How long did you stay home...

[titsmcghee43]

...when potty training?

Planning on starting with my 2 year 9 month old in the next few days but feeling a bit overwhelmed with the prospect of staying home for days on end. We try to get out once a day even if just for a walk. She also won't nap unless in the car or buggy so I know it's going to be testing on a number of levels.

Also the fact that I'll have to watch her like a hawk so won't actually be able to get on with anything at home like tidying or cleaning while she'd usually be playing within earshot, because I'll have to be with her and checking she's not secretly pissing anywhere lol.

How did you navigate leaving the house when you were in the early stages? I'm feeling quite dismal about it all but I know it has to be done.

Nearly 3 days. Right at the end of day 3 I had to see my son get his award at beavers and no childcare so toddler had to come and that was that! Luckily no accidents. Day 4 and 5 kind of laid low but not totally house bound. By end of day 5 100% got it and job done. She was 2 years and 1 month old. And once nappies were gone they were gone forever so a full commitment and no confusion.

Because to me it's just the same as using a nappy. How do they know the sensation of being wet if they are wearing a pull up? I had considered some of those potty pants which are slightly absorbent but still essentially pants. But same issue really, I just feel like I need to commit to it and see how she goes.

A week but all of ours were 18 months old so I don't know if it's different/ quicker when older

I also recommend the oh crap potty training book. My kids are completely different but it worked well for all

We didn't ,that would have driven us insane
Pull ups or a take a potty - or both

Only 2 days we stayed home but it was summer so cld still go out in the garden. She was 2yrs and 4 months. First day she peed her pants about 15 times 🙈 and I thought I'd have to give up but day 2 just 3 accidents. We ditched the potty very quickly and started using the toilet with little seat. Went to the zoo day 3 and put a pull up nappy on but she didn't need it.

I used a puppy pad on the base of the car seat too but she never really had accidents after the first few days.

I kept the overnight nappy but to be honest I shld have ditched it sooner as it took ages to get her out of them. I started to think she just filled it in the morning when she woke up 🤣 she was passed 3 when I got her out of them and a few accidents overnight which wasn't fun.

DD2 I gave up the first time we tried coz she was just pooing and peeing everywhere while playing and leaving puddles 😂 and refusing to go the toilet 🙈 tried again when she was closer to 2 1/2 and it was ok. I don't think I used pull ups at all with her and only stayed home for 1 day but stayed close to home the next day just walk to very nearby park. She refused to wear a nappy overnight and was dry overnight right from the beginning. The first few weeks she wld only do a poo in her pants and started to hold it in. I promised her a light up mermaid Barbie that she wanted if she done poos in the toilet all week and that worked!

I don’t think they need the sensation of being wet to be honest. We just explained that they should use the toilet (didn’t use potty, had one of those little seats with a ladder), and offered several times a day to use the toilet. We never had any issues and they both picked it up really quickly.

It takes 2 or 3 days but it takes a calm parent, if you are panicking your child will pick up on that. This is a few days of your life.

Didn't stay home, just used pullups or plastic panties.

Try to place them on the loo for a period before going out as well, in the hope they'll empty their bladder and be back before the next one.

2-3 days but we potty trained when it was warm and did wild wees if necessary. Get in the habit of toilet time before food/nap/trips.

Two whole days and I felt very similar to you. My routine for a toddler is to be out and about.

My kitchen has a sofa in it so the first day o bought toys in the kitchen and the potty. Every 30 mins I asked him to sit on the potty.

Kept him bare bum too while in the house.

It's draining so my partner who was working from home came down to give me a break now and again.

I got nothing done and we did just focus on potty training.

Good luck!

Started off well but we've had 3 floor wees now. Just put a nappy on her to have a nap, every time she has had an accident she's told me and asked me be cleaned up because she clearly doesn't like the sensation of being wet or dirty. So I'm taking that as a positive but I think this may take some time and certainly can't think about leaving the house with her nappy-less today.

Just do nappies off all day at home and if and when you nip out (for naps etc), out a nappy on for them.

Ah you're doing fab, keep at it & don't give up too soon. Make sure they go before you leave the house & take a portable potty with you (I had one that also folds out to a little toilet seat which was super handy). Good luck!

A couple of days but wouldn’t think twice about popping out for a walk/pop to shop. Take potty with you and/or let them have an accident - that’s part of the learning process, you can’t expect to potty train without them wetting their pants a few times.

I think just because it's so cold at the moment I'm worried about her being wet and cold. And there aren't always suitable places for a full change. Totally the wrong time of year to be doing it really 🙈

Didn’t occurred to me to stay home. Just brought a few changes with me. And made sure to make extra toilet stops between stuff.

We didn't stay home but mine were both quite late as I just did it when they were ready. I had tried earlier and they were weeing everywhere so no point. When they were ready they did day and night straight away.

For sure! I trained DS in the snow so I understand that 😄 not the best time of year, but if they’re the best age and at the right stage then definitely strike while the iron is hot!

Every time she wees pop her on the potty even if she’s finished and say something like oops we sit on the potty to do a wee sit there to check if any more. If you can get her on it before she finished then celebrate this hugely hurray you did a wee in the potty that’s amazing etc etc and show her it! Even if it’s a dribble! she’ll then start to match the sensation of weeing to being on the potty & eventually recognise the sensation of needing to go & will sit ! You need to help her make the link calmly & consistently . You’re both doing great! It’s hard work but worth persevering!!!

We stayed home one weekend with my daughter when she was that age and it was a disaster. Tried again 6 months later and it was nothing - no accidents, no drama at all. Personally I'd say to give it a day and if it's frustrating stop and go back a couple months later.

We waited until 3 when my son was talking about it and it was the same - super easy. For a while we'd plan outings to be flexible so we could leave just after using the toilet and go places with toilet access somewhere around (though my son would happily use a convenient tree my daughter was more fussy!). Took me a little while to feel confident about flights and long car journeys!

It was a long time ago for us but we still went out and about , I had horses to see with the eldest and horses and a school run with the younger one . Like a pp we just took some changes of clothes out and stuck an inco pad on the car seat .

I didn't stay home at all. DS was 2.5 years and had been dry at night for a few weeks. Then one morning he perched himself on the loo to do his morning poo (he was very regular) and afterwards announced he no longer needed a nappy. He never wore one again and had no accidents at all. In fact about a week later we moved from London to Inverness and he insisted on no nappy for the journey there. 11 hours of driving and we stopped every couple of hours for loo breaks. No accidents on the journey.

If that sounds smug then I should add that he didn't sleep through the night until he was 6...

If you can........ wait until the summer. Its a lot easier when they've got fewer clothes on (less to wash, less to pull down in a hurry) and you both can spend a week or two hanging out in the garden.