My Daughter has been potty training for roughly 2 weeks know an is doing excellent. 1 accident since she started. My Major concern is she will not go on any public toilet. I went to the mall an when we went to leave i figured i'd let her go as the drive home was 30 mins. long story short she was scared an then i must of moved the wrong way an the automatic flush went off an really scared her. She held it for so long that when we got home she went running to the Bathroom an sat for awhile. I really feel bad an i don't want her to get an infection from holding it. any ideas what i can do? I thought about bringing a potty with me but she will only use the "big girl" potty .
I am also going to chime in with the post-it idea...it was a life-saver on a road trip with my niece. She would jump out of her skin with the loud flushers and would insist on holding it until I taught her the "trick" and made a game out of keeping the toilet from flushing. Suddenly she had "the power"!!! A brilliant and reliable solution! Good luck!
Oh dear god those automatic flushes make me jump and i am 32...lol!!! You need to cover the sensor so it does not flush untill she is ready.
I remember a road trip when i was little. Those automatic flushes were brand new. I ended up running out of the stall with my overalls down!! I don't think my mom will ever stop laughing!
The automatic flush systems are really hard on young children. They are way TOO LOUD and they trigger very easily. We had this problem and it didn't go well . . so I think maybe the thing to do is make a "visit to the ladies room " -- but not to use it. Go in the stall and watch the swirlies. Make motion happen, so the thing goes off and let her watch it. You can laugh, clap when the show is over, whatever . . .but definately talk about it. When you're sitting on it, and it starts to go, there's also a wee rush of cool air, so that can be kind of startling to a youngster. . . If you can make an "educational visit" out of it, maybe you can defuse the fear that goes with the thing, and then maybe it will be "fun" to ride the wild beast of a toilet. :-)
I understand your concern. My daughter disliked using public restrooms too, but we are usually out for several hours, so she adjusted before too long. However, I have seen where they sell travel seat converters. Here at home we had a Dora seat converter, so that Jordan didn't have to fear falling in, and while I've been at Wal-Mart I have seen travel folding ones that might help. I hope this helps and I wish you all the luck in the world with
successful potty training!
Hi! I have a 6 year old son who is afraid of the automatic flushers too. A mom at the mall gave me the solution. Put a post it note over the sensor and it will not flush until you remove the "note".
Best of luck!
You can cover the sensor with a tiny postit or strip of toilet paper. Sometimes the public toilet fear takes a little time, she'll get there!
Maybe buy a special seat cover just for when you're away from home? That way she looks forward to using it.
My girls are deathly afraid of those things. They are so loud and they often go off at the wrong time. I use a portable potty in the van. It is a plastic ring with folding legs. When it is open it sits about 6 inches off the floor and then it folds to about 2-3 inches and slides under the seat. You use plastic liners that you pull out after they are done and clean up is over. A pack of baby wipes or a tissue and that's all you need. I don't buy the liners, I use and plastic grocery bag with a maxi pad stuck to the middle. It soaks up the pee. It is not the most "green" thing to do but it has really saved us a few times when you can't get to a bathroom fast enough.
P.S. They sell them at Burlington coat factory in the baby section.
I wish I had know about the post-it note trick a few years back--brilliant!
My son was terrified of that sound--even when he was in infant & we used the changing tables in the bathrooms. The flush was incredibly loud. Def use the post it trick.
I also used to warn my son-"this is going to be loud" and "this is the bathroom that has the LOUD flushers!" At least it counteracts the surprise element since, even if YOURS is covered w/a post it, the O. next door could launch at any time!
Someone I know suggested carrying Post-It notes to cover the automatic flush sensors. That way they won't go off while they are sitting there. The automatic flushers are much louder than a normal toilet and after it has happened once I can see her having her reservations each and every time.
Just take her little toilet with you were ever you go. That way she's comfortable. I have seen this plenty of times a mother pulled over to the side of the road with her potty and child. It's just something that some children need that certain space that they call theirs.
