To potty train or not to potty train?

[Minnie824]

I know this is a little in advance, but wanted to get opinions. We have 3 vacations planned...and 2 DDs. Smallest DD turned 1 in April. We're going to Disney this year 2005 Thanksgiving. She'll be about 19 mos. Not planning to start potty training before that. Then we're going somewhere (not sure where yet) for Memorial Day 2006...she'll be 2 yr 1 mo...then Disney again Nov 2006. Not sure when to potty train. Older DD was difficult, was over 3, but this one watches her older sister. I'm thinking the Memorial Day trip would be easier maybe for a long drive w/her still in diapers/pullups, but then not sure. Obviously I'll have to wait and see if shes ready either way, but what do you think...before or after memorial day trip, and try before Nov 2006 trip? Thanks.

 

[CapeCodFam]

If you think she's ready before your trip give it a whirl. What can it hurt. My ds will be three june 8th and it took three weeks for him to be fully potty trained. We only wear pull ups at night. Our next trip is the second week in July. I can't wait becuase I don't have to change diapers. They also make a potty for the car. My friend has one and loves it for long trips. Good luck with whatever you decide. Oh and my son respond very well to cheering and big boysongs party horns when ever he went the potty. Just this morning he came out yelling that he had done big giant nuggets (his words not mine) wanted to show me. He still looks for the party every once in a while. well good luck its a tricky thing to decide.

 

[Ellester]

Personally, I would wait until after the Memorial Day trip unless your dd really seems ready. I'll take changing a diaper to stopping at every nasty gas station anyday. I know with my girls when they were just potty trained, we were stopping every 30-45 minutes to find a potty. They just weren't ready to hold it, when they said they had to go, they meant it! Now we can usually stretch them out to the next rest area (they are 7 and 3 1/2 now), but for many trips we've visited some disgusting bathrooms. Thank goodness for Clorox wipes! Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[George_T]

I would start when your child begins to express an interest in potty training. Having said that, if your trip is right when this begins to happen, I would delay the potty training until after you return from your trip. If you work on this right before or during the trip, your child is going to be out of her routine, and you're probably not going to have much luck. One change at a time is best.

 

[Colinsmom]

I would start when your child begins to express an interest in potty training. Having said that, if your trip is right when this begins to happen, I would delay the potty training until after you return from your trip. If you work on this right before or during the trip, your child is going to be out of her routine, and you're probably not going to have much luck. One change at a time is best.

ITA. But if you have to take a driving trip with a newly potty trained toddler, take a little potty in the car with you. Line the pot with a plastic bag and put a maxipad in there to absorb liquid. You can pull over whenever she needs to go, dispose properly of the bag, and go on your merry way!

 

[crisi]

My own kids had a year between "showing interest" and "being dependable in underwear." Both would occationally use the toilet, and more often not.

My own personal take (and this may be why it took so long) is that they aren't trained until they are dependable - and until they are dependable, I'd rather not be facing a puddle in the carseat. Much less hauling a change of clothes around the park.

But the difference between "occational" and "dependable" was day and night. That is, I knew when it happened.

 

[tlbwriter]

I would start when your child begins to express an interest in potty training. Having said that, if your trip is right when this begins to happen, I would delay the potty training until after you return from your trip. If you work on this right before or during the trip, your child is going to be out of her routine, and you're probably not going to have much luck. One change at a time is best.

I agree. She'll train when she's ready. If she's really interested before the trip, you could always keep her in pull-ups.

 

[Magic2000]

Thankfully, my girls potty trained easy and were pretty well potty trained by the time they were 2. When my youngest DD was just about trained, we were going by train to Washington, DC for vacation. Because I wasn't sure I would always be able to find a bathroom when she announced it was time to go, I bought some Pull Ups for her. These were her "special vacation panties". When she said she had to go, we tried to find a bathroom as fast as possible (but she had the pullups on as a backup). Thankfully, she never had an accident!! You may want to try the Disney Princess Pullups as her "Special Vacation Panties"!

Good luck!!!