Toilet training toddlers is not an easy task. While every parent looks forward to the independence and freedom that comes with successful potty training, the process takes hard work and some occasional tears of disappointment. Nevertheless, don’t give up.
There’s a notion that boys take longer to potty-train but for me, my firstborn boy was successful by age two. He’d sit to pee and poop without much supervision. Well, like you, I expected him to pee standing like a big boy soon after. I kept wondering why my son won’t stand to pee. Guess what! That’s an extra mile for any parent with boys. As we speak he’s 5 years old and surprisingly, he sometimes prefers peeing while sitting down.
Children are unique, some are ready for training early and achieve the milestone faster while others bloom slower. Majority of children –whether boys or girls- start from 24 months and are fully trained by their 4th birthday.
My Son Won’t Stand to Pee – When is The Right Time to Teach Him This Skill?
Are you feeling like your little boy is lagging as compared to his peers? Are you wondering when do toddlers stand up to wee?
There’s no specific time/age by which a toddler should have perfected the skill of peeing while standing. Once he can coordinate and communicate well, that means he is ready for toilet training. Start with teaching him to urinate and relieve bowel movements while sitting, before gradually transitioning to learning how to pee while standing.
Toilet Training Boys – Why Your Toddler Should Learn to Pee While Sitting First
1. Peeing and bowel movements go hand in hand
Not only in children, it’s natural to have bowel movements before or soon after passing urine. If you teach your son to pee while standing before they even learn how to use a potty, you may confuse him and end up making learning slower.
2. Peeing while standing is a skill
Standing to pee involves a set of skills such as aiming, concentration and coordination. Teach your son to direct his penis on the potty while sitting before he starts trying it while standing. Like any other skill, learning is gradual and takes time.
3. Constant standing up may cause constipation in toddlers
I know how amazing it feels to see your boy pee like a grown man. However, be patient. There are other steps he should take first. A toddler can’t pee and poop while standing. He needs to do one thing first and the process may be complicated.
In case he feels like Peeing, there’s a likelihood of having bowel movements thereafter. Chances are, he’ll forego the latter and that may suffer constipation over time. This is why it’s important to learn how to sit on the potty –to wee and have bowel movements – before learning to stand up.
4. Aiming at the toilet bowl may be problematic in the beginning
Surprisingly, some adult men can’t aim at the toilet bowl accurately. For toddlers, it’s a more daunting task full of trial and error. They need time to master aiming. At this tender age, they may not be good at coordination yet so it’s good to be patient with them. Adopt ways to help him aim accurately to avoid messy bathrooms.
How Can You Train Your Boy to Pee Standing Up?
Any mother of boys looks forward to this interesting phase. While sitting down isn’t bad for men, the Pacific Standard magazine explains the ability to pee while standing as one of the qualities of a real man in American contemporary culture.
It is okay to worry if yours shows no interest in learning how to pee while standing. Relax, it is okay for him to pee while sitting down even when in pre-school. Every child is different and achieves milestones uniquely.
How Can You Train Your Boy to Pee Standing Up?
“What can I do if my son won’t stand to pee?” you wonder. While most boys and men like standing up posture when peeing, according to a study by NIH-National Library of medicine, “there is medically no superior posture for healthy men to urinate in.” However, standing up is healthier and more favorable for boys. If you feel your little one is ready, here are some helpful tips to help him learn.
1. Use a male role model
Children learn life skills best by imitation. By watching their father, elder brother, uncle, cousin or grandfather, your boy will copy how they do it.
In the event all of the above relatives aren’t available, you may ask a close male family friend to assist. If he also sees his school buddies peeing while standing, the child develops a growing interest to learn.
2. Be creative. Make the process fun
Little boys are playful. If you want to make them eager to learn, use games and toys. Some parents cheerios to help their boys in perfecting how to aim their penis into the toilet bowl/ potty.
Toilet targets are also helpful. They come in attractive shapes and styles mimicking their favorite toys, animals or car styles. You need to place a few inside the toilet bowl and your toddler tries to hit them with their urine stream. With time, they’ll be in a position to pee standing without splashing urine all over your bathroom wall.
3. Reinforce achievements by rewarding
The training process isn’t easy. There will be hits and misses, so celebrate every win. On making any achievement, reward him with something he loves such as stickers of his favorite cartoon characters. This is a great way of motivating him to do more.
4. Try practicing with him outdoors
When outside, the toddler experiences freedom. He doesn’t have to worry about cleaning a mess in case he pees outside the toilet bowl. He can urinate on the fence, grass or portable urinal as many times as possible. This leaves room for practice which eventually brings perfection.
5. Shorten the distance
Teach him to stand closer to the potty when urinating because it’s easier to aim at a target when near than far.
6. Practice and patience
Encourage your son to practice countless times. He may not get it right during the first tries, but that shouldn’t discourage him. Cheer him on and never compare any progress with that of his siblings or friends.
Further, both of you need to be patient. As a mom, you may feel deeply disappointed if the baby makes mistakes consistently. Don’t let your child see it. Do not reprimand him harshly. Remember, the process will take time for you to get perfect results.
Wrapping Up
Seeing children achieving development milestones, or gaining life skills is every parent’s wish. Toilet training is a crucial stage that children go through differently. Studies portray girls as early bloomers who master the skill a few months earlier than boys.
That said, the question of why my son won’t stand to pee often pops up during the toilet training age. There’s no definite answer to when to teach a toddler to pee standing up, but the majority of children achieve it by their 5th birthday. Interestingly some are good by age three, it depends on specific children and their home environment. If yours isn’t there yet, that’s okay. Stay calm, he’s still healthy.
Try some ways of assisting your child to learn to pee while standing such as: using role models, rewarding, training outdoors and use of toilet targets to help your child learn to aim accurately. If you’re still concerned about the issue, I recommend visiting your pediatrician for medical examination and professional advice.
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