My son has been potty trained for a while now. The problem is he refuses to stand at the toilet to pee. This often results in him spraying the bathroom and/or himself. I've tried using cheerios as targets. He just freaks out when we try to get him to stand. Any advice is welcome. Thanks!
Thank you all so much for your kind advice. Dad feels weird about peeing in front of him but I convinced him to try it. Steve has also watched his friend stand at the potty. Still no luck. He does "tuck" and always has. He just doesn't always get it right. LOL! That's when we end up mopping floors. We're not pushing the standing up but we'll keep working on it at his pace. We'll get it, eventually. Thank you all!!
I have the opposite problem with my 3 yr. old son. He refuses to sit. Therefore, he is still pooping in his pull ups. He stands at the potty and pees so nicely. He watched Daddy go and wants to do the same. While I was teaching him, I just told him to make bubbles in the water. He thought that was really cool. I also cheered and clapped everytime he would go. Good luck! :)
Let him sit! It will save you from cleaning pee off the floors!!
J.,
My little boy just turned 4, and he seems to prefer sitting down. I just remind him to tuck in his "equipment." It would be nice if he would stand up, since public restrooms can be kind of yucky, but I just wipe the seat before he sits down, and wash his hands real good after.
I think your little guy (and mine) will go standing up eventually, but in the meantime, let him stand-its not worth the battle! Best of luck! :)
For the longest time my son was afraid to stand at the potty. We figured out it was because of the height - needing to stand on the stool made him disorientated and uneasy. To solve the problem we let him sit down until he was tall enough to use the potty without a stool. Now that he's five, it's not a big deal.
My twin 10 year old boys didn't start standing at the potty until they were about 5 or 6(in school.) I think the urinals at school, seeing other kids use them, etc. helped. It's SO much neater when they sit. I would encourage it! He will probably just eventually stand like mine did. Just let him wait until he is able to be neater when he stands.
I would say don't force the issue. My eldest didn't want to stand and pee until he was about 5 (he was trained by 2)and it wasn't really an issue. My youngest however is 3 and wants to stand most of the time, but not always and that works great too. If he's not ready yet it really doesn't matter whether he sits or stands, just be happy he's trained.
We had this issue, too. I even researched buying a urinal type potty for him...and they DO make them to my surprise! They are pricey, though and our bathroom is small. I just decided it wasn't a battle I was going to choose and let it be. He decided on his own to stand and I really can't recall when...he's 4.5 now and I don't remember the change. It'll happen!
~L.
There is no rule that says little guys need to stand. Let him sit. When he sees other boys (or Dad) standing up, he will be ready to try again.
Hang in there!
S.
My mom says she put my brother on the toliet backward to pee. Then he eventually stood up. Your husband could try to help out by using the toliet while the boy is in the tub. Maybe if he sees it it will click. Good luck.
Hi J., I had to laugh when I read your letter because it brought back a cute memory. When my son was about three
(he's now 34) we were experiencing the same problem. Well,
one day we went somewhere with my sister and her 2 boys. We had to make a trip to the potty. Colin saw his cousins stand up to the toliet and aim perfectly. He promptly
did what they were doing and that was that. I guess we learn by example. Pray this will be as easy for you and our three year old. K.
Hi.... Teaching them to stand doesn't necessarily make your life easier. Mine would stand at the toilet and daydream while peeing.... and spray the wall behind it, or all around. Who knows where his mind was! lol...
Anyway, I made my son sit and reenforced tucking that sucker in so he'd pee in the toilet. There isn't anything wrong with him sitting.. at least for now. Just remind him to tuck it down and he'll be fine. Give it some time and maybe he'll want to stand up and pee.
Good luck..
Maybe this would be an opportunity for Dad to get involved? and kinda guide him in what boys do?
Otherwise, forget the Cheerios. Just use patience instead. Lots of it. Be grateful he's got the potty training 98% figured out. It's just fine tuning at this point. And he is only 3. Don't expect him to be like a much older kid.
My husband demonstrated peeing standing up for him. I don't remember when he decided this was great as he is now 10. Let's face it there are some things dads are better at teaching.
I would say don't force it just remind him to "tuck it in" as the one mom suggested.
Good Luck
J.,
I wouldn't force the issue right now. I agree with the other moms that this is something that dad has to teach the little guy. My son is almost five and stands but pulls his pants all the way down. Eventually, I know he will learn about zippers and the barn door in his undies. :)
Trust me they don't always remember to direct the flow while standing. Resulting in a bigger mess for us to clean up.
