, have them take part in helping you clean the mess. Having them participate in the cleanup will show them how much work it takes to clean up their accidents which can help prevent any other future accidents.

11. Picking Out Undies - Allowing them choose their new pair of underwear makes it just that much more exciting to use the toilet. Picking ones with their favorite characters may be just the motivation they need to get excited about using the potty.

12. Potty Sing-A-Long - Whether it is singing their ABCs or any other song, this will show them how long to sit on the toilet long enough to ensure everything they need to come out… comes out.

13. Make It A Celebration! - Every time your child uses the potty, especially the first time, make a big deal out of it. Be overly enthusiastic about their big accomplishment and this will encourage them to continue using the potty. Call the grandparents! Shout it to the rooftops!

14. Rewards - Potty rewards are a great way to motivate your little one into getting excited about learning how to use the toilet. There are so many different types of ideas you can use that it really comes down to what you think your child will like the most. From keeping charts to a reward jar, there are a number of fun ways to reward your child.

15. Fun Potty Training Books - Books are a great way to teach kids all about the potty. The fun stories make the new transition easier and help keep your child informed about the new change in their life. Reading these books to them before starting the actually nitty gritty of potty training will help your child prepare for what to look forward to. Other than books, potty training dvds is another great tool too.

16. Prepare For Night Accidents - There will be night time accidents and sometimes your child may be “day” potty trained but night time potty training may take a bit longer. Prepare their beds for night time accidents to make your life easier when you need to change the sheets in the middle of the night. Put a wet pad crib cover and fitted bed sheet first. Then add a puppy pee pad and another fitted bed sheet. When your child has an accident at night, all you need to do is remove the first two layers!

17. Avoid Problematic Foods - It is best to avoid any foods that can be a problem and can give your child a tummy ache. It is especially difficult to potty train a child who has a bad case of the runs.

18. First Time Venturing Out - When you go outside the home for the first time with a newly potty trained child, make sure you try and keep those outings short. Know where the bathroom is everywhere you go so that if you child has to go, you don’t have to take time trying to search for it. Always make sure they try to go potty before you head out.

19. Car Tips - When taking any long trips with your child who has just been potty trained it is best to put a puppy pee pad down on the seat. This will help you clean up any accidents easily and won’t soak into their seat.

20. Make A Travel Potty Kit - A travel potty kit should include a portable toilet seat cover, wet ones sanitizer wipes, sanitizer gel or spray, Lysol wipes and tissues. This is a great kit to have when you are out in public because you never know what the public restrooms will be like.

* If you like more tips, click to watch this short video by mommy Carol as she explains on how she potty train her own (stubborn) child successfully.

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