Potty training and car seats!

[fifitot]

Just started with DD in knickers. Still having a couple of 'accident's per day but happy to carry spare trousers and just change her - or nursery do.

However going on a long car journey soon and don't want her to wee in her car seat. She could of course remember to ask for the potty and I could stop but then if she falls asleep I expect she may wee.

What should I do? Don't really want to put her in a nappy as it seems a backward step.

We used the approach that if the child is asleep (either at night or on a predictable/regular daytime sleep) then a nappy went on. This applied to long journeys too.

However other mners I know say that nappies should be off in the daytime regardless of whether the lo still has a sleep.

We never had any confusion with our strategy.

The other option (or as an addition) is to put a small thin cushion (buy a cheap children's one) under her bottom.

can you lie an open nappy on the car seat?

You can buy plastic backed towelling car seat mats for this. Jojomammanbebe and mothercare do them.

I got a special mat for the car seat, which had a loop for the clip bit to go through, so that if there ever HAD been an accident there was a plastic backed padded mat to protect the seat. My friend got me mine when she bought one for her ds, so I can't tell you where it was from, I'm afraid, but can probably try and find out if you're interested?

There is this, but you could achieve the same thing with a plastic sheet and a towel on top. Many kids don't actually pee in their sleep but do shortly on waking - so you could just watch out for that.

Feedthegoat has saved me the job!

I use a disposable maternity bed-mat folded

We have just made a special cushion for the car - 3 nappies taped together (with the tabs cut off and elastic bits cut so that they lie flat) inside a pillow case with a teddy on. The hope is that a) she won't want to wee on the teddy and b) if she does, nappies in the bin, pillow case in the wash!

Great ideas - thanks ladies.

With DD1 I used to put a pampers disposable changing mat folded up in the seat. With DD2 I never got around to buying any so just put a plastic bag with a folded hand towel on top. We also always had a potty easily to hand so could pull over and get it out quickly if she said she needed a wee.