Potty training + preschool.... need advice

Maggie - posted on 02/22/2010

I let my daughter wear undies at home and a pull-up at pre-school. I only sent her to school in undies when she told me she was ready. Since pre-school is only a few hours a day she learned at home with no problems. She is now in undies except for nighttime. (She told me she didn't want a pull-up for naps.)

I usually insist that she goes potty if she hasn't gone for several hours. I find she has accidents only if she gets absorbed in play and forgets to go. Usually she goes on her own when she needs to.

Amanda - posted on 02/22/2010

she's already had her birthday and has big girl undies it's just i'm not sure if the school will let her go if she's having multiple accidents a day or something...

Rebekah - posted on 02/22/2010

I agree with Brendi, pull-ups are the same as diapers. We switched my son to real underwear on his 2 year old birthday and never looked back. We told him he was a "big boy" and expected him to keep his underwear dry. We made it clear from day 1 that he would NEVER wear pull-ups or diapers again (except at night). Yes, he had accidents, but taking him every 30-45 minutes helped with that. And two months later (at 26 months) when his sister was born, he was accident-free and 100% potty trained.

I think switching them between pull-ups and underwear sends the message that you don't think they are ready. By putting her in a pull-up for preschool you're telling her "you can't do it." So, if I were you, I'd just leave them several changes of clothes at her preschool.

If she hasn't had her birthday yet, you could make the big switch on her 3 year old birthday. Toss out all pull-ups and tell her she's a "big girl" now. Have confidence in her ability to go potty and you'll be surprised that she'll become more confident in herself too.

Amanda - posted on 02/22/2010

lol she 9 times out of 10 goes poop in her potty but i'll try that....

Brendi - posted on 02/21/2010

I think pull-ups are kind of like a diaper. I think when you put them in underwear it makes them hyper aware of there body and they don't know the control just yet. Try taking her to the bathroom every half hour. She'll get it. We as parents just have to be patient and its hard sometimes. I bought my daughter (whose 9 now) princess panties and told her that she couldn't pee or poop on her princess's. That seemed to work for her.