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Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

What happens to little ones starting primary school in pull ups/ nappies ?

134 replies

Wishithoughtbeforeispeak · 02/09/2017 22:01

I feel a complete fail as a parent my DS is going to start school this week in pull ups ! We have tried everything, we've seen the health visitor about 12 months ago and she gave me a range of thing to try and nothing has worked. He is great with poos hasn't had an accident for six months if not longer yet seems completely unable to tell if he needs a wee. I even take him to the toilet with me and as I'm going ask him if he needs to go he will say no and then when I put him on there anyway he will wee saying he was bursting! I'm worried sick about him going to school in nappies as I'm unsure how it will even work. He was at nursery till July and was able to stay dry there in pants for the last month or so before he left but as soon as I got him home he would be wet within half hour, I put him in pants at home he will not only wee himself but then just sit there playing in the wet clothes / puddle as if it hadn't happened so doesn't even seem to know he's wet ? My mum took him for the day and tried as I was convinced it was just me as he could manage at nursery and he went through so many pants and clothes without knowing he had done it she had to return to my house to get more by mid afternoon ! We have now gone all summer in pull ups as he really has no idea he is seeing in pants and will wee himself in shops at home where ever! I'm at my wits end I don't know how he could stay dry at nursery yet no where else? I kind of hold out hope he may be the same at school but that doesn't help me get him dry at home I managed to train my elder DS before the age of 4 yet my youngest seems impossible. Does anyone have any experience of what happen at school. If they are still in nappies ? Or has anyone else had this with their child ?

OP posts:
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Arrietty123 · 03/09/2017 10:27

Hi, he doesn't have to go to school until the term after he turns 5. The school cannot make you send him in before then so I wouldn't if I were you. That way it reduces the stress upon you both and gives him more time to mature. The school cannot insist that he starts full time until he is of compulsory school age. Check out the Facebook group Flexible admissions for Summerborns. I know he isn't a summer born but you will still be able to get loads of advice and support from the group.

Wishithoughtbeforeispeak · 03/09/2017 10:53

Thank you for all the support is good to know I'm not the only one with I little one in this situation! It does feel very lonely when the teachers are frowning on you saying he's the only one going part time even though it was offered to the whole intake, let alone the fact he's not toilet trained ! I would love not to send him and give him a bit more time due to all my concerns but over all other reasons he's so excited and looking forward to going I just couldn't take that away from him, he will go this week for a few hours each day settleing in like all the other children and then hopefully 3 days as agreed and we can see how he manages. I will get him to the Drs and see what they say I hadn't before as I had convinced myself it was my failing him that was the issue not him but as time has gone on it's becomeing more apparent that he really doesn't seem to know. thank you to all of those who have been suportive it really has been a great comfort to my worries and confidence that I'm not on my own in this situation . Heres hoping the teachers go easy on us next week and we can come to a good arrangement that works for us all

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mccuntypants · 03/09/2017 10:59

Morning OP, firstly please stop fretting! You'll just make yourself ill with worry, I know it's tough but try and take a step back and tell yourself that this is where you are right now and that's ok. Your DS will be fine whatever happens. I have an almost 7 year old. He has CP and GDD so is a little different to your son. However, he is also tiny (he doesn't weigh much more than your boy) and has the same eating/drinking issues. At the moment (the last 8 months) he will only eat ready brek or chocolate icing. Before that it was only coco pops. And that's ok. He's eating and I'm good with that.

My DS is doubly incontinent, whilst I realise your DS isn't, it can kick up the same issues. School can not make you go in to change your child, nor can they refuse him proper access to a full days education. They must accommodate his needs. School will probably want to help you with this issue, sit with his teacher and work out a plan together. With regards to the pull ups and pants, if he is wetting constantly with no dry periods (ignoring what happened in nursery as that isn't where you are right now) I would put him back in nappies and take the pressure off you both. All children are different, people saying to you that he won't be in nappies at such and such an age is unhelpful even though it's well meant. Work with school, role play with teddies with your DS, do lots of water play talking about wet and dry and the difference, and most importantly just be ok with the situation right now. I know that sounds a bit wanky but the best thing you can do is to take the pressure off both of you.

Oh and no. He won't be 'ribbed'. Kids are much nicer than adults and don't care about the differences between them. Adults however and are very different kettle of fish!

Wishithoughtbeforeispeak · 03/09/2017 11:00

Bluntness100 he doesn't soil himself he takes himself to the toilet perfectly for that and has done for months it just the wees we can get sorted I've tried bribery, stickers, pants with his favourite characters, different pull ups everything he just doesn't get it! I take him to go he will burst in to tears saying he doesn't need to I ignor that put him on the toilet and he goes seemingly genuinely surprised that a wee came out how do I sort that one ? If left in pants he were himself and not even flinches or makes any move to get out of the wet as if he can't feel it is wet ?

