Potty Training - Dyer, IN

Dear J., when training a toddler you must remember that you are in control not the child. While running errands you have to stop in between what you want to do to do what you want accompished, meaning making frequent trips to the potty so the the child gets use to going to the bathroom. Just remember the only way to train a child is to use a schedule even when out and try to stick as close as possible to your schedule. It's possible to potty train and still have a life. I did it twice.

If she is doing well you may want to look into Imse Vimse training pants. They look and feel like nice underwear but have a trickle soaker and a hidden water poof barrier.

They are designed to hold an accident and be changed right away. This could relieve your fear of a puddle in the middle of Target!

Hope this helps.

I put my daughter on the toilet before leaving and if she didn't go, we stopped at the Target or Jewel bathroom (or where ever we happened to be) first thing. I told her that I had to go, whether or not I did, and we'd both try. We did that for a couple weeks until I was confident that she could make it dry. I also bought a 2nd cheap little potty for the car "just in case" we had to stop to go right away. I put plastic bags in the catch basin so there was never anything to clean, just a bag to throw away. And one more thing...with a girl, I found it was really easy to wear dresses for awhile. If she had a little accident, it was almost always while standing or walking en route to the toilet. All I needed was new underwear, socks, and a 2nd pair of shoes in the very worst case instead of pants or a full new outfit. Another little magical trick we used - a small pantiliner! It's great to catch a dribble or two while you're out. Although, it can sound a bit odd to others when your tiny kid announces, "Mommy, I just peed a little on my pantiliner!" in public like my daughter did!!!

I think you can expect to have some accidents for a bit. Make sure you use the potty before you leave the house, and when you arrive at your destination. Then again before you leave, etc. Also, get a big ziploc bag, and carry a complete change of clothes with you at all times. You can use the ziploc to hold the soiled clothes after you have changed her. If she does have an accident, don't make a big deal out of it. Praise her, give her hi fives, etc when she stays dry for the entire outing.

We would use a pull-up over the panties....just to keep the clothes dry ONLY when we went out, after we would get home the pull-up would be taken off. But we would always carry a zip lock back with a spare panties, pull-up and pants. Actually my daughter is 3 and has been trained for 6 months and we still keep that bag in the car.....just in case.

I just went through the same thing with my 3 yr. old twins. I was so afraid to leave the house but eventually I just did it. I let them know that wherever we were there would be a potty and to let me know when they had to go. I always have an extra pair of undies and pants for them and they were great at letting me know when they had to go. It's been about a month and so far, no accidents (in public). I was afraid that it would send the wrong message to put them back in pull-ups when we went out. Just do it, and take her to the bathroom often and it will be just fine!