My 3 year old daughter is potty training and doing really well, as long as she is at home or school. She is petrified of toilets at stores or restaurants and I am not sure how to help her overcome this. The other day we were at BabiesRus and she wet herself instead of using the potty! I can't even get her to go in most of the time. I know it is the flush that is afraid of and I have post its to put over automatic ones and tell her I will hold her up so she doesn't have to touch. Nothing has worked. We are on the go all the time so I need her to be okay with this. Any advice?
my son was the same last year when i potty trained him. he finally went pee one day on the toilet in wawa. i told him if he went on the toilet that i would buy him the treat he wanted. he did and from there it got better. keep trying she will figure it out. bring a toilet seat cover that she used for training from home. if you do not have one go to walmart and buy one,they are about eleven bucks.
I know sometimes its the noise for my little one. Letting her step out of the stall before I flush helps a bit. She also doesn't seem to like the seats. So I carry one of those little potty seats with me. Makes ALL the difference! I keep it in a bag with a pack of disinfecting wipes and wipe it down after we use it. Sort of looks like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Dreambaby-Soft-Cushion-Potty-White/...
I get them at Marshalls or TJ maxx or Burlington Baby for like 10 or 12 bucks. Does the trick perfectly!
Hi, my daughter had the same problem and it took a year or two or even longer until she was comfortable using "unknown" toilets. I did pretty much what you did - covered up the automatic button and waited until she left the stall. Once she was outside, I flushed for her. That was an OK interim solution, so that she didn't have to have accidents. I remember being very frustrated about this and even scolding her at times. Looking back now, I can say she was really scared and it wasn't an act (as I sometimes - uncorrectly - assumed). And then, one fine day, she went, she flushed, she smiled and said "Remember when I was afraid of the flush? I thought I would get flushed down, too. Now, I'm ok." So, I guess, some things just take time and patience. Hang in there!
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If she's that scared that she won't even go into a public bathroom, I would recommend keeping a little potty in your vehicle. I guess that will only work if you have a van or suv or vehicle with enough space for that. I would definitely get her in the habit of emptying her bladder every time you're gonna leave the house. My son has Sensory Processing Disorder, so I understand the anxiety that the loud flushing can cause. Sometimes, those toilets are so loud, they scare me to death too! My son doesn't like the feeling of the earplugs in his ears, but you could even try some simple fold-up/compact earmuffs if that's easier. It should get better as she gets older. Just give her as much help, reassurance, and understanding as you can for now!
I hate going in stores or restaurants.
The only thing I can say is that the echo of the flush might hurt her little ears which can scare her. I brought ear plugs with me for my daughter if we were going to be out.
I usually avoid having to go in a public place by having her and I use the restroom before we go anywhere, but I know that it's unavoidable sometimes.
Maybe ask her why she doesn't like it. That's how I found out that the noise scared my daughter... Hence the earplugs.
Good luck!