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Bluntness100 · 03/09/2017 11:04

Sorry op, I meant soil as in wet.

Agree with others though, this isn't about you or your parenting, don't fret and I was trying to give comfort that it's not medical. My only point was if he managed it before this would indicate he does know? Basically what you're saying is he knows at nursery but doesn't know at home. Location shouldn't make a difference, either he knows or he doesn't. Does that make sense?

Wishithoughtbeforeispeak · 03/09/2017 11:15

It makes perfect sense this is where my frustration gets to why can he do it at nursery but no where else now made worst that he hasn't attended nursery for a month so therefore hasn't been dry for a month again 🙁 I just do t know how to solve it now

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TeenTimesTwo · 03/09/2017 11:21

This is what I think I would do in your situation:

  • keep the pull ups for now
  • email/ring the school on Monday regarding the situation and ask for a call/meeting to discuss
  • send in the 2 full days you work plus the other 3 mornings. Much easier for his routine and for settling to go in every day, plus the learning happens in the morning. If he is clearly not managing this then cut down. OR Defer until after Christmas.
  • maybe go back and ask the nursery what their routine was that they managed to keep him dry while he was there?

What are his other motor skills like? Age appropriate or also behind? At you seeing a paediatrician? (Sorry if you already said and I've missed it). By sending to school you are more likely to get any help/assessments/interventions needed.

TeenTimesTwo · 03/09/2017 11:28

My AD2 was prem, small and neglected and was assessed as Globally Developmentally Delayed age 1. She was late to potty train (~3.5) but is autumn born so not so close to going to school. If a child doesn't have the motor skills or the communication skills then potty training is just frustrating.

You aren't going to solve this in 2 days, so go back to pulls ups and then agree a way forward with the school. Send in lots of spares.

Ask re changing for PE!

MyOtherProfile · 03/09/2017 11:32

He will feel wet but just not be aware of it so he needs to learn to be aware of it. This won't happen until he gets wet and it is pointed out to him lots of times so he begins to register the feeling. Also in school he will get swept along with the others to use the loo at certain times.

Tiddlywinks63 · 03/09/2017 11:37

Just wondering if he could have a low grade wee infection op but that wouldn't explain why he's happy to sit in wet pants or a puddle of wee. Take a sample with you when you see the GP.

hazeyjane · 03/09/2017 11:39

Wish, it sounds as though nursery weren't working very well with you if they haven't helped with this issue, and other concerns you may have had wrt your son's development. Was it the case at nursery, that he was holding on? In which case this would explain why he was flooding when he got home. How did they help him stay dry?? Did they ever get cross with him for wetting?.

I hope the school is more proactive and supportive, I would go in and have a frank and open conversation about any concerns you have about this or other issues, and ask to speak to the school senco, to help draw up a plan of action. I would also call the local school nurse office and make an appointment to see the gp, if you are concerned about other areas, ask to see a developmental paediatrician.
It is a huge amount to take in, but write down a list and take it one step at a time. Don't blame yourself or your lovely boy. You, and he, are doing the best you can.

I have a son who is disabled and in nappies for double incontinence at the age of 7, yes they do have children with nappies in juniors too! The school has gone from being supportive to being an absolute nightmare, it does sometimes feel like a constant battle.

As Miaowthecat said, it can be an incredibly depressing and isolating thing, and I wish people could just take a step back sometimes and think about how awful they are being when they make judgements on these children and their families, judgement, which ultimately does nothing to help the situation, but just adds to the stigma of an already difficult issue. My heart has a sigh of relief when I see other posters who are going through similar things (although I wouldn't wish it on anyone), in fact I might start a support thread, but not sure where I would put it where I would get posters who 'get it' and don't get posters who march through in their 'I've read an article in the Telegraph/Daily Mail/AN Other Shitrag and know all about these terrible families who pander to their children and send them to school in nappies....'.

I also work in a preschool and see children at different stages of toilet readiness, some of whom will start school in nappies. Children deserve to be treated with respect, dignity and kindness, in all aspects of their intimate care, and I hope that when I work with families going through this sort of thing, that I do so in as kind and sensitive way as possible.

Ds is going to see a grastroenterology consultant this month after years of bowel and stomach issues, I am crapping myself (which fits nicely with this thread!) about this, but hope it will be another tiny step towards resolving his problems.

grasspigeons · 03/09/2017 11:41

The school should be able to manage and manage it with dignity
You can delay school if you feel he isn't ready due to lots of reasons, not just wetting
I agree pull ups do train you to wet yourself to a point - but if you go ahead with school now isn't the time to change that association.
In the holiday just run round for a whole week - at first with nothing on the bottom half, and then with pants. Don't worry about learning to use a potty just get him recognising the wet comes from him.
And speak to an enurisis clinic.

