Do boys take longer to potty train than girls?

Do boys take longer to potty train?

It is a fact that girls develop sooner mentally and emotionally than boys do. Boys, on the other hand, develop a sense of coordination, balance and gross motor skills sooner than girls do. In the end it all evens out — neither being ‘better’ than the other.

Just different, and being different is good. But what about when it comes to potty training? They say that boys are harder to potty train than girls. Is it really true?

Find out what the experts have to say about the difference between potty training boys and girls.

What the experts say
‘Experts’ and paediatricians usually say, ‘No, boys are not more difficult to potty train.’ However, they also follow up by saying that the only exception there is to this statement is getting boys to learn how to aim and also learn how to control their aim.

What mums (the real experts) say
The answer to this question is evenly divided. Some mums say that boys are more difficult but can’t give any real reason as to why that is. A nearly equal number of mums, however, say there is no difference between boys and girls. They say it’s more about personality than gender.

The differences

Find out what factors come into play when it comes to potty training boys.

Regardless of what everyone says about difficulties, there’s always going to be at least a slight difference between boys and girls when it comes to teaching them the basics of potty training. These differences include:

• Do you teach them to pee sitting or standing? Most agree that when it comes to potty training little boys, dad should be the one to take the lead. He can show him how to aim, how to shake dry and how to zip carefully.
• Sometimes it is easier to teach little boys to sit when peeing so they will also understand they need to sit down to ‘poo’. This will require you to teach them how to hold or press their penis downward to avoid spraying outward.
• An essential part of potty training includes teaching proper hygiene. This, too, is different for little boys than it is for little girls.
• Is your little boy circumcised? If not, you’ll need to be a bit more diligent in the hygiene department.

Is that your final answer?
Potty training boys vs. potty training girls: is there really a difference in difficulty because of gender?

The jury on that one is still out (and probably will be forever). What we can say is that personality, method and attitude do matter in how difficult it will be to handle any child during the process of potty training.