Attack of the Self-Flushing Toilets!

[degrapevine]

Yikes!

We have been Disney Passholders for almost 10 years now and go the the parks quite frequently.
We have two sons, now 9 and 5, and a daughter, 3.

Our daughter is potty training and recently had a "traumatic" experience with the self-flushing toilets.
The boys always stood to go or were reasonably big enough for their bodies to cover up the sensor when they went.
Our daughter, however is very petite. (Only recently hit 30 lbs.)
I guess the sensor didn't know she was there when she was sitting on the potty because she moved a little to the side and WHOOSH!
Screaming, yelling, tears ... Lasted over 1/2 an hour.

I calmed her down and started to think about what we could do next time to not have this happen (After I was able to bribe her back on the toilet!).

The solution - Post-It Notes!
I brought a pad of square notes (3" x 3", I think) when we went yesterday and before she sat, I stuck a square on top of the sensor.
The potty knew she was there and didn't flush until we took the Post-It Note off!

I figured with all the toddlers and preschoolers at Disney that other parent have had the same problems with the self-flushing toilets going off with their kids on them.
They are really loud and splash the water up - Kind of like a mini-cyclone!

Potty training is hard enough without your kid being afraid to sit on the toilet!

Hope someone else can use this idea ... It's a lifesaver for us!

Next trip March 23-25 Wilderness Lodge for Spring Break!

 

[bobcat]

They scare me too sometimes! I remember a while back someone mentioned putting stickers over the sensor as well. Glad you could find a solution.

 

[Lollipop Mom]

We had issues with those at the mall when first potty training too. Now he's big enough to block the sensor when standing but he was really upset when it happened!

Now I think he could care less....when we go in the bathroom at WDW he's just thrilled to pieces when they have a kid level sink! We've had to argue whether we are going to go potty here, where they don't have "big boy sinks" or trek across the park to find one that does!

Glad you found a solution that works!!

 

[mcnuss]

I just used to put my hand over the sensor, since I was in the stall with DD anyway....seems a little easier than remembering to carry yet another thing in my bag!

 

[degrapevine]

I could just cover up the sensor with my hand ...

But my daughter really needs help being "held up"
to keep her from falling in.
Even with a portable potty seat cover/foldable thing,
she still needs the security of Mommy holding her.
So, I just stick the pad in the diaper bag or backpack.

It makes her feel better, too, knowing that it's covered up.
I could see my hand slipping and making the potty flush.
I wouldn't be able to forgive myself.

I know it won't last forever ...
She's our last (hopefully!) and I can't wait for the days
when I can just wear a fanny pack or carry one backpack,
rather than two!

 

[wuv tigger]

ROTFLOL

Thanks for the tip. My DD1 was also attacked by the automatic toilets. Dad thinks it's funny, but it was pretty traumatic for her. I would like to prevent her from being attacked again. That memory made my day.

David

 

[nigel-bigel]

Aaarrgghh! I needed to know this two years ago. My DD was 2 1/2, just potty trained, and totally lost her mind over those auto-flush toilets. It honestly ruined our whole trip, as she would refuse to go on any toilet except the one in the hotel room. She either held it for 8 hours on wet her pants.

I am so embarrased that it didn't occur to me to cover the sensor.

By the way, I fond out - the hard way - that the non-flushing toilets in the MK are at Cinderella's Castle and at Town Hall (if any one needs to know...).

Now, of course, she thinks they are facinating!

 

[memymomonica]

My daughter is 6 and they still sometimes flush while she is still seated. It startles her, but old enough that we can laugh now. Heck, they have flushed while I am sitting and I know that I am big enough to block the sensor. Post-its may be a nice thing to have handy.

 

[dijid]

My DD is 4 and still terrified of those automaticflushers. She or I simply drape toilet paper over the sensor and then remove it to flush. Works great!

 

[degrapevine]

Thanks to everyone for posting their own self-flushing toilet
horror stories!