TeenTimesTwo · 03/09/2017 11:41

MyOther I agree, BUT

  • the OP has tried, it's not working
  • 2 days before school starts is not the time to be pushing this
  • Reception class will have a teacher and a TA. Every time this boy needs changing the TA will have to leave the other 29 children to sort it out. This is not fair especially in the first couple of weeks of school, especially as the school are not yet properly aware their is an issue.
  • This boy has no extra money coming with him, as he hasn't as far as I can see yet been assessed as needing an EHCP, so there is no additional person available to provide the additional ongoing care needs (in like an occasional accident still expected when starting yR).
Mumofmany4and6 · 03/09/2017 11:41

I am in exactly the same situation and posted last week! In fact you've done better than me as we've cracked nothing!!! I have found that 'helpful' relatives who have advocated 'tough love' solutions have made it worse and I am just encouraging and waiting now as I don't want him to end up with an anxiety disorder!!
There is a lot of bad press about mums of children that are in nappies when they start school, generally written by mums who have never had a problem. It's been happening for years, don't beat yourself up.
Let keep in touch and see who's son cracks first!! Xxxx

TeenTimesTwo · 03/09/2017 11:44

unlike an occasional accident

MissHavishamsleftdaffodil · 03/09/2017 11:44

He clearly has some extra needs so please don't feel that you should somehow have just magically got this sorted. Children who need additional to and different from for their individual needs are entitled by the Code of Practice to have things adapted to fit them. Agree totally with talk to the school: they will need to sort out arrangements that work for ds.

You might find talking to the parent advocacy service in your local authority helpful, there will be one. The Eric website many pps have mentioned is excellent, mention that to school if they haven't run across it yet, but you won't be the first family with a child not developmentally ready for toilet training. Please don't worry too much. Foundation staff get very attached to their children and will be coming straight to you if he's falling asleep and not coping with a full day, or if they want to sort out extra staffing or funding to help him.

GreenTulips · 03/09/2017 11:45

OP you've talked a lot about your DS but not what you are doing. You sound very anxious and I think you are passing this on.

Every times he's wet - don't say anything don't tell him off or talk to him - take him to the bathroom and leave him while you slowly find clothes - shower and change - say nothing - this is the most boring activity and effectively he's missing TV playtime or whatever - when ready return downstairs and back to normal

They don't need to be told off and associate the toilet as being a bad thing

Good luck

Littlefish · 03/09/2017 11:45

I think you really need to tackle his lack of fluid intake. He really needs to be drinking more so that his bladder fills and he gets the appropriate signals.

GreenTulips · 03/09/2017 11:48

He needs to get continent pretty quickly if he isn't to be labelled by his peers as a bit odd forever more. Harsh but true

I hope you realise that children are generally forgiving and accepting of all children? That they aren't mean if someone has an accident they just accept it and carry on as normal! Same with kids with disabilities.

d270r0 · 03/09/2017 11:49

The thing that helps my ds cope at school is his vibrating watch. You set it to vibrate any times you want, I do hourly and teach him he has to go to the toilet when it goes off. Should avoid the majority of accidents and keep several pairs of spare pants and trousers and school for accidents. Ideally would get him out of nappies asap. Speak to the teacher so shes on the same page as you as to how to deal with it.

Bluntness100 · 03/09/2017 11:50

I just do t know how to solve it now

The good news is that it's overwhelmingly likely to be behavioural rather than medical, and as such, it's just a matter of time. You really don't want it to be medical.

He prob went in nursery as the other kids did. So he might do the same in school, and as such, as there longer the habit may form and stick. Most kids want to be like their peers and to fit in and it sounds like he's no different.

mccuntypants · 03/09/2017 11:53

Please don't label the OP as anxious and 'passing it on'. I don't believe that to be the case her. Yes OP is concerned about what's going to happen/ how it's going to pan out and that is normal and fine.

d270r0 · 03/09/2017 11:53

In my experience doctors will do nothing until they're 7. I took my 5 year old last year and they said "Do a sticker chart". Like I hadn't done a million of those before. I have another appointment for him tomorrow, one year on, hes now 6. But I still think they'll say wait until hes 7. Problem is a sticker chart won't work for him because his bladder contracts randomly when it isn't even full so he doesn't feel he needs to toilet at those times and it comes out without him even knowing. He only realises when he feels himself and hes all wet.

Thisisatemporaryname101 · 03/09/2017 11:54

I wet myself at school I remember being embarrassed would have been 5 or 6 but it certainly never followed me around as name calling!

d270r0 · 03/09/2017 11:57

I would bet the only reason he manages at nursery is because there are regular toilet breaks and they take him very often, not giving him as much chance to wet. In school he will have to manage himself more, I really really recommend the vibrating watch. He sounds exactly like my ds. I will let you know what the doc says tomorrow.