My daughter is 2 months away from her 3rd birthday.  I started potty/toilet training her about 6 months ago hoping to have her fully trained by the time she started pre-school this October.  She soon began asking to go to the toilet and was often dry for most of the day but in the last few weeks she has stopped asking and when I take her to the toilet she says she doesn't need to go and wants to try again later, and soon after she will have an accident.  The problem I have now is that she is dry - in pants, all day at pre-school and at the afternoon child minder and she will tell them that she needs the toilet but when she comes home she wont tell me and is constantly having accidents.

I have tried various charts, stickers, DVD's, books and nothing seems to work.  She says "sorry mommy" whenever she has an accident and promises not to do it again but it almost seems like a game now.  I am too nervous to go on a car journey or shopping with her wearing pants as I cant trust that she is going to ask me, and it is frustrating that she will tell other people and not me.

Any advice????

Hi

It's difficult not to get frustrated when you know she can keep her pants dry and doesn't but the best advice I can offer is not to show your frustration, don't get cross, don't scold and try to focus on the positives! 

Patience is a necessity when you are mopping up regular accidents.  It's important not to make your DD feel bad about having these accidents and make sure she knows that if she does, she doesn't have to say sorry or worry about it.  Accidents happen and she's only little, and soon she will not wet herself.

For car journeys you could take a waterproof 'cushion' or get some training pants (I had some 'Bright Bots' ones and some 'Motherease' ones) which take the stress out of accidents - they don't always stop clothes getting wet, but do minimise big puddles on floors that aren't yours.

Merith xxx

 

CL on Mums Club October 2005 and Mums Due June 2009 and Sleep Problems & Toilet Training