Potty training and long car journeys

[MamandeRose]

DD is 2.4 and has been using loo/potty for ages, but not consistently as I haven't pushed it. I wanted to wait till summer (ha!) but don't want to leave it too long. Car journey to Nursery is 40 mins each way 4 days a week with DH. He already finds it stressful, so I worry about adding PT to the mix. But we don't have a restful summer holiday to try it out at home (it's my busiest time at work). So am dithering. Any advice about PT and the car?

[Sarah1611]

Honestly? I wouldn't wait around, I would reckon that half potty training for long periods could make it likely that the child would become confused what is expected of them, better to say bye bye to nappies and go full steam ahead with pants rather than linger somewhere in between to be honest.

40 mins isn't too long, have him use the toilet just before leaving the house, perhaps limit drink at breakfast time too, especially initially. Make sure he then has one when he arrives at nursery. If you're worried about accidents in the car then have him sitting on a towel but I'm afraid your husband will just need to deal with it... (Hmm) plenty of spare pants and trousers in the car to go to nursery- worst that will happen is that he'll have an accident in the car and get a bit wet, not so bad! It won't happen every time! Chances are it won't even happen once!

[MamandeRose]

Thanks for the encouragement! Better give it a go, I suppose. Did you use rewards?

[Sarah1611]

We did stickers on a chart to start off with, one for wee wee and two for a poo (though I'd recommend one small sticker for wee wee and maybe a bigger fancier one for poos). Try and do the sticker ASAP to the use of the toilet as it re-enforces the positivity of the action itself.

We haven't used stickers for weeks now but I promise special end of day rewards for dry nursery days as he finds remembering to go during nursery a lot more difficult. If I'm offering a reward I always specify what it is, may seem like I ruin the surprise but I think at a young age they need something to actually aim for and work towards rather than the abstract potential of a 'treat'.

This is very pedantic of me but make sure your attitude is on board too :-) don't think of it as 'giving it a go' but 'doing it'! The child will read off of you, you need to have full confidence in them for them to have it in themselves. If they're happy to use a toilet then ditch the potty from the start or you may get stuck with it.

As you've been wavering for a while, my recommendation would be to ditch the potty Friday night, buy lots of new pants and go at it full pelt from Sat morning with sticker chart in full swing. This will make it clear that what you're doing is different from before, and don't forget to tell them what your expectations are- "today you're going to do all your wee wees and poos in the toilet like a big boy, how exciting!"

:-)

Sarah

[MamandeRose]

Ok, thanks again!

[kilmuir]

Yes second getting out the undies. 40 mins is not long, and should be able to hold on for that amount of time, especially if you take child to toilet before leaving.
Stop dithering and on you go. [ wink]

[WhispersOfWickedness]

I've just been on holiday with two small dc who are not 100% reliable and involved a lot of driving!
I used the disposable change mats underneath them, they worked perfectly on the couple of occasions that we were caught short

[MamandeRose]

Thanks all. Have already bought the car seat insert and travel potty, so just need to load up with stickers now... And DH has said he's on board, which is a relief. So, Friday here we come! Told DD today she's going to wear knickers like Mummy on Friday, and she cheered!

[alteredimages]

I'm in a similar position with DD who is 2yrs 10months. In the end I realised I was the problem, not her, and it took me accidentally running out of pull ups to bite the bullet. Now not letting myself buy any more in case I get lazy about night times. First four days we've had no night time accidents and only one daytime one. Keep the faith! Like other posters said, forty mins should be fine if gone to toilet before leaving. It took me a week first time round to get from trips to the toilet every half hour to once every 2 to 3 hours, which is fairly manageable.

[MamandeRose]

Thanks for all the encouragement! I'm also a bit baffled about the going out bit. I have never seen a child using a potty in the street or a shop. Do people really do that?

[Sarah1611]

I would guess (and suggest) that you use it in a toilet area, for hygiene and privercy reasons if nothing else! They last longer between wees than you think, should be over an hour easily (depending on drink going in etc).

Recommend that you try and avoid potty out and about, it'll be easier in the long run if they get used to toilets.

[WhispersOfWickedness]

Well, we don't really go anywhere where there isn't a quick access to a toilet, i.e. Tesco, Children's Centre. We have a walk to Preschool but as we live rurally, it is a long road between fields with not much traffic, so it hasn't mattered too much on the few occasions where they have needed a wee on the way!
My advice would be to ask them if they need it whenever you know you are near accessible toilets, even if they say no, it reminds them that they will need to ask when the need arises!
Also, mine were a lot less likely to have accidents when out and about for some reason
I agree with Sarah about the potty too, so much easier if you can get them used to the toilet.

[MamandeRose]

Great. That's really helpful (and obvious when you think about it!). Am feeling more confident now.