Potty Training Advice

Fredula

Just after a little bit of potty training advice please.

I've been reading my 2 year old 'Pirate Pete' (potty training story) and have dabbled with having his nappy off, having the potty out but more of a 'we're outside so shall we just see what happens' way.

This morning I asked my son if he wanted to wear big boy pants or a nappy and he said pants, so he had them on. Eventually he took them on so has been walking round half naked all day. Obviously I pointed out the potty, reminded him of pirate pete, etc and then when I went in the kitchen to do something he came out exclaiming 'WEE WEES'. Of course, I rushed him to the potty, only to find a little pool of yellow! Wahey! So four more times of this (with a couple of misses in there as well) and I'm thinking 'there's no going back now'.

So my question really is how do I handle this going forwards. I live with my parents (and my husband) and tomorrow my brother is bringing his new girlfriend over for a BBQ. My Mum has basically said that whilst we're eating I need to put a nappy on him because people without children might not like it. I don't agree with this - whilst I can see that if he poos on the garden patio when they're eating that won't be nice for them, but he's a child, in his own home, and they should just kind of accept it if they're coming over?

How do I go about taking the potty out and weeing in public? Do I literally take it everywhere with me and then when he needs to go if I'm not near a toilet get it out and let him go? I don't really want to go back to putting nappies on him until bedtime because it will confuse him. I just don't really know what I'm supposed to do next?

Any advice would be great.

Thanks

pandora205

Well done - you've had great success and handled this really well. You are right to be concerned that reverting to using a nappy will set your son back. It is very confusing to a child to sometimes wear one and other times not, and will double the time it takes to train him. I can see that it's a bit of a tricky situation as you live with your mother though.

One way of limiting 'accidents' is prompting a child by asking 'do you want a wee?' every hour or so. Assuming that your son is developing bladder control enough to go this long, this is likely to work but wouldn't be 100% guaranteed at such an early stage. I used to keep a bowl of floor cleaner handy and lots of spare pants, while keeping a close eye on the child. It's very important not to get annoyed if an accident happens too, as this can set the process back. Lots of praise for success is the way to go.

While out a potty on the bottom of the buggy is the easiest way, or a 'travel potty' if you don't have room. I was always ready to make a dash to get outside shops, but let's face it, using a pot is better than a puddle. It's best to keep trips short during this initial couple of weeks too, so that this can be managed.

(Just to mention, I've advised dozens of families on toilet training as well as having had three children of my own, so I do know a bit about it!)

A final bit of advice, it makes sense to transfer from pot to toilet fairly quickly if your son is receptive, as it takes away the whole pot carrying thing and makes life much easier.

Good luck - you'll get there very quickly if you can continue like this.

Fredula

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it.

What I'm going to find difficult is that he has 2 sets of granparents who look after him in the week, plus me and my husband, so we all need to be on the same page. If one set of granparents are doing something different to the others this may be confusing.

I'm more worried about my parents than MIL because my Mum has basically said that they're going to have to put nappies on him when they take him out because it's not fair to let him have accidents and that when they're at home, they can't keep running up and down to the toilet (to empty the potty and let him wash his hands - like I have today) which makes me worry about when the transition from potty to toilet comes in. Do you think it's worth me looking to find him a nursery place (this isn't very spur of the moment - my parents are both old and ill - my dad has emphysema and my mum's ill too and we were planning on getting him sorted for nursery in September. But do you think maybe it needs to be sooner, because of their reaction?

rach13

I potty trained my niece.

Just say to him - visitors coming over today - must wear clothes like everyone else...and every hour or so - say I'm just nipping to the loo (go or not go yourself and ignore him in corner) - bring him along and plonk on potty and he can go or not go...if he needs to he will....

When out an about when you arrive anywhere - go to disabled toilet - put potty in corner and he can go or not go - you go about what you need to go i.e. wash hangs/apply makeup generally ignore what he is doing - going or not going - then when you leave again same thing.

If he has an accident - don't make a big deal - just change and move on...he will get there...

izoomzoom

Potty training is much more than just making a wee in the potty.

How is your son in pulling down his trousers / pants? Can he hold on for those vital few seconds it takes to get to the toilet? Does he recognise the feeling of a full bladder and 'needing a wee' sensation? Is he able to sit down for a few minutes doing an 'activity'? (Google is my child ready for potty training, and see if they are able to do most (not just some) of the criteria - the more they can do, the easier the process is).

Personally I don't feel that there is confusion about nappies and pants. If a child is in a nappy and they want a wee, they tell you / they go to the toilet / potty / take off nappy and do their business.

Fredula

He's very good at knowing when he wants to go - he will tell us (although he does say poo poo for wees sometimes, and he thinks he's having a poo when it's just a fart (caught him popping [farting] on the potty a couple of times today bless him!)

He can pull his pants down but not quite his trousers (depending on if he's wearing jeans, pj's or elastic waistbands).

Rach13 that's a good idea about going to the loo every now and then with the potty (he definitely prefers to do it on his own and take his time about it rather than me ask "Do you need a wee")

He will sit on his potty for a bit. We played playdough whilst he was sat on there for about 15 mins this morning. His bum when he got up bless him - all red lines. They must be uncomfy.

pandora205

Fredula - you are doing a good job but it would make it easier if your son always wore easy pull up trousers or shorts (jogging bottoms are usually pretty easy for little ones). Jeans are too tricky to undo, as buttons, studs and zips are difficult for little hands.

It sounds like there is a bigger issue here though as both sets of grandparents are sharing child care, and your mum thinks she knows better than you do! You are right in thinking it is important to all be 'on the same page' - but how to achieve that isn't necessarily easy. Grandparents providing child care can be a really enriching experience for all concerned, can develop a close family bond, but it can cause tensions too. Only you can decide whether your child is ready for nursery, taking into account the costs and convenience, as well as family relationships. And running up and down to the toilet is par for the course with toddlers!