Potty training: Girls vs Boys

IT has been said that it’s much harder to potty train boys versus girls, but Dr Anona Griffith, paediatrician at Gateway Plaza, Old Harbour, said comparing toddlers during this process may be a little unfair to boys, especially since there is more to the potty training process for them.

“A study shepherded by the Medical College of Wisconsin published in 2002 revealed that girls stayed dry during the day at just over 32 months in comparison to boys who generally achieve this at 35 months. Similarly, the study showed that girls expressed an interest in the potty at 24 months while boys do this at 26 months, so we can see a trend here. Other studies which have followed have yielded similar results,” Dr Griffith explained.

But noting that every child is unique, Dr Griffith said that readiness for potty training is generally signalled by the achievement of specific milestones such as the ability to verbalise the need to go to the bathroom — at around 26 months for girls and 29 months for boys — as well as the ability to identify body parts, to sit and stand, and to maintain prolonged periods of dryness. All of these are seen to occur much sooner in girls.

With the actual potty training process, however, Dr Griffith said based on their bodies and a few other related factors, boys and girls face different challenges based on their bodies.

“With how we urinate, there is an obvious difference because of the way our genitals are designed. For women we urinate and defecate in the same position and while boys will first do the same, they will eventually need to learn that they won’t always urinate in a sitting position. Learning to not just do that, but to aim without missing will be an additional challenge because a lack of hand-eye coordination may lead to more than anticipated messes if the target of passing urine into the bowl is consistently missed. This could take them a while to learn,” Dr Griffith explained.

She encouraged single mothers in a situation where the father is absent or unable to oversee the process to request the guidance of a trusted adult or older male sibling to help with the stand-and-aim process.

“It is also easier to transition a boy to standing for urination once he has mastered passing urine and stool whilst seated than to have to deal with the confusion related to learning to do both. However, he will want to imitate the older males in the household, and this should be encouraged. It will be more difficult for boys to catch on when their mothers teach them because of the obvious difference,” she reasoned.

Having established what obtains in the land of potty training for either sex, Dr Griffith said there are general rules to the process that parents and caregivers should aim to follow.

Both the caregiver and toddler must be ready to handle the journey ahead. It will require lots of patience, consistency and love. The correct tools for the job must always be at hand. The location should be id

eal. The technique to be used should be agreed on by all involved in training the toddler in order to maintain consistency.

Positive reinforcement of desired behaviour is encouraged. Toddlers should be told gently that diapers will no longer be worn and these will be exchanged for big boys’ briefs or big girls’ panties. Understand clearly that accidents will happen even after full

potty training has been achieved.

Girls should be taught early how to wipe from front to back to decrease the risk of contaminating t

he vagina and urinary tract with stool. Girls may role play using dolls which help to make the process easier.

At the end of each potty session, it is important to follow through with proper hygiene habits such as flushing and most importantly, handwashing.

“Potty training is a major feat of infancy and toddlerhood. It is usually done during the period where toddlers are mastering their environment as they become increasingly independent and aware of themselves and their surroundings. Best of luck on this mission!” Dr Griffith said.