Any advice on potty training welcome please - first child and no idea. Help!!

[degroote78]

I am planning to potty train my 2.5 year old over easter and would like some advice please. How long do we need to stay at home? Should I leave her naked for the first few days from the waist down or get her use to pulling pants up and down? Knickers or training pants or pull ups???? How long after getting the hang of the potty should I try her on the loo with a toddler seat? When we eventually do go out do I need to take a travel potty or try her on toilets if she needs a wee? My friend lets her child wee on the road if she is desperate is this acceptable????! If we are travelling on the tube for an hour or so should I stick a nappy on her just in case or just leave nappies off for good (apart from at bedtime)?

Sorry, lots of questions but I want to try to get it right and not stress her out :)

[Astronaut79]

No advice, I'm afraid, but would like to see the answers because I'd like to start with 2.5 yr old ds. He knows when he's pooed and clutches himself when he does a wee, but says 'no thank you' if we ask if he wants to use a potty or the toilet.

Reading Pirate Pete uses a potty, just in case that helps. I'm tempted to go cold turkey, but not sure I've got the nerve.

[degroote78]

Astronaut79 My daughter has been showing the signs since around 18 month and I did try about 5 months ago but after no wees or poos in the potty for two days I decided to wait. She's been reading Lulu's loo for a while now and LOVES her big girl knickers, so I am hopeful but nervous lol. I hope someone replies to this post and gives us both the advice we need :)

[degroote78]

Astronaut79 did a threat on Am I being unreasonable and got loads of good advice. Have a look :)

[MerryMarigold]

Let me answer some of the questions here:

• We did loo and potty simulataneously, depended where we were in the house, although probably did potty more for first few days
  
• Don't take a travel potty out! You can put her on toilets and hold her on.
  
• I let my dd wee on the road as she cannot hold it (she will wee on the road anyway but all over her tights and pants if they are not pulled down!). Ds2 has more control, so I know he can hold about 10mins till we get to a toilet.
  
• I wouldn't do hour long trips until she is well trained and would then take to toilet before getting on. They shouldn't need it within an hour, unless they are drinking (don't give drinks either whilst on road or train!).

[degroote78]

MerryMarigold thank you for your advice. Loo and potty simultaneously sounds like a good idea then at least when you do go out they will use a loo. I don't think she's ready to give up her milk before bed, so am planning to use nappies at night for a while.

[iowmum88]

hi im planning to start toilet training this week with ds 2.7 years old. we are not using a potty as have a downstairs toilet and he has never seen a potty before and understands that we wee and poo on the toilet.
he likes his pants so thats a bonus.
im hoping as well with this nice weather he can play outside and doesnt matter about accidents then.
fingers crossed we are all successful will keep checking in to the thread to see how everyone is doing.

[BlackSwan]

Travel potty is great... easy to keep in the car for those occasions when LO announces he/she needs a wee despite your having taken them (successfully or not) just beforehand.

Pull-ups are a no no except at bed time. You will confuse her otherwise.

Try not to stay indoors too much or you'll go crazy and agonise too much about when the next wee or poo will arrive. I stayed inside for days on end training DS (very young mind) and it was torture. Surprisingly he was so much better trained when he was out of the house. The first time I took him out I just looked him in the eye & told me he just had to tell me if he needed to go & that was that. Well, not quite, but we have had only a few accidents outside the house.

Bribery is good for the early days and at any other time when trouble starts. Keep a supply of chocolate buttons on hand and try not to down a handful each time you give her one.

[frankie76]

I use training pants if I'm going in the car - doesn't confuse her thank goodness

I used both potty and seat on toilet and she will use both - got a small fold up seat I pop in my bag to go out
She will not go without a seat if I hold her yet - it scared her but that's the next step

Let her choose her knickers - makes then more excited I found
Good luck