How to Potty Train a 15 Month-Old Boy
Having a baby is a very exciting time. You are likely to constantly be on your toes as your baby moves from one developmental stage to the next, especially in his early years. A big milestone for all babies and parents is becoming potty trained. This can be quite an undertaking as you try to make your little one comfortable with the concept of eliminating outside of his diaper. If you are potty training a 15-month-old boy, there are certain ways you can go about it to help increase his chances of success.
Things You'll Need
- Small potty
- Training underwear
- Plastic underwear covers
Instructions
Evaluate your baby's maturity level before you begin. A 15-month-old boy is very young to begin potty training. Take into account his communication skills. He must be able to follow simple instructions to sit on a potty, and it would be even more helpful for him to be able to communicate with you when he has to eliminate. If he lets you know when he needs to be changed, it is a positive sign. Consider how often he needs his diaper changed. If he can not hold his urine for at least an hour, he will be prone to having a lot of accidents while training. Purchase a potty seat once you think your baby is ready to handle potty training. It is a good idea to purchase a small potty seat that can be placed on the floor. This way your baby will be able to sit on the seat without assistance, fostering his independence. You will also want to purchase several pairs of training underwear and plastic underwear covers. Pay attention to your baby's bathroom schedule. You will want to monitor how long it takes him to eliminate after eating or drinking. If there is a particular time of the day that he has a bowel movement you will want to be aware of that as well. Use a pad and paper and track your baby's toileting habits for several days. Knowing his schedule will give you a heads up on when to have him sit on the potty. Be very positive when introducing your child to the potty. Tell him how big boys go to the bathroom in the potty and encourage him to practice sitting. Continue to talk about the potty and have him practice sitting several times a day for several days leading up to the training. Stop using diapers during the day when you are ready to begin potty training. Place him in training pants from now on, except at bed time if he can't make it through the night. Use your schedule to determine how often he must sit on the potty. Sit him on the potty until he eliminates, or for up to five minutes at a time. If he goes in the potty, make a huge deal by celebrating what a big boy he is. Be patient during this process. Do not scold him for having an accident. Remember that he is learning and it can take months for him to fully grasp potty training. Additionally, having a bowel movement in the potty may take him significantly longer than urinating. Continue to place him on the potty when you know he is most likely to go and get ready to make a big deal about his success.
