No downstairs loo and have a toddler

[ifsandbuts]

I am moving into a new rented house with my 18 month old and the new house has no downstairs toilet. My mother is constantly going on and on about this and thinks I've made a terrible mistake choosing this property. She is mortified.

For context, we are moving from a high rise flat with no garden in an antisocial area to a lovely green community and house with small garden. There was limited choice and budget and I felt this house ticked many though not all boxes.

If you have no downstairs toilet and a toddler do you have any tips for managing day to day life so I can assure my mother I've got it sorted?!!

When you’re potty training you have a potty downstairs. When you need the toilet you go upstairs. It’ll be fine.

We survived with 2 toddlers and an upstairs toilet. Potty was down stairs initially until they progressed, then I took them upstairs. Did never give it any thought, did not cause any issue at all.

It’s so not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Will be fine

I don't have a downstairs toilet and managed fine with twins. Potty downstairs, no issue!

Well growing up we didn't have a downstairs toilet and my mum had 4 kids. It wasn't an issue.

Today I have a toddler and no downstairs toilet. When he was first potty training we had a potty downstairs and one upstairs in the bathroom. Once he became more trained and used to going then we just went upstairs to the toilet. No big deal at all.

Your mother is being ridiculous. Your new house sounds lovely.

It'll be fine. By the time she's potty trained she'll be able to use the stairs. Enjoy your new house and garden and task your mum with finding a house that ticks all your boxes AND has a downstairs loo! Go on, tell her to find you one.

It's fine

I’m 57 and have had lots of house moves over the years. I’ve never had a downstairs toilet. Never had a problem.

I’ve never had a downstairs loo, but managed fine with three DC. When I was a child, my mum managed to potty train us without a downstairs loo too.

Tbf I’m an adult and hate not having a toilet downstairs, but then I grew up in a house with one up and one down I do think it’s annoying but you will be fine, It’s me and 4 kids so I just generally think bigger houses should have more than one toilet 😒

I have two toilets, but neither is on the ground floor.

I have 2dc, 7 and 9 now, and no downstairs loo. Never noticed a problem. They had no accidents at home and were always able to make it to the loo - or potty downstairs.

Potty downstairs and garden will be a great asset.

The new place sounds much better- we never had a downstairs toilet and my DS aced potty training! Ignore your mum. Could she have another reason not to want you to move? She's being over the top.

Your mums being ridiculous. Currently potty training in a house without a downstairs loo, honestly it's been fine. We have a potty downstairs that I just take upstairs and empty once she's used it, she has a step to wash her hands in the kitchen sink. When she's upstairs she has the choice of using her potty or the toilet. Simple.

We've had five children and no downstairs loo. We survived.

Mortified Is your mother quite well?

Downstairs loos are handy for potty training but they’re not even close to a necessity. Use an actual potty downstairs until they’re reliably trained to avoid having go upstairs frequently. You’ll be fine.

DS ran about with no nappy and long t- shirt in the garden at first, as we did it in summer- we brought the potty outside. It worked really well. A really relaxed and kind approach will work. When he was used to having underpants on and pulling them down to sit on the potty, we tried the toilet. Having to go upstairs wasn't ever an issue and he's had very few accidents. He liked climbing stairs though, so might be different for different kids. In fact he only really had accidents at nursery and they had a toilet a metre away on the same floor, so your mum's logic doesn't make sense to me.

We’ve got a downstairs loo and DD says “No fankoo I like the potty”

What’s the issue? Secure child in high chair if you need to run to the loo? I just take DD to the loo with me anyway, sometimes I sling her in the empty bath and sometimes she climbs all over me while I wipe my arse 🤷‍♀️
Your child is no safer if the loo is downstairs if they’re being left unattended anyway.

For potty training, the potty is downstairs and then they learn to hold it to go to the toilet.

Your mother is being so unreasonable, she should be happy for your lovely move, it sounds great for your family.

My mums like this. She once said to me ‘I’m a great believer in downstairs toilets’ whatever tf that means 🙄 according to her all of my houses have been ‘no good’ because they don’t have a downstairs loo. I’ve managed with 3 dc. My mums elderly now and not long moved into a smaller property. She’s on her own but has decided to cut her already small kitchen in half and paid a ridiculous amount to put a downstairs toilet in. No one uses it because it’s strange/awkward going for a shit in a toilet that opens into the kitchen. Completely batshit imo

I potty trained my son without a downstairs loo! He kept the potty downstairs until he could climb over the gate to take himself to the toilet upstairs! (the gates stayed on for his younger sister)

Had 2 kids with only one upstairs bathroom. Had a potty for downstairs for when training. After that, they were fine going upstairs.