To use Pull Ups or not to use Pull Ups?

[Daydreamer64]

Our youngest little boy will be 2 years and 11 months on our next trip this November- he'll turn three on Nov. 30th.

He has been fully trained for about 2 months, yet when we were at Six Flags last weekend, he got all caught up in the activities, we did too, and he missed his cue to go. We are experienced parents and I am the oldest of 18 kids, I've trained odoles of toddlers, so we did have a change of clothing just in case, so we were saved and on our way soon after the accident to enjoy the park.

He was very heart broken because we have made it such a big deal for his accomplishment of potty training.

We plan to put big boy pants on and then put pull-ups on over these later in the day.

That way, he is still in big boy pants but we are assured that there will be no wet pants in line or on the way to the resort while waiting for the bus at night.

We will do everything that we can but do not want to carry or change a wet almost three yo in the bus line, we would really NOT do this- you'd be amazed at the places I've seen people change their kids, rolleyes1 ) or miss the buses trying to get changed. Not to mention, the puddle of pee that other people will have to step over, or gross, a kid in sandals might step in- yuck!

He is completely night trained too, thank goodness, but again are planning to use pull-ups because he is knocked out after a day at the parks and I know he probably won't wake to potty on his own.

There will be no back sliding as we have already said that Mickey is sending special Disney pants for him. He has no idea that they are pull-ups, he's never had these before, so he should not think to wet them on purpose.

We will get out of line for an emergency 'gotta go' but we don't want to run with a dripping child because he forgot to tell before it was too late.

Every one knows their child best and if your ( older ) child can't be trusted at %100 just yet, then be kind to others and take precautions.

One time I made a comment to a parent after I was gagging and plugging my nose in line in the August heat for several minutes, that their, what looked like a 5 year old, had apparently had an accident, bless their heart !

I told her where the nearest restroom was and I would hold their spot for them ( I didn't care if it's against the rules- I was dying here ). We weren't getting any nearer to the ride for at least 30 mins. yet- think Peter Pan for 120 mins. in line!

She turned around and said very nicely, 'I know, we will change it after the ride is over'- oh man- babies I expect but older kids mess really stinks bad!

We couldn't take it and decided to leave the line ourselves.

 

[DW2006]

As others have mentioned, you will have several more months at home, before your trip to better access her readiness. As the trip gets closer I would evulate. To me, if she has 6 months of day training under her belt--then putting her in pull ups (as insurance--loved whomever coined that!) is not going to send her into a spiral of regression.

My thought is that this is a big trip. There will be lots of new experiences, lots of excitement etc & so naturally there may also be accidents due to distraction. If you want to take extra clothing etc and handle it that way that is fine--but I also think using the pullups is a way to have that 'insurance', but not have the issue of the accident become a big deal, because you have to get out of line, find a bathroom/changing area, change the clothes, store the wet ones etc.

 

[mana_liz]

Are you using pull-up for potty training? Is so then I wouldn't use them as "insurance" - she maybe too used them. I would go with the panties, she should be good to go at 6 months with scheduled bathroom breaks. You can bring a waterproof pad for nighttime use. My sister went through this same situation last year - she used panties and then put the plastic underwear over them to help catch any accidents. She didn't have to worry.

 

[SueM in MN]

I would suggest panties with pull ups over. That way, if she does wet them, she will feel wet, but you won't have any wet clothes except for the panties. Also, wearing pull ups over the underwear will keep her from leaving any wet seats in the rides or theaters. On our last trip, someone sat in a seat in one of the theaters that had obviously been wet on. If it's bad for a child to be walking around with wet pants, think of being an adult with wet pants because you sat in it.

