How to train when you're out and about all the time?

[Rockbird]

DD (2.7) is completely ready for training, has been for months actually but we've just come back from a big holiday and I was selfishly holding off till we came back. She uses then toilet already, asks to use it, tells me what she's doing, asks for a clean nappy and I have a supply of pants. But I don't think she's reliable enough to just whip the nappy off and think no more about it.

But, I work 3 days per week, on Thurs and Fri we're out for the day, then next week three days work, out for day on Thursday then we're going to PIL's holiday flat for the bank hol weekend. Trouble is that every week is like this and I can't keep putting it off. What do I do?

[snickersnack]

Do it. There's never a good time, you just have to get on with it. If we'd waited until it was convenient for us, we'd still be waiting with ds. As it was, we decided to do it when he seemed ready, and it was comparatively straight forward. Worse to wait and find she loses interest in the whole thing.
Who looks after her while you work? That shouldn't be a barrier. Maybe wait until this weekend, then go for it. That's two days with you, three days in childcare - then a day out but take a potty and keep asking her, and take some changes of clothes. The worst that can happen is she has some accidents.

[Rockbird]

She might wee on her car seat...

I know you're talking sense and actually, as far as my childcare is concerned I'm quite lucky. She's with a grandmother each for two days and nursery for one. Nursery are very laid back, have asked them about it and they said just let them know when she's in pants and send lots of clothes.

[loler]

sounds like she'll crack it in a few days - my dd was 2.2 and only had 2 accidents ever so it can be really easy (ds1 on the other hand.....!)

Put a towel on her car seat.

[snickersnack]

Then you need to just go for it. Car seats are washable (ask me how I know!)...we have something called a Piddle Pad, but a towel on top of a plastic bag would be just as good. Go before you get in the car, ask her on the way if you need to stop, and be prepared for endless wee breaks - we racked up 20 between Essex and Devon earlier this year when ds was getting the hang of it.

[Rockbird]

LOL her car seat cover is drying as we speak, except the damage came from the other end!

I think I dreaded childbirth less than I'm dreading this, can you tell?

[snickersnack]

I hated potty training. I think I was probably over thinking it and had unrealistic expectations both times. In reality it's a case of reminding them loads, bribery and a robust washing machine. And patience. Lots and lots of patience.

[toja555]

I have done this with my 2.4y DS. I am FT working mum, we just had over 1 week away for holidays and a day trip abroad, not too mention day trips on weekends. Initially I started keeping DS without nappy for 1-2 hours after work and when we are at home on weekends. Then we went on to keeping him without nappy at home all the time. Then I told my childminder that he is holding well at home and she started keeping him without nappy at hers. We were terribly afraid of going away for holidays as we did not want to regress to nappies, although at the time I still used nappies for travelling and sleeping. DS was excellent as he used potty indoors, and we kept him in nappies when going out and about (admitedly easier for us!). After we came from holidays, we dropped nappies for sleeping and I started taking him out without nappies, initially limiting our trips to shops/park/friends to couple of hours, then choosing places with a public toilet.
For our last week' day trip to Brussels (lasted from 4:30am till 11pm), we took travel potty with us, and to be honest I was terrified how will DS manage, but he was just fine! We even avoided using travel potty and used only public/restaurant toilets. Of course plenty of wet wipes is a must!
All potty training lasted about 1.5-2 months, it was a slow process due to me being a busy mum, but it was worth that! I am so happy that we are done with it.

[Franup]

Rockbird, I have a 2.5yo ds and 2 older dds. Dds both trained at 2yo, but I have delayed and delayed ds and was going to delay again as we are on hols next week, involving a big drive and in 2 weeks he starts preschool. I work same days of week as you and with the other 2 about I am always busy on days off and at weekend. I was able to be more rigid with them and stay in for a few days until they got it.

But I have gone for it. When we are out I use a pull-up (he has never had these before). As soon as we are home, the pull-up is off and cloth pants are on, with a potty chair downstairs and one upstairs. Oh, and several massive bags of chocolate buttons/sweets in cupboards. All 3 get a treat if he produces, just to keep 'em on side!

Started on Sunday and going OK so far. He is asking for potty, not too many accidents, and has pooed on it, including a textbook, 'I need a poo' went to potty immediately did the poo, that he did today! Will tackle him a bit more about the going for a wee when we are out, when we are back from holidays. May risk cloth out of doors then as well...

Got to say though, there is still more room for him realising he can have a sneaky wee in his pull-ups, using this approach but I have no choice.