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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.

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Original poster

When to STOP using potty?

15 replies

tingalayo · 23/06/2022 14:03

My daughter is 3 and a half and still much prefers the potty to the toilet, I think so she doesn't have to leave the room and also if she uses the toilet she has to wash her hands, whereas if she uses the potty in the front room I wipe her myself so she doesn't have to bother washing her hands. Is this lazy and/or babyish and should I be encouraging the toilet? She happily uses the toilet at nursery and out of the house, or if we happen to already be in the bathroom!

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Honaloulou · 23/06/2022 14:05

Similar situation here.

I’m fine with DD still using the potty, as she takes aaaaaaaaages on it, and I can get on with other stuff. If she’s on the toilet I have to hang out there.

on the other hand, it’s a bit gross.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 23/06/2022 14:07

I personally think at that age, if confident enough to use a toilet I would get rid of the potty. I wouldn’t want a potty in my living room past training stage. It’s also good to reenforce the privacy around toilet habits and one’s body - we referenced that a lot in the run up to school.

InDubiousBattle · 23/06/2022 14:08

I would definitely be getting her to use the toilet and wash her hands. We only had a potty in the living room when the dc were potty training and practicing. After a couple of days we moved it to the bathroom as the potty was easier for them to use when they were little.

NannyR · 23/06/2022 14:12

I get them using the toilet as soon as possible (as I hate washing out potties!) usually a couple of weeks after they are trained. I also keep the potty in the bathroom from the start to get them used to the idea that that's where toileting happens. If they are able to use a toilet, I can't see any benefit in having a potty around and I put it away so they don't have the option.

3amAndImStillAwake · 23/06/2022 14:14

I'd start by moving the potty to the bathroom and treating it like the toilet as far as wiping and washing her hands go.

ChickpeaPie · 23/06/2022 14:16

I would throw it in the bin. She should be washing her hands whether she’s on a potty or toilet and the consistency of always going to the same place will be better for routine

familyissues12345 · 23/06/2022 14:20

I would also bin the potty!

RandomQuest · 23/06/2022 14:28

At 3.5 I’d be expecting almost independent toileting- she should be capable of taking herself to the loo and washing her hands afterwards, maybe some help with wiping after a poo but that’s it. But then I have a summer born who was at a school nursery who only took them fully toilet trained from 3 and then at school at only just 4 so we had to make she was ready in that department and hurry things along! In your case, since she can and does chuck the potty and insist on proper hand washing every time.

Numbat2022 · 23/06/2022 14:40

Mine is 3y 4m and I have the same question. We don't have a downstairs loo and he's only really just stopped having daily accidents (started potty training just after he turned 3, he was definitely not ready before), so I feel we need the potty for a while longer yet as I don't think he'd make it upstairs - he hates leaving what he's doing. Plus if someone is in the bathroom he'd have to use the potty - there's no way a recently trained 3 year old can hold it in until someone's finished.

If we had a downstairs loo I would be more inclined to get rid of it sooner... but I do question people thinking children are independently toileting at this age! There is no way he'd be clean by himself, he doesn't really seem to understand the concept properly yet or have the dexterity to reach.

HappyHappyHermit · 23/06/2022 14:44

Put the potty in the bathroom to start with and get her used to having to leave the room etc. Now our dd is 4 we keep ours in the car for out and about emergencies, which is handy.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 23/06/2022 15:57

but I do question people thinking children are independently toileting at this age taking yourself off to the toilet at this age I would say is normal- lots of children have been trained for over year- plus my child started school 6 months after this age as August born. When they use the loo they can call you to help wipe number 2s.

RandomQuest · 23/06/2022 16:56

I do question people thinking children are independently toileting at this age
They go by completely by themselves for a wee and for a poo they either tell you first they that need one or shout for you from the loo! I’d say it’s pretty normal for 3 and a half year olds. I see why you’d want a back up potty if you’ve only got the 1 loo and are concerned about accidents if they have to wait because someone just got in the shower, that makes a lot of sense.

RedWingBoots · 23/06/2022 17:14

Is this lazy and/or babyish and should I be encouraging the toilet?

It's babying her.

My DD who is 3, got upset when she was 2 that she had potties were there no toilets as everyone else who she saw as "big" went to the toilet.

However we still have a potty outside the bathroom so she can use it when it is occupied as we only have one.

We also don't use baby wipes to wipe her bum or hands after toileting as she gets cross as she isn't a baby. She uses toilet roll and washes her hands regardless of whether she uses the toilet or now more rarely the potty. Baby wipes are used by everyone if they make a mess as we have some left over.

I do question people thinking children are independently toileting at this age

They can.

At first they will have a few accidents but practice makes perfect. And don't let them wipe their own bums after a poo until they prove they can do it properly.

Numbat2022 · 23/06/2022 17:37

Ahh I see. I assumed by 'independent toileting' the pp meant they could do it all themselves.

mrsfoof · 24/06/2022 07:49

I'm sorry, but using the potty anywhere other than the bathroom (except in the very early days of training when you get zero warning) is utterly disgusting. Bathrooms are for toileting, not the family room.
Of course she doesn't want to troop off and use the loo as you've given her an easy option.
If she must use the potty then let her for now but keep it in the bathroom. I'm assuming that at 3.5, she has been trained long enough to be able to hold it for a minute to walk to the bathroom.

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