What age was your child *completely* potty trained?

[FAB mama]

My LO has the option to go to preschool at age 2 1/2 IF he is "completely" potty trained by a certain cut-off date. He will be 2 years and 9 months at that time. What are the chances that will happen? I need to apply to the school soon if I want him in this August, but the cut-off date for potty training is in September??

Anyway, when was your child 100% potty trained?

 

[seoj]

Not yet She's working on it... at her own pace.

Could you apply and then not send him if he's not ready? Obviously it varies- my niece was fully trained right after 2yrs, but most of my friends kids (like mine) are 3yrs plus...

I wish that rule didn't exist so young. It seems to put unnecessary pressure on the parents (and kids). Lucky my LO's early pre-school doesn't mind till they move to the 4yr old class... so I have time still!

 

[SarahBear]

First of all, I think you need to define "completely" potty trained. Do you mean completely independent in the bathroom? I don't think that's likely to happen by 2.5. I can't answer your actual question though, because Violet is not completely independent in the bathroom. She also wears diapers at nap and night time, which would mean she isn't "completely" potty trained. She has difficulty pulling up underwear and pants and can't wipe properly. She also is more likely to tell us she needs the potty than she is to actually go there independently. She is, however, reliably dry during waking times with occasional accidents and has been since about 2 years old. She did have a period like this at 18 months old as well. That lasted a month whereas this time it seems we're actually done with diapers during waking time.

 

[CandyDay]

My son was 3 1/2 and my daughter at 2. All depends on the child

 

[lindseymw]

Jacob was potty trained completely during the day around 2.5 years old.

 

[.Mrs.B.]

Can preschools actually do this? Isn't that discrimination?

 

[SarahBear]

Can preschools actually do this? Isn't that discrimination?

Generally speaking, daycares will change diapers and work on potty training while preschools will not. Yes it's technically discrimination, but so is an age limit. For the pre-school near me, there actually is no minimum age; just the minimum requirement of potty training. I'm hoping Violet can become more independent with the potty over the course of the next year so that we can consider it.

 

[FAB mama]

Can preschools actually do this? Isn't that discrimination?

Generally speaking, daycares will change diapers and work on potty training while preschools will not. Yes it's technically discrimination, but so is an age limit. For the pre-school near me, there actually is no minimum age; just the minimum requirement of potty training. I'm hoping Violet can become more independent with the potty over the course of the next year so that we can consider it.

I've only looked into parochial schools, but haven't found a preschool that doesn't require a child to be potty trained. I think there are daycares with preschool-type programs that might change diapers, but I'm not looking for a full time daycare right now. I'm just considering partial day programs. It's also way less expensive than a daycare, so I guess you get what you pay for.

As far as their definition of "completely" potty trained, I'll have to contact the school. That was the term used on their application form online.

 

[CaptainMummy]

My dd was comoletely dry (day and night) at 2.5yrs.

She is at a preschool, attached to a primary school, and there is one boy that still wears pullups.
When I enrolled her, I brought up the nappy thing just out of curiosity and the head teacher said its not a requirement, but of course they much prefer a child to be trained.

I do know that when a child has an accident, the staff help them to get changed into clean pants etc if needed, although Im not sure what they do if still in nappies? Im assuming they wouldnt even change a wet pullup? No idea, but they.dont require a child to be completelt trained

 

[StaceyKor]

She's been completely dry through the day since 22 months and dry at night since 26 months. She can use the bathroom (pees) by herself now, including pulling up underwear etc but I still go with her to check she is dry. I also have to wipe her for poos as she's certainly not able to do that well enough yet xx

 

[alaskagrown]

By her second birthday - both day and night. I do daycare and I consider a child potty trained if:

* They are able to communicate their need to me before going ("I need to go potty")
* Understand the difference between wet and dry
* Are able to take off their clothes unassisted to sit on the potty. Parents, please don't dress your potty trained/training children in overalls, crotch snaps, and pants with buttons, zippers, and belts!!!
* Are able to wash and dry their hands afterwards with minimal assistance.

I tolerate an accident every once in a blue moon, but if the child is having excessive accidents (such as once a week or more) then s/he is not ready to be in underwear at daycare.

