My son has been potty training since the beginning of February 2012 and has not had a wet accident yet. Poop on the other hand has been about 5 or 6 times (with Dad only of course!) I ask him if he needs to use the potty and he tells me "no" every single time, but I put him on the potty anyway and he always goes. He is starting a new pre-school March 1st and I'm so worried. The pre-school is located in an elementary school and they share the bathrooms. It was noted to me that the female aid brings 5 boys at a time to the bathroom and props the door open and the boys then go over to the stalls and go potty all by themselves. Since my son just started we still have to help him get up on the potty and always remind him to hold it down and help him pull his pants up and down.. We have been trying to get him to stand but he is not ready for that, he pulls his pants mostly down and half way up. What should I do? When they say 85% potty trained what do you think that means? I don't have alternate childcare I work full-time! Any suggestions or ideas would be helpful. Thanks!
Talk with the staff. I'm sure your son isn't the first to have this need. They will know how to handle it.
He sounds about 90% potty trained to me, so I wouldn't worry about it! I would, however, talk with the preschool teacher and let her know that he needs help going to the bathroom and that he needs to be "told" rather than "asked" to go. Preschool teachers are used to having these lovely chats!
My son's preschool had the same criteria and it was really stressful for us too. He potty trained pretty easily, but was having about one accident a week for the first couple of months. When I mentioned this to the director, she explained that their criteria wasn't that rigid, but essentially this meant that they would "support" our efforts to potty-train, but they would NOT be the ones to initiate it.
He'll be fine- just communicate with the preschool teacher and with your little guy about what he needs and how to ask for help!
I have to say that doesn't sound like the ideal environment, but it sounds like you don't have other options. With 85% potty trained, I'm assuming they mean he's 100% trained, but has accidents occasionally.
The preschools our kids went to had restrooms in the classroom with open doors so the teachers could help, if needed. They needed to know how to go potty, but it wasn't an entirely independent experience. The potties were close by, too, which made it easy to get there in time.
Good luck! I'd just keep working with him to master handling the process all by himself.
I'd say that he IS 85% potty trained. Don't worry.
I'd also say that he'll see how the other boys do it and be just fine. The caregiver has likely seen it all and can work with him.
I'd go by and talk to them. Tell them where you son is at and ask how you can cooperate with the daycare to ensure that his training thus far is not compromised.
I think 85% potty trained means that he's potty trained and only has accidents every once in a while. I don't think it means that he needs assistance 15% of the time (or any of the time, actually). But you should really call the school and ask. It sounds like your son is probably ready, he just needs the comfort level of being able to do it all by himself. As long as the school is willing to work with him and guide him a bit, he'll do fine!
How many hours a day will he be there? If it's just a couple of hours, have him go at home right before school and maybe he won't have to go while he's there. If he still needs a lot of help, they may let you know that he's not ready.
There may be a reason they don't want to open themselves up to liability by helping the children, talk to them to find out exactly what will take place if your son needs assistance, and encourage him to do everything on his own when at home, especially after he starts the new pre-school.
And ask THEM what 85% potty-trained means, it may be something different to all of us.
You don't mention how old your newly toilet trained child is - closer to age 2? 3? 4? Three year olds CAN be taught to use the bathroom independently. Mine did at that age (one girl, one boy). Teach him how to use the bathroom on his own. This is not a school for kids whose parents still take them to the bathroom.
