Potty training - long car journey and tv time

[Spannersintheworks]

2.5 days into potty training, it's going fine, altho more accidents when in shorts rather than bare bum.
We have a long drive tomorrow where she's likely to fall asleep - do I put her back in a nappy for the car?
Also, she often refuses to nap but is so tired so we'd usually do tv time, but this is when accidents happen as she's so distracted, despite me asking her if she needs a wee.

How do I handle long car journeys and relaxing tv time?

She's 2.5, generally gets it and very verbally competent

Hmm. Are you sure she's ready? I'm always in favour of trying again in a month or so if they don't get it right away.
But for the car journey, I'd use a pull up so you can still act as id she's in pants but no wet car seat!

I'd put on underpants with a pull up over the top so there's still the natural 'consequence' if she wets but no wet car seat.

For tv time, you just need to encourage her to start with. After 30 mins or if she gets fidgety, 'oh shall we try on the loo before the next episode' 'let's go to the loo, then we can wash our hands and get a snack' type thing

With long car journeys where she was likely to fall asleep and/or where we were on a motorway so wouldn't be able to stop quickly DD wore a pull up for a good few months after she was otherwise potty trained. She would tell us if she needed it and we'd stop if we could but it was there if needed. She wore one at night so was happy enough to wear it for that specific circumstance.

The TV one I think you just need to remind her/get her to try more often.

@CurlewKate oh definitely ready I'd say. The tv accident was after only 1 day and she was absolutely exhausted. If she'd napped I don't think it would have been such a problem!

She usually wore pull ups anyway as I was useless at the tabs on nappies 😂 and she's wearing them at night so I don't think it will hurt in the car for tomorrow - good idea. After tomorrow I have a really long stretch to practice a bit more and encourage her to wee more before we leave. I will start working really hard on this!

Noted - shorter tv time! I think I have to adjust my needs for the day!

She's not wearing pants yet - just shorts with nothing underneath. How different will a pull up over clothes feel as opposed to under? @CuntRYMusicStar

Just sounds like your catching wees tbh very different to being potty trained.

I used pull ups for this.

The car journey I mean.

For the car journey I'd put a puppy pad in the seat under her and pack spare cloths. Still encourage a wee before leaving and a toilet stop on route.

For the tired TV time, assuming it's 10-15 minutes not hours, I'd change up the night time routine so she puts pajamas and nappy on slightly early. Then it's not messing up the day-pants / night-nappy distinction.

If you have a pull up over pants then she will get the wet feeling and learn to link the wet with the action rather than the pull up keeping her completely dry. If she is ready to potty train she may be able to stop after starting to wee and hold it/tell you.

It just helps link the action and results.

I'd start the journey without a nappy and keep stopping for breaks. If there's lots of accidents I'd put a nappy on.

I definitely wouldn't put a nappy on for tv time though. I'd just keep asking them.

We put a puppy training pad on the car seat in the early days - they're really absorbent and thin enough that they don't add any height.

Does she wear a nappy for nap time? Mine do, so we time long journeys for nap time so it's not strange that we are putting a nappy on. Would that work?

Mine is a few months shy of 3 and been potty trained for months now. We don't do nappies with naps anymore but did at the start because he is a deep sleeper, and we'd put one on for a car journey even now. We make him pee before he leaves but still it's a car journey, why be punitive making him sit in it if he needs to go and you can't stop in time? He accepts when the nappy goes on at night before bed or for the car. It doesn't confuse him- we tell him why.

FWIW, we did nappies for naps until they were regularly dry

For TV time, I'd get her to do a wee before she starts. TV doesn't go on until they're is a wee in the potty. If she's ready and in control of those muscles she'll be able to wee when asked to 'try'.

For the car, I'd take her before you go and stop regularly (but put a pad in her car seat and take spares). If this really isn't practical I'd put her a pull-up on, but explain that it's so she can nap in the car.

@KateyCuckoo I don't know what you mean by catching wees? She usually tells me she needs a wee and we go to potty. Today (day 3) was first full day in shorts rather than bare bum, so I'm ok with a couple of accidents as she's getting used to it.

@PlainJanePerfect @TinyTeacher I think this is probably the way. We've only been doing it a few days and she wasn't interested in nap on first two. Tried today with a nappy but she didn't nap so we got up and took it off
It's going to be at least an hour drive, I expect her to fall asleep, so don't want to be mean. I think timing for nap time and pull up seems sensible

@NuffSaidSam yes I think I need to be more firm. I've had her try but it hasn't been successful... Don't know if she just doesn't know how to yet or isn't capable.
@Sprogonthetyne she likes those Julia Donaldson ones on BBC, so they are half an hour. I try not to do loads of tv but I'm so knackered (pregnant) and she's not napping so falling back on it more than I should. I think I need to definitely reduce the time tv. Bad habits!

Asking if they need a wee is pointless because the answer will always be no. TV only goes on after she’s done a wee. For the car journey leave right after she’s been, put her in a pull and say it’s so she can nap, take it off as soon as you get there.

We used to have a 'wee before'. (Still do it as adults TBH! About to leave to go on holiday, "Everyone done their wee-before?") So, before any bladder-challenging activity, the dc had to empty their bladders. They soon learned to cooperate, especially for something they really wanted, like TV.

If you know the child is likely to need a wee or if you want them to wee, ask if they need about 10-15m before you want them to go. Even if child says "No", you have triggered the thought in their head and they are likely to become be aware of their full bladder. This is why, when one young child in a group goes to the toilet, the rest soon need to go, to.

@Dilbertian ooh that time scale is really helpful thank you. I will start to do that!

Don't worry, I wasn't judging TV time, mine watch way to much. I was just asking about time to work out if she'd need a new nappy before bed.