Potty Training Boys And Girls

Potty Training Boys And Girls

In the previous article, we have tackled the basics of putting your little one through potty training. Now, we will go further as we explore a variety of strategies that can be used exclusively for boys and those that can be used for girls. You will also learn a few more tips on how to successfully get your young one to properly use the potty.

 

Potty Training – Differences between boys and girls

Anatomy is obviously the biggest difference between boys and girls, and this is something that you have to teach them early on. Boys need to know the name of the penis and the anus while the girls need to learn about their vaginas and the urethra, as well as the anus. Of course, the tricky part here us giving them the “appropriate” names.

The little ones also need have something to call their urine and waste. Pee and poo are the most common words used, as they are very easy to pronounce, but feel free to make up your own. Expect them to go giggling the first time they hear the names, but this is actually a good idea, as a dash of toilet humor will help them relieve the stress they feel during potty training. It is also interesting to note that girls tend to outgrow this type of jokes way earlier than boys, with many of the little ladies moving on from it when they reach school age while boys will still be into it well until their adult lives.

Time and duration: boys vs. girls

One of the most recurring questions when it comes to potty training is which o9f the two get into potty training earlier. Here, the girls are going to be the early starters. According to a study made by the University of Wisconsin, girls begin to show an interest in potty training by the time they reach their 24th month while boys generally followed suit two months later.

It has also been shown in the said study that girls generally learn to hold their bowels earlier, with many being able to stay dry for two hours at a time by their 26th month while boys are able to do it by 28 months. Girls are also the first to verbalize their need to relieve themselves, at 26 months, with the little guys doing it at 29.

It is also worth noting that, aside from the difference in the starting time between the sexes, there is also a difference in duration. Because boys generally show less interest in potty training in the early months, they take longer to adapt to it. They also tend to have more accidents, which can also slow down the training process.

On the other hand, as girls usually reach developmental milestones faster than boys, this also equate to them being able to complete potty training faster. This could also be due to girls’ natural interest in keeping clean.

At this point, it is worth nothing that children who begin potty training late, such as when they are already three years old, are actually able to complete it faster. This is mainly due to the fact that they are able to grasp everything better at this point. However, keep in mind that you should always let your child set the pace for his training for him to better adapt to it.

Potty Training Boys

With boys, you have to option of training them to relieve themselves either standing or sitting down. If it is the latter, have him sit on the potty with his penis pointing down. This will not only help him direct his pee better onto the potty, but also prevents him from scratching his genitals on the splash guard.

If you are teaching him to pee standing, instruct him to aim for the center of the potty bowl. To this end, you can use anything from a small piece of paper to a piece of cereal to help him aim.

Potty Training Training Girls

When putting your little girl over the potty, have he spread her legs and sit leaning slightly forward. This helps relax her pelvic muscles so that here urine stream is aimed properly into the bowl. After your little one has finished doing her vowel movements, teach her to wipe here private area from front to back. This prevents any fecal matter and germs from getting into her genitals.

It is also essential that you teach your kid how to properly wash his/her hands after potty training.

Next, we take a look at some of the common potty training problems and how to deal with them.