 

[sweetiee]

She only wears pull ups at night. And some nights she tells us she wants to wear panties. I have a waterproof pad on the mattress, but also a sheet that someone gave me that I put under the top sheet. That way I only have to wash the top sheet and the pad.
When we started PT, I started as soon as summer started and we went cold turkey. No pull ups. I knew I would wash sheets each morning but was prepared. After she showed good luck during the day, I then let her wear "night time" pull ups.
Each time we go to Disney, it is a new experience. First time she still had a bottle, but she finally would drink water or juice from it instead of just milk. Saved me the fear of "how can I carry milk in the park and it not spoil?"
Next, no bottle, just diapers. Now this year, nothing at all! A big 4 year old girl!

To the poster that talked about the child center. I forgot about it. I used the one in Epcot to change her one time. I'll have to find out where they are in all the parks. Where is the on in MK? If they have kid potties she might like that. I'll make sure we stop by there often!
Thanks!

 

[Camno's Mama]

My daughter has only been potty trained the past 3 months. We are planning to go to Disney in January. My worry is that we will be in a long line and she will have go potty and then we will have to run to find a potty, stand in line there, then find our way back to the ride.
She does great now, but she sometimes waits and has to go when we are way far away from the bathroom.
I hate to put her in pull ups, but someone suggested that we do it for the day while at the park just in case. Has anyone else been in this position? I hate to baby her down with pull ups, but I also want her to enjoy herself and not freak out with potty accidents. I'd almost rather carry a couple pull ups with us than changes of clothes!
Got any advice?

My guess is, by then she will be good to go. That's a good ways into the whole process, and she will have had a lot of practice by January. And you can always just have her go before you get into line.

I would not use pull-ups. She may regress after the trip, and it will drive you crazy. I would just bring a change of clothes to the park, just in case. If she's like most kids, she's really proud of herself for wearing underwear all the time, and she may be really disappointed that she has to go back. While it may make your day simpler, it may dampen her experience.

Good luck with whatever you decide, but I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about it now. You will know what to do when the time approaches!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

To the poster that talked about the child center. I forgot about it. I used the one in Epcot to change her one time. I'll have to find out where they are in all the parks. Where is the on in MK? If they have kid potties she might like that. I'll make sure we stop by there often!
Thanks!

That was me. Here are the locations of all of them for reference:

MK - located at end of Main Street, tucked into the back, behind and just to the left of Casey's Corner seating area - next to First Aid.

Epcot - located on the World Showcase end of the Odessy Building on the left side of the intersection of Future World and the World Showcase. It's a rather large non-descript building, that is used for convention and special events - used to be a Restaurant years ago. Easiest to access from paths by Test Track or from Mexico

DHS - Inside the main gate to the immediate left - shares the building with Guest Services. In fact - it's a non-descript room off the left of the waiting area for the GS line. There might be a Placque on the door or wall that says Baby Care.

AK - In the Discovery Island area - on the path to Africa. Just past a bunch of gift shops on the left, but right before the Africa Bridge. It's tucked along the side of the building (next to First Aid).

All of them have little potties, nursing areas, an adult potty, and feeding and rest areas. God forbid it happen, but Lost Children can also be found in these locations.

 

[mom2princessj]

I'm in a similar dillemma except its about the first days of preschool. My son is basically day trained although its with me constantly asking him if he has to go vs the few times he comes and tells us or I see him doing the dance or holding himself and then instruct him to go. But he always pees in the pullups if I use them so I've decided to use those thicker training underwear and put extra clothes in his bag. I'm hoping (praying) that he does ok at school. He is usually much better out about telling us he has to go. He's never had an accident outside of the house before. he's not night trained at all. he's still wearing a diaper to sleep. I'm hoping he'll start staying dry soon so i can stop buying diapers.
I think she'll be fine by the time you go. I'd take an extra change of clothes and see how she does. I mean you could have pullups in your back for an emergency but to me its like taking a step back. My dd is 5 and she's freaked out about public toilets and the loud noise of the flush. It's like pulling teeth to get her to go in public. I find talking to moms that alot of kids are like that. My sister was like that and still hates public restrooms. Different strokes for different folks I guess

 

[TravelinGal]

I know DS wouldn't wear them once he was out of diapers. He wanted big boy pants ONLY. On the flight down and home I put them on over his underpants just in case (seat belt sign lit when he had to go etc) and he had major fits when I was putting them on him.