As far as being potty-trained for preschool, it makes sense. If I were to send my daughter to preschool, I'd want the teachers spending the majority of their time teaching my daughter and not changing other kids' diapers…then that's not preschool, that's just glorified daycare.

 

[MrsEngland]

During the day DD1 was totally potty trained by three and dry day and night by about 3 and half.
DD2 is 2 years 1 month and has been completely dry during the day for about 6 weeks now, shes also dry at nap time and wont be long until shes dry at night.

It really depends on the child, we struggled with DD1 but DD2 did it all of her own accord and had it down within a week.

 

[.Mrs.B.]

Can preschools actually do this? Isn't that discrimination?

Generally speaking, daycares will change diapers and work on potty training while preschools will not. Yes it's technically discrimination, but so is an age limit. For the pre-school near me, there actually is no minimum age; just the minimum requirement of potty training. I'm hoping Violet can become more independent with the potty over the course of the next year so that we can consider it.

I've only looked into parochial schools, but haven't found a preschool that doesn't require a child to be potty trained. I think there are daycares with preschool-type programs that might change diapers, but I'm not looking for a full time daycare right now. I'm just considering partial day programs. It's also way less expensive than a daycare, so I guess you get what you pay for.

As far as their definition of "completely" potty trained, I'll have to contact the school. That was the term used on their application form online.

My DS started preschool in September, he was still in nappies then and it wasn't an issue at all. We've only just potty trained him and his key worker said to me that he was young to train him as most are still in nappies. I don't know any preschools near me that wouldn't take a child in nappies. (Hertfordshire)

 

[weewdy]

My dd was dry day and night at 22 months. She can undress and go to the big toilet by herself now at 2.5yrs. I still supervise and am on hand to wipe afterwards if needed. My dd also only used a potty once or twice, she preferred to use the normal toilet.

 

[AP]

I dont know if its just me and my experience of being a mother (and one to a special needs child), but i think preschools expect a hell of a lot. Alex isnt dry at night at 5.5yrs whilst Tori is potty trained day and night, toilets themselves terrify her still. Kids are so different and theres so many reasons why they may not be potty trained, theres so much pressure out there isnt there?

 

[x__amour]

2.5 day and night. Took about a week.

 

[SarahBear]

I'm wondering whether or not we're all talking about the same thing. Preschool around here tends to be 3 to 5 and many kids don't start until 4. It also comes before kindergarten which starts at 5.

 

[FAB mama]

I'm wondering whether or not we're all talking about the same thing. Preschool around here tends to be 3 to 5 and many kids don't start until 4. It also comes before kindergarten which starts at 5.

That is the kind of preschool I'm talking about. My son would be just within the limits for the "3 year old" class by their definition, but he'd be 2 when he starts.

I'm not sure what UK preschools are exactly, but I am in the southern US and I'm referring to educational programs, not daycare facilities although some of the schools have extended care programs for working parents.

 

[jd83]

My older was fully day trained a few months after he turned 3. We had worked with him from age 2, and he was super stubborn. By completely trained, they are referring to day trained, as that would be the timeframe they have him in, and US preschools won't help with potty sessions, aside from helping snap pants, or something simple like that. They need as much time as possible to teach, especially since most preschools are only a few hours total. My son's preschool is a 2 1/2 hour session 3x a week, so it wouldn't make sense for them to be spending half the time changing diapers, hence the main reason preschools have it as a requirement.

I'd say go ahead and get him signed up now, because preschools can fill pretty quickly. I turned in our paperwork 1 month after the open date last year, and it was completely full already for the city preschool, so I had to find an alternative preschool. Total pain. If getting him trained in time doesn't happen, you can always back out later, or try him the next semester of school.

 

[nicki01]

Charlie is 4 and in the pre school room in nursery. She is autistic and delayed in all areas. We have been potty training on and off since 2. We are on day 3 of no nappies during the day with only 2 accidents so far, she tends to do well with things for 2 days and then regresses again, hence we are still going 2 years after starting...... Its a very long road for us. She could possibly still be in nappies/pull ups when she starts school in September but the school will be fine with that and change her.
I think there is a lot of pressure to potty train children really young. I have had some comments and looks for Charlie still being in nappies at 4 but every child is different.
Tori is 18 months and Has no clue when she is weeing at the moment, she will sit on the potty fully dressed but isn't showing any signs of being ready yet