Potty Training Advice - Brooklyn, NY

Hi,
I agree that you don't want to use pull ups... too much like a diaper. What I did for outings, was buy the thick training underwear with the water proof outer lining... I got them at Target (made by Gerber I believe). They did leak a little, but atleast it was not a major mess to contend with at the store etc. We also had some other ones that worked better that we ordered on-line, but they were expensive! Good luck!

Hey C.,

I would not go back in forth with diapers or pull-ups (except for sleeping)it is confusing and will make the process much longer. In the beginning of potty training they go frequently because they are probably not emptying their bladder completely each time so just be patient. If you are going out just take wipes, extra clothing and for a week or so until she gets control I wouldn't stay away from a potty for to long to avoid messes. If she seems frightened then leave some books in the bathroom and sit with her distract her by reading to her. I did it with my kids and it worked wonders. I own a preschool and have potty trained hundreds of kids and with consistency from mom and dad at home (no pull ups just underwear) we are done within a weeks time. Sometimes there are accidents but that is to be expected we just clean them up don't make it an issue. Good luck!!

We got the Fisher Price On the Go Potty to keep in our car for outings. I didn't like the idea of my little one using the public bathroom. This portable potty comes with a carrying case and easy disposable bags. We just bought kitty litter bags or trash bags instead of the more expensive ones that are made for the potty chair and they worked fine.
At home, we also used the toddler potty seat that attaches to the toilet instead of a potty chair. Because of that I was worried that my daughter wouldn't want to use the portable potty chair, but she took right to it. I think she thought it was fun and different.
Best of luck,
B.

HI! I trained my son at 2 1/2 also. We did use pull ups in the store, on occassion, some days there are just more accidents than others. But I did also go to the local Buy Buy Baby and found some interesting products to try. The pottette, I bought he wouldn't sit on, but one step ahead has a little brief case potty.. You can use it in the car, and I think the bags are disposable. I also found this http://www.traveljohnjr.com/ The item is really convenient for the little one's who don't want to fit on the potty.

Good luck and stick with it!
J.

Hi C. I hope this helps....a friend of mine gave me a great idea when I was going through the same fear of venturing out. Put underwear on your child and then a pullup called "special underwear" over it when you travel. This way of they do have an accident they will still have the yucky wet feeling they do not like and yet they will not destroy their carseat or anything else around you.....I thought this was great and I only did this s couple of times and my kids did not have accidents I thought it was an awesome idea......hope this helps. I have a 6 and 5 year old and they trained at the same time at ages 3.5 months and 2.2 months old.....

Good luck. Potty training can be stressful. I bought a foldable, portable potty called Potet, not sure of the spelling. It uses plastic bage so you can throw them away and you could carry it with you anywhere. I keep it in my car and have used it many times when he has to go right now. It's also good for the park. Good luck.

Definitely don't keep her cooped up at home. Skip disposable pull-ups since they are essentially the same as disposable diapers. If you're going to the park or something like that, just make sure to take a couple of changes of clothes with you. For trips to stores or other places where an accident would be a bigger problem, you can have your daughter wear some absorbent cloth training pants or an absorbent pad (sanitary napkins will work in a pinch) that will prevent a huge mess if she has an accident, but still let your daughter feel the wetness if she has an accident. Continue to follow your pattern of toilet trips while you're away from home.

Also, keep in mind public toilets are not all that comfortable, so it is very probable that she will not use the opportunity to pee and may have an accident, but the important part right now is that you are consistent in offering her the chance to pee and don't say "oh just go in your diaper" because the situation is inconvenient for a trip to the restroom.

I think if you put her in training pants when you leave to go somewhere it will confuse her more.
With my almost 3 yr old who is potty trained through out the day, we also did the underwear. The training pants feel too much like diapers and she wasn't using the potty.
When we go places, we always go before we leave. I tell her if she wants to go with me, she has to go to the potty before we leave (I have to hear it). Since she likes going places, it was never a problem. I always bring extra clothes though. She still has accidents now and then. But she has never had an accident in public.
We also did every half hour going to the bathroom at home. Even if she said she already went, we still had her go in and try.
Just be patient and persistent.
Good luck.

When my daughter potty trained, the "training" took several months so don't expect her to use the potty successfully right away. That said, the way I coped with outings was to be prepared! I kept her in underwear but put a plastic bag and a towel in her car seat, "just in case". Also, I carried a change of clothes (socks and shoes too!) disinfecting wipes (in a ziplock baggie) and a bag for wet clothes wherever I went. Unfortunately, I had to use them once and I was so glad I was prepared! My little darling had an accident in a store and I made sure I cleaned up the mess and changed her into dry clothes. I made sure to tell the store manager too. On other occasions, I made sure I knew where all the public restrooms were along our route - just in case. I used the public restroom several times myself to familiarize my daughter with them and explained when and why they were used. This went on for many many months. Some days I thought she really had it down and other days I thought I was back to square one. Don't give up though. Potty use will happen when she's ready. All you can do is teach her, train her and hope it happens sooner rather than later. There are no guarantees. Just don't let it stop you from going about your business. Be prepared and make plenty of potty stops along the way! Good luck!

I would get in the habit of having her try to pee before leaving the house and get a waterproof cover to put over her training pants or underwear so that if she has an accident she doesn't soak her clothes.