If you're concerned about it, I'd do it over her underwear and, by all means, do NOT encourage her to use them. It's for emergency only. You don't want to go backward!

I am going to take some nighttime ones for DS to wear at bedtime simply because he's not 100% there when he sleeps. He has a nighttime accident about every 45-60 days -- not bad at all, but not taking a chance in a bed that won't have a protective cover on it! I certainly hope nobody else is letting their little kids pee on the bed I'm going to be sleeping in!
We've talked about it and DS knows it's just in case and that I still expect him to wake up and go in the toilet if at all possible. I just know he's going to be totally wiped out and may not wake up in time.


ETA - on our last trip, DS had been dry during the day for 7 months and he did have one accident at WDW. We went to MNSSHP and he passed out in his stroller around 10pm. Yeah. Flood city. It wasn't cool at all. He was SO upset that he had an accident. He was screaming and crying like you'd never believe. I didn't have anything extra for him to wear so we just took off his costume pants and underwear and put him in the car seat bare bottomed. We started driving back to our (rental) home only to find out he still had to go more, NOOWWWWW. We couldn't even get to the car care center -- we just pulled to the side of the road and let him go in the grass. (at least it was dark and it wasn't a 'common' area where people would play etc) I'm so glad we had the washer and dryer at the house! I got the stroller disassembled, took the cover off the car seat (because we didn't have anything to clean him up with and he sat in it with urine all over his lower half) and put it all in the washer and dryer that night along with his costume. Got the stroller and car seat put back together the next morning and went on our merry way.

 

[jacksmomma]

What about finding someone to make you some thicker training style undies? I got some from someone who did a great job. They are thicker and waterproof, but they feel like undies. Plus they are a million times better than pull-ups for the environment!

 

[Gisele]

To pull up or not to pull up! that is the question, and I have strongly considered being in favor of wearing such, that way, if a line is long, or I am just too lazy to find the nearest restroom, I can just go, where I am! I quite rather like that idea, and you know, it is wonderful that they come in adult sizes! for the child size most definitely would not fit my booty! he he!

 

[sweetiee]

What a difference a couple of months make. Now in the beginning of January, DD is staying dry all night, even when she sleeps in. So I think she can make it each day at Disney. I ran out of some for nighttime and haven't even bought more because she has done such a great job. So hopefully things will go well on our trip. If we have trouble day one, I'll go buy a pack!
Thanks for the advice.

 

[mejkjj97]

My DD was potty trained for just over 3 months when we went to Disney. She was really good at home, school etc. but Disney turned out to be a nightmare for us. She was great in the hotel. Had not issues there what so ever but the parks were another story.
After 2 days of stopping at every bathroom for frequent breaks, having her screaming bloody murder in the bathroom (you would have thought I was hurting my child), being peed on 3X, having her pee in line for a ride (and people looking at you like your are a horrible parent), I had to switch back.
Just be prepared incase you need to make the switch, carry a couple with you and if you need to buy them go ahead.
As for the message you send, the day we got back home she was back in underware and is fine.
Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

 

[TravelinGal]

What a difference a couple of months make. Now in the beginning of January, DD is staying dry all night, even when she sleeps in. So I think she can make it each day at Disney. I ran out of some for nighttime and haven't even bought more because she has done such a great job. So hopefully things will go well on our trip. If we have trouble day one, I'll go buy a pack!
Thanks for the advice.

These are general thoughts to anyone dealing with toddlers/preschool age kids - not any one poster specifically:

Honestly, I'd still take a couple and just reuse them (over his/her underwear) at bedtime. I used 2 pair for DS over the course of our 7 night stay. They do start to weaken/break down after continued use, so that's why we didn't do just 1 pair. But they're not dirty after being worn (unless there is an accident) because they are worn over underpants.

