Mom Seeking Advice on Dealing with Daycare During Potty Training/sort of Long

I think that it's terrible to tell you they are going to charge you $20 extra a week because he's not potty trained (do they provide the pull ups), and even worse that they will not work with you to get him potty trained. It is not a big deal for a caregiver to tell him to go to the bathroom. I would stick to my guns and go with what has been working for him. If they are not willing to work with you maybe that is not the best place for him to be anymore. It sounds like they are trying to make extra money out of people for no good reason.

I've never heard of a daycare charging more...and every daycare I've been at has been willing to work with me, no matter what (i.e. cleaning up accidents, taking kids to potty every 30 minutes). I hate to say it... but it sounds like they are lazy. They have to help you... you are not home all day to do this!

I would switch daycares. Forcing the issue with your son can just prolong the potty training... boys take longer.

Hi sad they charge for this natural act, due to the fact you are buying the pull-up's. Our daughters day care-pre-school did not charge extra for this, however, every child used the potty at the same time, every day, lunch go to potty, snack, potty, outside play time, potty. I would ask if they have a time when the children do go. You can't really expect someone new to useing the potty to know when to stop playing and go. Best of luck to you.

Just reiterating that it is odd that they are unwilling to help. Most? places even have it as part of their routine. If the kids are there all day chances are they are eating and drinking at the same time so an hour or so after it is potty time. Try even if you don't think you have to go. I am at about the same point in training with my son now. My in home daycare didn't hesitate but that is probably different. I brought him in underwear 2 days after we started and they brought him to the potty every 30 min to 1/2 hour. He is pretty much trained now... it only took a week. It will really help to get him out of the pull up during waking hours. Hard choice though if you are happy with everything else there though!

It is not their job to train him, it is yours. He is your son. Keep sending him with the pull ups, and he is making progress. Just keep encouraging him. You are doing well with him, and it won't be wrong. It is very normal for a 3 year old boy to be at this stage. Just keep working with him.

B., this is nuts! You pay good money to the daycare facility for them to care for your child. This includes potty training. Yes, it is a lot of cleaning up, but if the child isn't getting consistency in the training, it will take that much longer. Sounds like your provider doesn't want to help. I would find a new place immediately. I've never heard of such craziness. K.

Yes, thats what the daycare personnel are supposed to do. Helping potty train your son. Alot of daycares have a potty training program where they ask kids frequently, especially the ones really training, if they have to use the bathroom.

A good way to potty train is to give your son alot of liquids, and then every hour, take him potty (or sooner if you deem necessary). The point is that you get your son to associate drinking, then peeing, and he gets the regular sensation of knowing when it's time to go potty.

Talk with the daycare again. Good luck.

Hey B., I have been doing group daycare for 13 years and have potty trained ALOT of children, it is my job and that is what we get paid for, when parents are at work all day they can't work with them like we can. We actually have them children more time than the parents so why wouldn't you work with them! I have never heard of charging more and I surely would not buy them either esp. if she is charging you more she should buy them, cause obviously you are going thru them more due to her not working with him. I do not ask the child if they have to go because they would not always tell you anyways, you just say okay its time to try to go potty and I do that every 20 minutes with a child who is learning and it really does not take that long at all for them to catch on, they may not tell you they have to go on there own for a while so we as daycare providers need to keep having them go and I do not feel it takes much time out to do that.I go above and beyond my job to help parents out because I do realize how hard it is to work and then try to take care of children. I love my job and I try to make everyone happy with what I do for them. If needed I clip nails every week, clean ears, we brush teeth 3 times a day after meals and snacks, I wash there pjs, clothes if any accidents or get dirty, if there jackets, coats, car seat covers, blankets etc. need washed I also wash them as well before their parent arrives back to pick them up. If they need a bath I give them one it does not take long at all to do all that and still continue on with games, activitys, play time & etc.. I love all my kids and take very good care of them and I feel some of that is required for us to do we learn some of it in our classes. Well sorry I rambled on. good luck to you and hope it all turns out well. DAYCARE PROVIDER

I agree, it is part of their job to help potty train. My daycare actually potty trained my son, I did very little. He was at daycare more than he was at home awake. We paid more for daycare, from the time he was an infant to the time he was potty trained. Once he was potty trained the rate went down. Telling you that it is not there responsiblility to potty train is like the teacher telling you that it is not her responsibility to teach your child when they are in school. I think most pre schools will not take someone until they are potty trained.

I am not very opinionated but I think this is an outrage. I completely understand your frustration. I have three kids (two girls and one boy). The girls were potty trained well before age 3. However, my son was not fully potty trained until he was a little more than 3 1/2 years old. I have talked to many other parents of boys and in my experience boys definitely take longer to train. It will be too confusing for your son to keep swithching him from pull ups to underwear. Once you make the switch you should not go back (I am pretty certain this is what most, if not all, of the parenting magazines will tell you). I am more disappointed that the child care center does not have this same understanding. Also, if they are charging you an additional $20 a week because he is not trained they should not also dictate to you that it is easier for them if he wears pulls ups. That will only prolong the process, and cost you a lot more money in the long run. I think you should meet with the Director of the center and be prepared to have documentation to support your position. You may want to even call your son's pediatrician and ask for his/her advice and share that with the Director as well. I am also curious whether notice of this additional fee was provided in the center parent handbook. If not, it seems very arbitrary and punitive. From a customer service stand point I think it is a very bad policy. Since your son has been there since he was one I think you are in a position to negotiate that the fee should be discontinued or that you will have to look for another child care arrangement. Hang in there. I know how tough potty training can be and this added stress is not helping.

Take two weeks off from work and potty train your child. $20.00 come on--don't sweat the small stuff! Your daycare should charge you for potty training your child if you can't get it done. I would be upset to have my children in a daycare that allowed untrained children to go without a diaper! The germs!