I really wish that at least 1 toilet in each bathroom was a
regular toilet with a handle, but until then, the Post-Its
will have to do.

The toilet paper over the sensor will work on those big black
boxes that are on the back of the toilet, but at Animal Kingdom
this weekend, I only saw the wall-mounted kind with the tiny
little button. TP wouldn't have worked there, but the next time
I see a potty with that big black box, I'll save my Post-It.
Thanks, dijid!

Let's hope we save some kids from toilet trauma!

 

[mcnuss]

[q]I really wish that at least 1 toilet in each bathroom was a
regular toilet with a handle, but until then, the Post-Its
will have to do.[/q]

[q]But my daughter really needs help being "held up"
to keep her from falling in.[/q]

It's been a really long time since I had to deal with this so forgive me if I sounded insensitive!

What I really wished back then was that there were a couple of kiddie sized toilets - like they have the low sinks - at places like Disney. Even if they were only in the Family care centers it would have been nice with the 1000's of toddlers in the parks!

 

[jgart]

My Dd is also scared of the automatic toilets. I'm glad to know I'm not the only mother going through this. When we were at Disney last Jan 03 the only toilet she would use were the ones at the baby care center that do not have the automatic fushers or the family restrooms. I actually discoverd by accident that the toilet would not flush if it was covered. My Dd had to use the restroom and didn't want to wear her sun hat anylonger. I stood the hat over the back of the toilet so that I could help her and discoverd this little secret.

 

[degrapevine]

mcnuss - You didn't sound insensitive at all!

I probably cater to my daughter a LITTLE (ha ha!) since she's the baby and the only girl.

One kid-sized toilet in each bathroom would be GREAT!
But there would probably be a line a mile long to use it!

I just want to avoid the hysterics, so the comfort of a Post-It is a small price to pay!

Thanks again to everyone for making me feel like I'm not obsessing - There are enough inherent challenges in taking toddlers to Disney that I'm glad I can avoid this one!

I'm sure the people at 3M would be happy to know we've found another use for their products!
I feel like a walking advertisement for Post-It notes!

 

[memymomonica]

I am all for the kid-sized toilets. We have a restaurant nearby that has 2 toilets in one large stall. That is nice when either 2 kids need to go, or even mom and kid. I know there have been times that I was hoping my daughter could go a little faster. I think a family bathroom with 2 toilets would be great!!!

 

[abbyndrewmom]

Thanks for the great idea!!!! My daughter who is 6.5 hates those toilets. She also had an unfortunate incident with one when she was 3 and has never forgotten. When we were flying this summer she held it for an hour between flights because she refused to go in the bathroom at the airport with the automatic flushing toilets. I will stick a package of postit in my knapsack to block the sensors.

 

[debbiedana]

Absolutely genius! Thanks for the great idea! I wrote myself a big note to throw some post it's in my fanny pack. DD4 absolutely hates them. She's more scared of the 'magic flushy potties' than any ride at WDW!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

My daughter hates the self flushing toilets.
I use the TP over the sensor trick, and it has always worked for us.
She won't let me remove it though until she is out of the stall!

 

[daystar]

Hi,
That is such a great idea....My son is five and he is extremely scared of those toilets that flush by themselves, i don't know why....He seems to hold it as long as he cans then refuses to use those toilets....I'm glad to hear that i'm not the only one with this problem...
Thanks

 

[debbiedana]

Just got back and I wanted to let you all know that the post its worked like a charm! DD4 isn't scared of the magic flushy potties anymore! They take up so little room in my fanny pack that it was no big deal to bring them along, and I didn't have to worry about her trying to hold it for six or eight hours.

THANK YOU for the great idea

 

[lovesdumbo]

Wish I had known this before my trip in Jan. My DD refused to use the public rest rooms at all last year and although she used them this year she hated the automatic flushing potties. I will absolutely have those post-its for any trip where we might run into an automatic potty.