As a parent, I wouldn't want to risk my toddler peeing in a bed that didn't belong to us. I would be mortified if I had to call housekeeping because my child had urinated in a bed and soaked the mattress.

As a future guest, I wouldn't like sleeping in a bed that your toddler peed in because s/he was so exhausted her/his body didn't react like it would at home and the dry streak was broken.

At least take a waterproof mattress pad if you're not going to use pull-ups. Again - all of that is based on a "general you". Not specifically the OP or anyone else who has posted in this thread.


To sweetiee specifically - I know they're boy pattern (woody/buzz) but I am willing to send you 2 pair to use at bedtime so you don't have to buy a whole package for your trip. I had asked a friend for a couple (her DS is just a little older than my DS) and she gave me about 10 of them! That will leave me some for our trip in Feb. DS will have been dry at night for about a year on our next trip but I'm still not going to chance it.

 

[3girls4me05]

Glad to see your decision has been made easier. I would also suggest you look out for companion bathrooms. They are single use and therefore shouldn't be as loud for her. My DH would use them to take my DD (then 2 and she trained herself 2 wks before we left) to the bathroom. We did do pull ups but she kept them dry for the most part. No regression at all.

 

[nicki.momof3]

When we went a few years ago our daughter (2.5 at the time) was only a month potty trained. We decided we also did not want to "baby her down" so we did underpants. She was starting preschool a few weeks later and it required potty training so we did not want to risk having her regress and not be allowed into preschool.

She did amaazing - no accidents. We told her (and her 2 older brothers) for a week or so before we went that a potty break we required before rides and even if you did not have to go you had to try.

Of course once she sat on the potty she went and therefore made it through all lines. It ment lots of potty breaks but that was fine with us.

Have a great trip

 

[maitlynn]

I bring extra panties and pants, even one time we had to make a trip into Tinks store and purchase new undies

She was having so much fun on BTM that she wet her pants.... twice...!!!!!!

It will all depend on the kid and how going back into pull ups will effect them. Right now my son is 100% trained and we only do pull ups at night. He is dry at night about 95% of the time but i'm going to keep him wearing pull ups at night till after our trip. I don't want to worry about the beds and any accidents. I also don't want him to stop wearing them for 24 days and then put him back in them. Kids don't like going backwards.

Good luck!

 

[TravelinGal]

I also don't want him to stop wearing them for 24 days and then put him back in them. Kids don't like going backwards.

Good luck!

When there is a need for DS to wear them (sleeping in beds other than his own) I simply explain it to him.
"You're still wearing your big boy underwear because you ARE a big boy now. But since this isn't your bed we need to be extra careful." He doesn't argue the point. He puts them on and promptly forgets about them. And he's never regressed with them.

One time, when he was sick (with the 'big D') he asked if he should wear a pair "just in case I have accident". I actually thought that was very mature of him! (dang I wish I could wear something like that when I get "D"!! )

 

[nicki.momof3]

Kids don't like going backwards.!

So true - if your house is like ours we made such a big deal about being diaper / pull up free and what a big kid they were that is would be hard to go backwards.

I am sure some kids do great to going back to them but for my family the choice was stay on the "big kid" path and it worked for us.

Have a great trip

 

[AmyBWV99]

DS#1 was just that potty trained when we went on a weekend away and hit an all day zoo and we had a huige potty accident. He was in a pull up but there was missing the too tall toilet issue and having lots of extra clothes he was good there but he had no extra shoes! I'd go pull-ups all the way and still do when we fly since hte toddler bladder can sometimes send you running for a toilet and during take off it's not an option to get up, rather than having him suffer thru a soggy car seat i make sure he has back up. Then there's the issue of the random poopisodes, it's not worth dragging around poopy underwear all day when you can toss a pull up. To us anyway.