bit of potty training advice please

[JustBonnie]

My dd is 2yr 8mth and the other day I thought I'd have a casual go at potty training as I didn't have much on for a couple of days. Well it was a HUGE success and she took to it straight away. While at home she wears knickers and poos and wees in the potty each time (she doesn't like sitting on the toilet even though I've got a trainer seat for her). It's just when we go out I put her in a pull up. Yesterday we went to the park where there really isn't access to a toilet and I felt it was too cold for her to go on the potty. When she's got the pull up on it's just like a nappy to her and she goes in it.

The question is how do you get to the next step (ie her going out in knickers and staying dry). She's got play school tomorrow and I'd really like to take her in knickers and for her to use the loo but am I asking too much of her? I know if I stick a pull up on her she'll just go in that. Also how do you get them dry at night????

thanks

Just be strong and go for it - take a change of clothes in case there is an accident. Pullups are the work of satan (we've had big issues, and I'm convinced that they are the cause)... No idea about nights though - I'm not ready to face it yet!

thanks for the quick response, do you think I should send her to play school in knickers tomorrow. She's only there for two and half hours but if she wets then they'll have to change her.

Just put her in knickers and see how she goes. If you take her out, make sure you know where all the public toilets are, and which shops have loos and where they are.

When dd first started, I used to ask her every fifteen minutes if she needed a wee, and I would take her to the toilet about every half an hour - until she got cross with me and told me that she would tell me if she needed to go. And she did - every time.

Getting them dry at night isn't something you can control - it comes when it's ready and not before. My dd has been dry for two years and is still in nappies at night time. Don't stress about night time - there's a hormone that kicks in to suppress urine overnight and until that happens there's no point in trying.

I would put her in knickers tomorrow, yes. Putting her in a nappy or a pull-up will confuse her. Take her to the toilet before you leave her, and ask the staff to remind her frequently about using the toilet. They will have dealt with newly trained children before.

I'm with WWB on how to handle tomorrow too.

thanks again for the advice, the only problem is she's used to going on the potty and has not been yet on the toilet. obviously at school there are just toilets. Thanks for the night time advice as well.

I agree with everyone else. Send her in knickers to playschool tomorrow. Changing between knickers and pull-ups is so confusing for her. Are you not able to take your potty to playschool? I am sure that any playschool would be more than happy to help you in making potty training easier for your little one. If this means temporarily taking your potty until she is ready for big toilet, then I would do so!!
Good luck

How did she do at playschool???

Thanks for asking but I was a complete coward she's only been there a few weeks and has just started to really enjoy going. I had visions of her getting wet and upset and her being really traumatised (stupid I know!) so I put her in the evil pull ups but told the playgroup leader to try and encourage her to use the toilet with the others. She didn't and needless to say went in her pull up but as soon as we got home she's back to the potty with no problem. I'm really going to try and get her to go to the toilet at home over the next week so by the time she goes back to playschool she'll be used to it. I really can't see her sitting on her potty in a strange environment (she really is quite a sensitive soul), Any more tips on going from potty to toilet will be appreciated!

Don't beat yourself up about it. Bearing in mind she is back on the potty at home now, it sounds like she is so nearly there anyway. In my opinion I see no urgency to get her on the toilet. Let her feel happy and comfortable on potty first.