It sounds like you are making great progress. My little one who is 2.5yrs. hates going #2 on the potty as well. I see her starting to push and leave her on until she pushes it out.
As for our outings, I did not want to a put diaper back on her, so I use a pull-up. She does not use it as a diaper as she knows not to go pee-pee in them. She was first trained to go in the training pants and once she got that, she knew not to go in a pull-up, but it gives me the extra assurance that if she has an accident, it won't be a mess, especially while we are out. I have forgotten many times to put a pull-up on her or even left her in her underwear, she has never had an accident while we were out(knock-on-wood). I also use the pull-ups for naptime and bedtime. She mostly wakes up dry, but if she has an accident, there is no mess. I got rid of her diapers once she was potty-trained just because I did not want her to regress. Hope this helps. God Bless.

What I did with my older boys is this. I let them go commando on the bottom so it was easy for them to go and not have to worry about getting pants down. Then one day I introduced in home just an underwear in the house. I explained spiderman does not want to get peed on. My son did well but went poopy. I was like I was not specific. Then the next day, he looked like he was going to do #2 and I quickly put him on potty and he did #2 and I praised him and said that is where the poopy goes and he was like, oh. Then it was it for him. Then when we went out, he would wear the underwear and I say and my husband helped out too, saying let's go potty. Then 1/2 hour late, let's go potty. We did the same at church. We told the nursery worker what times to do it so we are making sure no mistakes. Always carry extra underwears with you and wipes to clean her up if she makes mistakes and continue letting her wear them at home without pants to help herself go. Then we realized they were catching on. She will have an accident and just say, "it's okay, we need to work on it and let's change and put a clean one on and have her go to bathroom then and have a plastic bag or covers over the carseat if she has an accident there too. it's a process but she may catch on quicker or she may need to work on it a little longer. Ever y child are unique and different just like us, adults. Congrats on potty training!! Good job, Mother!

Put her pamper on when you go out, or visit. She is young and until she learns to "hold it." and tell you she has to go she needs to have a pamper so she doesnt fail. Also pampers at night for a few more months, since she probably wont be able to wait till morning. Lots of kids are afraid of the toilet because something of theirs is being flushed down the toilet. Make a game of flushing, sing a little song or giggle at how the water goes round and round.

Good luck

Hi C.,
Both of my kids trained on the regular toilet, not a pottie. I would suggest taking her more often if she's holding back.
For out, if you are serious about training, I wouldn't use diapers - toddlers won't understand why you must use the toilet at home but are expected to go in a diaper elssewhere. If you are visiting, this should be easy, especially if she uses a regular toilet and not a potty. For out, take her to the bathroom often and I'd suggest using the heavy duty cloth training pants with waterproof outer layer or plastic pants.
Good luck

I trained my 5 year old at 3 years of age exactly. I would stop liquids at 6pm - she would be in bed by 8pm and would wake up dry every morning. I didn't start her on the potty itself till 1 month shy of her 3rd birthday. I then used diapers all day. I would just open the diaper and put it back on her (while she was standing). She would always tell me when she had to pee pee but no poopers. So on her actual 3rd birthday - I held her hand all through the house and when she would squat to poop - I took her to the bathroom. After three or four trips - she sat and refused to poop. I told her she was not going to get off the potty till she let the poopy out. She pooped - we went to panties and we never used diapers again. My youngest will be 3 in June and I already have her trained at night. We have started working on the day now - she is still in diapers. I feel that getting rid of diapers is like getting rid of bottles - do it all at once. I also put a potty in the car - we used that often - in the beginning they don't realize how bad they have to go till they have to go really bad.......Goood Luck!!!!!

I'm in the middle of training my 3rd child. I put mine in diapers when we go out until I feel pretty confident they're not going to have accidents when we're out. And it really didn't confuse them. Most of the time, they would tell me they needed to "go" and we would go to the restroom and take the diaper off. But for those few times when they didn't tell me, or when we couldn't make it to restroom in time, I was glad we had the diaper. Usually after about 2 weeks, I feel confident enough to take them out without the diaper.

I think putting her back in diapers will confuse her. Make sure she goes right before you leave the house and tell her that if she has to go while you're out, to let you know right away. Get Potty Toppers to use in public restrooms, so that the seat will be dry and clean for her to sit on. Bring a change of clothes in the diaper bag just in case she has an accident. Don't make her feel bad if she does....public restrooms are different and might be scary (although my daughter found them very exciting!). Make sure you cover up the sensor if the toilet has an automatic flush...that is scary for little ones.
Don't just stay home, but try to keep your outings a little shorter than usual. She needs to learn how to use a public restroom too.
Good luck!

My son is almost 2.5 and he's been out of diapers for a week now. My husband is a stay-at-home Dad, has the patience of a saint, and he just takes my son everywhere in his underwear, just goes along with their day and brings several changes of clothes. We haven't had an accident in public (or the car) yet, he seems to hold it when we're out? But he also is terrified of public bathrooms (too loud). The first few days when he would start to pee on the potty, he would stop the flow and start crying. The first time I got him to empty his bladder, I tickled him so he would relax. After that, he stopped being scared and while he doesn't yet go on command, he's peeing on the potty at least twice a day without the long stints sitting in the bathroom reading books.

I honestly think potty training has to be all or nothing for it to stick. We chose to stay away from Pull Ups and training pants because we don't want to create any confusion. But we also are moving 700 miles away, in 6 weeks. So we can't be wishy washy about it. Good luck!

(By the way, a friend of mine told me it took 2.5 weeks to get his daughter to the accident-free zone, from the first day of no-diapers).