Difference Between Potty Training Girls vs Boys

For the most part the process of potty training girls is identical to that of boys. Both are bound to start off the same but due to their biological differences you will have to take note of a few key differences when potty training you daughter vs your son. Namely:

i) The most obvious difference is the peeing position. On the onset both girls and boys learn to pee while seated down. For girls you need to make sure that they sit at the end of the potty with their legs slightly parted as they lean forward slightly to help relax their pelvic muscle. On the other hand, boys should sit down with their penis facing downwards below the splash guard. As they get used to potty training you can then begin to teach them (boys) to pee while standing up. Using a target as advised in our post on Guide to Successful Potty Training will be a useful tool to teach your son to aim. Remember to properly dispose of the target after each use.

ii) Unlike Boys, Girls have to ensure that they wipe from the front moving back. This will help prevent any fecal matter from getting into their vagina and possibly causing an infection, for example a urinary tract infection (UTI).

The most common signs of a UTI include: high fever, pain while urinating, cloudy and foul smelling urine. If you suspect that your child might have an infection make sure you seek professional medical advice as soon as possible.

iii) Lastly, most research suggest that girls learn to potty train faster than boys. While this may or may not be true it is important to remember that all children are different and have different development paces. Therefore, above everything else remember to be patient regardless of the gender of your child.

 Have you potty trained both your daughter and son? Let us know what noticeable differences you spotted by leaving a comment below.