Wellmeaning Grandparents and Potty Training Regression

[TerrariaMum]

I have a 3.8 yo DD1, a 17 mo DD2 and a 4 mo DS. DD1 was doing brilliantly at potty training to the extent that I had stopped worrying about her at home and even at night! When we go out, I take her potty with us so she can tell me when she needs it. This does limit where we can go, but the important thing is her learning.

However, she seems to be regressing completely. She keeps weeing on the floor and although she poos in the potty mostly, sometimes she doesn't. What does this have to do with well-meaning grandparents?

Well, her grandfather comes down once a week and he likes to take her to the playground. This is wonderful and I appreciate it immensely because it means for a couple hours I only have two DCs to look after. But he refuses to take the potty and puts her in pullups instead. I can understand the rationale and I feel I can't say anything because he is being kind, but I worry that it is this practice of putting her in pullups that is causing the regression.

I'm especially worried as she starts nursery in September and they were very adamant about potty training. Ironically, I had been very worried about her getting done in time for nursery when we began and had stopped worrying. Now I am in a bit of a state again.

I'm trying not to get angry with her, but I know she knows how to use the potty because she had gotten to the point at home where she just used it and didn't think to tell me because it was so ordinary. And now it feels like back to square one.

Anyone have any advice if you got through all that?

[ROARmeow]

Move her onto the toilet.

It will mean you're not lugging a potty around with you when you're out with 3 DC and will mean she can go to toilet anywhere you are.

I can see her granda's point of view, but I agree it isn't helping you.

In nursery she'll be using a toilet, so I really advise you try that at home now.

[Petallic]

Maybe don't put her in pull ups and just bring her home if she has an accident in the park? You could send grandfather off with a spare set of clothes just in case and/or an inco pad to put under the car seat if you are worried she will have a big accident if they go by car.

[Linskibinski]

Don't worry about nursery too much they will expect accidents, there will be kids who are still not fully trained. Give it a couple of weeks at nursery and they will all be trooping to the loo as if they've done it for years.I agree with previous posters leave the potty and move on to big girls toilet.

[TerrariaMum]

I have been encouraging her on the toilet already and she has been excited about the prospect of the nursery toilets being her size so that's heartening. Are seats like this any good?

I always bring a spare set of clothes or two everywhere I go with her so that's not a problem with me. I have tried this with her grandfather as well. And they don't go by car so that is one less thing to worry about, all playgrounds within walking distance of our house.


Thank you all very much, I'll keep at it and we'll get there I think.

[Finola1step]

Time to get on that toilet.

Then make sure she has a wee before she goes to the park for a couple of hours.

Put potty away until next dc is ready.

[Finola1step]

Oops x post.

Small toilet seats worked well with my two. I used a Thomas training seat for ds and a Peppa one for dd. both from Mothercare I think.

Very handy as you can take them with you if going away etc.

[ROARmeow]

OP, the toilet seat you linked to is a good idea. We got something similar from B&Q years ago when DS was toilet training.

Buy it and get her on it!

[TerrariaMum]

Would the chocolate buttons technique be a good idea too? Thank you all so much again. I feel much less alone and despairing than I did when I posted this.

[ROARmeow]

Chocolate works for some kids, so is defo worth a try.

But for my eldest I just kept praising him, telling him he was a big boy and pointing out DC2 was a baby in nappies, so now was time for him to be toilet trained.

[tobysmum77]

Yes I'd bribe her to go on the toilet before she goes out with a chocolate button. They get it quickly ime....