So.... I am clueless. How do you go out and about whn potty training?

[meandjoe]

Also posted in potty training section

DS is 2 and seems to be quite happy using the potty around the house. Runs to it himself saying 'POTTY!!!!' and all is going well. He's loving the praise!

My main question is how the heck do you manage to go anywhere, even a trip to the park or to grandparents house etc? Do you have to take the potty with you?? Or do you just use nappies and hope they don't need to go?? Or just use normal toilet (I have a feeling ds would find this a bit daunting as he's only ever used a potty).

My friend just used to put her ds is nappies whenever she went anywhere but surelythis sends mixed mssages with regards to using potty and telling people when they need to go etc. I really have no idea so please share your experiences! Ta

weve got a portable potty from mothercare, it has plastic bags that attach to it.
used it when potty training and still use it now for car journey's - a lot easier than getting kids to wee in bushes on the side of the road!

have to admit we used nappies on public transport - didnt want the embarassment! x

We used pants at home and pull ups when we were out and about (telling DD they were just in case, not to use). She was fine. Not confused. Used toilet when out. Managed to 'hold on' when desperate in the car. Worked for us. (also took potty in the car with us - not restaurants)

I certainly accept that there are different approaches - however as is shown by my experience and also I think from what llareggub says, sometimes children don't need training but are simply ready.

It is logical that usually we learn things by practice but childhood is not mini adulthood - sometimes kids just become ready for things. You can't always practice for the next stage of childhood while still in another stage; developmentally that's just not often possible. for example children like my son who had no training but decide to use the loo on day 1, also children are often quoted as just 'picking up' reading almost by osmosis and without formal teaching. It's about readiness.

I agree it's often about readiness AND practice, but I don't think waiting till you feel your child is ready, or is even asking, makes you a lazy parent!

Thanks MGMidget, will try it and see whether it helps. x

DS is now 2.7 and has just got it in the last week. I started putting him on potty at home and in pants at home at 2.3. It has been a long slog which is probably my fault. Since we stopped putting him in pull ups for trips out etc it has moved along faster and he's got the hang of it better, but you have to deal with the endless washing as he just had heaps of accidents. Others may have given up but I'm a bit stubborn!! Couldn't do the Gina F "put them on every 15 mins" method - my ds would have been very frustrated by that. It's a bit like feeding a newborn - you look for the cues....hopping up and down, clutching trousers etc and then gently ask -do you need the potty?
Potette plus folds out to a toilet seat, so maybe a good transition to big toilet - they'll be sitting on the same thing so maybe not so scary?? esp when out and about with strange toilets etc.

I hadn't thought about portable potties when we went to the beach the other day. Was quite pleased with myself for grabbing his bucket when he said poo! Until he sat on it and I wondered how disposal was going to work. False alarm, fortunately.

We've just started using these. Ds1 is now desperate to pee in the loo as a result. Slightly disconcerted that one seems to have disappeared since I cleaned the loo!?

What's the problem with pull ups btw? We are doing it all by ear but I did hear the nursery owner is scandalised by pull ups. Don't know why though.

Another confused potty training novice here! Dd1 was 18 mo when she decided she didn't want to wear her nappy and first went on the potty. She is now 23mo and we have been doing the mixture of nappies/pull ups/ potty thing for ages now. She has about 50% success. Decided must be confusing for her so yesterday took off the nappy and she was fab nearly all went in potty or nearly. Continuing today as think we may as well go for it. Keeping her in pull ups for naps and towel & plastic bag in pram and car. DH is a spanner in the works though as he says he doesn't want wee all over everything and 'she won't still be in nappies at 20' so leave her be. Surely we have to take her lead though and persevere??

I bypassed the potty and had them going on the toilet rather than having the adjustment for them of going on the big toilet

My 2.8 yo dd1 keeps pulling off her nappy and smearing her poo all over the floor. Is this some random indication of potty training cos we've tried everything else!

Dawny- just read the Gina Ford book apparently poo smearing is to do with them never seeingtheir poo and 'discovering' it so you need to familiarise them with it...

Well, your DC is going to have to learn to use the real thing some day. It's really worth trying the toilet at granny's and in other places while still having the potty at home. Don't know if you can find a clip on little soft toilet seat to bring with you, but your general aim should be to encourage the toilet as opposed to the potty.
I took the potty in the boot for the one long trip I went on with DD, and tried to limit outings otherwise until I felt she was getting the hang of the training. Didn't want her feeling bad about accidents that just wouldn't have happened if she had been at home. Toilet training is a bit like jumping on a tiger's back -- you're not really in control, very nervous time.

Girlsyearapart --- sorry your DH can't have it both ways. Toilet training is not going to happen overnight, magically without mess and plenty of it.