Tricks to Get Kids to Pee in the Toilet

Potty-training Toilet

• Use a potty-training toilet. A large, adult-sized toilet can be intimidating to a little child who has to pee. Just climbing up on it can be daunting. A smaller, colorful toilet -- perhaps with some favorite characters printed on it -- may be just the thing to make peeing in the pot feel more comfortable. Place it where your child usually pees and then move it closer to the bathroom and the regular toilet as your child becomes more comfortable using it.

Reward System

• Sticker charts are a tried-and-true method for a reason -- they are effective for promoting desired behaviors. Tell your child that she will get a sticker each time she pees in the toilet. Once she acquires a certain number of stickers, give her a treat. Choose something you can do together, like a special art project or trip to the children's museum.

Give Him A Target

• Games are always fun and sometimes they can be motivating. Throw a few pieces of round cereal into the toilet and ask your little one if he can hit the floating targets as he pees. You may have to provide him with a stepping stool for this to work. Soon, he may be running to the toilet to pee so he can play the target game, which is more fun than peeing in a diaper. This is harder to do with girls, but not impossible. Or, do something silly. For example, make up a "toilet potty song" that you only sing when he or she pees in the toilet.

Wearing Underwear

• Because diapers conveniently whisk away moisture almost as soon as it hits the fabric, it's no wonder that a child wouldn't feel motivated to use the toilet. Get rid of the diaper and replace it with underwear. As soon as your child feels the soggy fabric, she will quickly realize that it is much more comfortable to pee in the toilet than in her underwear. The colorful designs may also convince her that underwear is more fun to wear than diapers.

Have Patience

• Some children won't pee in the toilet until they are ready. It's as much a mental decision as it is a physical one, and you simply can't rush it, nor should you even try, according to the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website. Even the most clever of tricks will not work if your child is not ready. Look for signs that he or she is ready to try, such as a curiosity about the process, an awareness of body's signals -- crossed legs are a clue -- and the physical ability to pull down pants or lift a dress or skirt.