Potty training boys-to stand or sit (to wee)

[Bubbaloo]

I'm going to try and potty train ds1 during half term and when taking him to the toilet for a wee,I'm wondering if it's better to teach him to stand or sit.
I did try potty training a couple of months ago and he happily sat on the toilet for a wee but I wondered if it would be easier to teach him to stand,or will it just confuse him?
Any advice would be much appreciated.He's 3.4 and I really need to try and get him out of nappies asap as he needs an operation,which cannot be done until he's trained.
Thanks.

depends if he can reach the toilet to stand, I would NOT teach to stand at a potty.
I taught mine to sit, ds1 learn't to stand fairly quickly when he was just tall enough, ds2 wants to stand, but can't reach.

If hes happy with sitting then start with that,if hes used toit.He can "aim and shoot" later If you have a daddy available and daddy isn't too freaked out,watching daddy may help

With ds I got him a little plastic "step" to stand and aim eventually.Some people suggest putting a little ping pong ball in toilet and getting them to aim.!

You can get those little kids seats to go on the toilet,too.

Thanks.
It never dawned on me about him being able to reach the toilet.
Think maybe I'll stick with sitting for the time being then as I certainly don't want him to try and stand when using the potty.
Will ask his pre school next week if they can perhaps take him with when the others go to the toilet so at least it will give him an idea.
Absolutely dreading it.

I had this exact dilemma with ds.

In the end I sat him on the potty and I sat him on the toilet as well when we used that.

He has just started deciding for himself that he wants to stand up so he's kind of taken over with the toilet training iykwim.

My advice would be to sit him down and let him make up his own mind about standing.

even if he never stands, it's not the end of the world, really, is it?

Sounds very sensible,thanks.

I have friends that have done both and just wondered which was perhaps more popular/easier.Will stick with sitting down and then once he's mastered that and feels ready,we can try standing.

they all learn to stand at school - so they can have pissing up the wall competitions men.
ds1 used to stand on tip-toes and had to flop his willy over the rim of the loo, was v funny. But ds2 is no where near.

DS now 20 mth learned sitting down... however, when out and about it's a pain in the bum as have to take shoes off to take undies/trousers off entirely to let him sit on a toilet (facing backwards so he is stable) with his penis pointing down. FIL had him last Sunday and he stood him on an adult toilet seat which worked out fine. He was happy to stand on a step stool at gymnastics this morning which worked well.

I would say if your LO can communicate "I need a wee" as distinct from "I need a poo" AND can control the wee easily (i.e. can make a wee straight away, doesn't have to think about it for a bit first) then I'd go with standing for a wee

You can do both depending on convenience I think. DS sits on trainer seat or potty or sometimes decides to stand using his step. Now its cold, its so much easier to let him wee standing when outside into potette (me holding it up for him) or a bush (me aiming for him!), no need to take trousers down v far and get a chilly bottom!! Also as Ches said, a real pain if out and need to use a toilet without trainer seat, as they need trousers off + therefore shoes too to hang legs over sides + balance(he does face forwards), so on these occasions, if just a wee, I pull his trousers half way down and I lift him in standing position so willy dangles over toilet, quick and easy! He's just started to want to wee standing up at home more often, if its the toilet he can aim surprisingly well himself when standing on his step, if he wants to wee standing and its the potty, i just hold it up for him, I'd be picking it up straight away anyway to empty it so no problem! Go for the most flexiblity I say

Sit, deffo sit. It's neater and cleaner, and easier when you are starting to train to sit him down and stay sat until a wee is done.

If he needs a wee when you are out and about, he 'sits', you support him by putting your hands/arms under his arms from behind, he bends his knees and assumes a sitting position.

Worked for us.

ds started off sitting but decided after a while that he wanted to stand. Be warned, we had days where I had to clean the bathroom floor & change ds clothes several times due to aiming issues. His favourite trick is standing in the bath & trying to wee in the sink. He's such a delight.

Which is why I always encouraged DS to sit. Anyway his Daddy generally sits at home anyway.

In fact I was quite cross when ds went to stay overnight with dh's brother's family, and his uncle had taught him to stand up to wee (aged 4 1/2).

We encouraged him to use the loo but other than that let him decide if he wants to sit or stand. He's 3 1/2 now & has been standing for a while. I'd rather he learns to stand now as that's usually what boys do.

Ds sat to start with (26mo)unless we were out when I 'aimed' at tree for him (after a few weeks of carting the potty about). Now (3.5) he chooses depending on circumstances.

Not quite sure about the problem for 'sitting' when out and about - ds simply sits on the adult seat, as normal - I've just held him up so that he doesn't fall down! He is now able to balance without help most of the time, although we do have a loo seat for comfort that he happily sticks on the loo whenever he wants to use it.