Dear Dr. Rene,
We worked with our two-and-a-half year old daughter for three months on potty training with lots of ups and downs. She was finally trained and had been diaper free for one month. She started daycare two weeks ago, and she refuses to go to the toilet there. We had this problem before daycare, that she refused to go to the toilet anywhere except home, but we would only be out for maximum two hours. At the nursery, she stays from nine a.m. till two p.m. She sits on the toilet but she does nothing, and she doesn’t even have an accident. Please help.
Sincerely, Jessica Neaven
Dear Jessica,
For using the potty away from the house, I would first practice with your travel potty at home. If you are expecting her to use a folding seat or a potty ring on a big potty when you are away from home, have her practice with it at home first. You might also try the travel potty at grandma’s or a good friend’s house before you expect her to use it out.
To help her become comfortable at daycare, take her to use the potty there yourself just before drop-off and again at pick-up time. She may have success at relaxing if she is with you. Don’t push her to go, just allow her time to sit on the potty and relax with you there. I would also ask the teachers to take her in to the potty at another time or two during the day to either just go and be social with the others waiting turns, or, if she is willing, to sit on the potty for a few minutes to try. Just watching others can help in the process and all the better if she’ll sit.
Continue to read the children’s potty training storybooks, and continue to encourage the potty at home.
Sincerely, Dr. Rene
Parenting by Dr. Rene 