Calling any working moms with DCs who go full time to nursery - how did you potty train?

[WishingTree]

I work full time and DD (2 years and 4 months) goes to nursery full time. We are all out of the house by 8am and get back by 6:30pm. DD's nursery doesnt do potty training. I am not sure how to potty train DD effectively given we only have the weekends to do it - just short of taking a week off work/nursery and doing intensive no nappy potty training at home! Anyone in similar situation and how did you do it? Any tips gratefully received.

Thanks!

DD's nursery did it for me. (I was only working part-time, but had a younger baby and hadn't managed to get it together so they offered which made me feel both useless and very grateful.).

However, since that isn't an option for you, I'd advise taking a Monday or a Friday off and having a 3 day run at it. DD1 was pretty much trained in a day - if they're older and ready, they often get it really quickly. In fact, take a Monday off, then you can stay at home Saturday and Sunday if necessary, and hopefully by Monday she'll have got the hang of it sufficiently for you to enjoy a little trip out somewhere not too challenging with a portapotty. I remember that on Day 3 we went to a party which necessitated a 30 minute train journey and she did have to go on the potty on the train but made it through the day with no accidents.

As it happened, ds had chicken pox the week he was 2, and as we were in the house, he just stayed naked with a potty around.

But before that he'd not had a nappy on in the house for a while, just encouraged potty use and moved forward. So no reason for you not to do weekends and evenings, plus pull ups when not at home and encourage him to use the potty/toilet as much as you can, then moving to pants when he's more reliable

Thanks both. Looks like I will have to take some time off. Hard at the moment as I've just started a new job. She knows when she feels like doing potty so I am guessing we are at the right time to start training.

I am shocked that your dd's nursery does not do potty training. My dd's and ds's nursery both offered to do the potty training for us. I would seriously question why the nursery will not help you when personal hygiene is part of the Early Years Foundation curriculum. Even you do potty train your child yourself, how will the nursery react if she has an accident?

I suggest that you have a routine where your dd sits on the potty at every nappy change initally to get her used to the idea. Its really important that its a pleasent experience. You need to be really patient and not get frustrated if she produces nothing in the potty. If you want to try and "catch" a wee or a poo then the best times are on waking or after a meal.

It helps to encourage an interest and get her to understand what she needs to do. For example if you read books to her while she sits on the potty. These books are great for encouraging interest in the potty.

I want my potty

Once Upon a Potty

Get your lo to "potty train" a doll.

www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Toys/Dolls/Baby-Dolls-and-Accessories/My-Little-Baby-Born-Potty-Training-Doll%280093697%29?cm_mmc=Feed--Google%20Base--N%2FA-_-My%20Little%20Baby%20Born%20Potty%20Training%20Doll

Finally children vary when they are ready to start toilet training. I think it makes a dramatic different if a child actually wants to be out of nappies and understands what they need to do.

There was a thread on here once about someone whose nursery "wouldn't facilitate naps."

I'd ask the nursery what they mean by "not doing potty training" and what their ideas are about how this it is meant to happen. If you take time off from work to do it, you can bet they'll want their money for the days dd isn't attending.

I am also surprised they dont 'do' potty training. The nursery my daughter is in were brilliant.

If you can't take the time off then I would just start on a Saturday and if she's had some successes by the end of Sunday then send her in in pants. They might say they don't 'do' potty training but in practice they must have to change children all the time because lots of children have regular accidents even once 'trained'. It might be easier to wait until you're definitely sure she's ready, or you could do a few pants weekends in a row and see how that goes.

Indeed. I would talk to nursery and see what their policy is, they should have one. What they probably mean by 'don't do it' is that they don't do 1 on 1 with the child trying to sit them on potties etc, as you would as a parent, but they will have some kind of set-up whereby they introduce her to the nursery toilets, sit her on them a few times at nappy change etc, and tell her what she needs to do when she has to go, etc. And they do, I am sure, change lots of accidents.

As far as working/training is concerned, I would big it up for the week beforehand, buying the goods with her input in choosing. Explain what will happen from when she wakes on Saturday AM. Then go for two days straight in training, not leaving the house, and see how it goes. If it goes nowhere, leave it for now and come back to it later. If she takes to it, take to her to nursery in pants and they should be reinforcing what you are doing.