TT ideas for an 18 month old needing to use the toilet

[mum17]

My DD has just had her 3rd "dry" day in trainers. She is almost 18 months old, and tells me she needs to go to the toilet by saying "Sssss". Problem is, there are the odd occasions when sometimes she says it but I'm not nearby to hear her say it, and she won't always come find me to tell me. Instead she takes herself off to the toilet, but of course I'm not there to help her. She won't use a potty, and will only use the big toilet with a smaller seat on top. I haven't got a step big enough (and can't seem to find one) that I can put in front of the toilet for her. I stuck the traditional step stool under her feet last week, and found I had to stick all 3 volumes of the Brisbane Yellow and White pages under that stool so it touched her feet. Does anyone have any ideas on how else I might be able to get DD use the toilet independently? I have seen those ladder things, but would prefer not to put up something that big because the toilet is used by lots of other people and would be more of a hinderance. Thanks in advance!

[~*Bron*~]

i'd get the ladder. anyone else can reach the toilet, and they can also move the ladder (takes about 3 seconds) and put it back

another option is outside on the grass?

[claireberry]

Oh what a smarty pants! Can she do the pants herself?
I've seen at our local baby/kids shop they have a sturdy 2 step contraption that would be OK. I think the'y sell them at Bunnings. We have the ladder/seat thing which Zoe (20 months) can put on the toilet herself and climb up. It would be a pain in a confined space though (our toilet is in our bathroom)

I hope I've been of some use.. Tell her I'm very impressed!!

[mum17]

Problem with getting the ladder thing is that we have one of those toilets in a tiny room all by itself Whoever takes out the ladder would trip on it coming out of the toilet, if they haven't already backing out with it to take it out.

She's starting to do the pants herself. She mostly runs around in pull up trainers and loves pulling and putting her legs through the leg holes.

Claireberry, is that just 2 steps by itself? I need to go have a look because we are also after something to use at the basin in the bathroom.

I'm very impressed too with her, but I tell you, it's no fun running through a shopping centre with a 13kg toddler in your arms going "ssss.... sssss....sssss!!!!!" trying to get to the toilet because the nearest has a queue going out the door! She held on though, even if my arms are paying for it!

[Superwoman]

DS used the shower a fair bit at that age. Grossed me out a bit - but it suited him - so I just made sure it was washed every day.

Also, I always found people very obliging if you tell them that you need the toilet for the little one and ask to push in.

Good luck.

[claireberry]

Yep, just the two steps. I'd like one for our sink too, poor little mite currently stands on tippy toes to wash her hands with the little step we have.
The two step thing might even fit beside the toilet, then it could stay there permanently.
The ssssss is very cute 'POOS COMING' in loud foghorn voice is a bit embarrassing here

[tikki]

the little ladder thing with the seat attached folds flat easily, it used to slip in beside the toilet when we used one here and we have a small toilet room.

[KristyMum]

the ladder thing drove me nuts and we have a whacked out floor since someone
didn't know what a 'level' was when they laid the slate... (previous owner)

if the step thingos are too small, maybe try a wooden rectange; box with nonslippy stuff on the bottom
you may be able to get one at a second hand toy type place or if you know someone handy, then a bif of MDF and some non skiddy stuff top and bottom, rounded corners and you'll be right...
make the box a definate rectangle so it's wider across than the loo and it should be easier up and down

[bilbylove]

i have the shortest 29 month old (according to those percentile charts) and she also will ONLY use the toilet. I found lots of step stools sold FOR toilet training, at places like target.kmart,bigw etc, weren't tall enough. i finally got a taller one from a shop called BABY JUNCTION - i don't know if this is an australian wide franchise or not.

anyhoo, the taller step, cost about $15 and is much better for my short child.
it's got a pretty nondescript sticker on it saying "SuperStool made in china" so not even sure if superstool is a brand.

when we are out and about, i use the Potette (if away from the car e.g a playground with no loos, or on the beach) or a Boon Potty (very wide base) if we are near the car, i keep it in the boot of my car. I give her potty opportunities JUST before we leave for an outing (the toilet at home), or JUST before i put her in the car to come home (boot potty).

this is what the potette looks like
Potette Potty - The Smart Travel Potty

this is what the boon looks like
Boon Potty Bench - UrbanBaby: Cool Baby Store for Babies & Toddlers. Shop for Baby Gifts, Baby Toys, Baby Clothes

(my dd used the Boon inside about three times, got her confidence up, then would ONLY use the toilet. now she will only use the Boon in the car situation.)

i like that with me carrying the potette around, and the car potty, these are two times i can put my child first, no lines to wait in. So much harder in shopping centres.

My child is speech delayed, our biggest struggle is me trying to understand her words for going to the toilet. which can change, depending on how tired or stressed she is. Today she was yelling BOO BOO at me, and i thought she was asking for boobie (which is a common thing for her to say) - it turned out, she wanted to do a poo! Normally she will say "mummy voo voo" when it's poo time - so i was thrown. So i stopped the car promptly, and opened the boot to put her on the car potty. Pronto, she really did mean what she said!

[MGlatte]

'POOS COMING' in loud foghorn voice is a bit embarrassing here

At least you know! LOL I only get told after the event here.

[Wems]

I am not help her because my kids just seem to be monkies and have always worked it out

BUT

Miss Abby came up with a very novel idea when we were away on the weekend (we hired a country hall and all camped in the grounds)
She was using the urinal

Worked for her

We had no idea where she was weeing till we found little foot prints leading from the urinal

[littlesox]

We have a big step (I bought it at a baby shop, I think it's made by Valco but was still fairly cheap) that sits beside the toilet and a soft kids seat (Cushie Tooshie or something from Big W) that can hang on a hook on the wall. DS can set it all up himself without any help - he prefers me to come with him and as I discussed in another thread he likes my help with pulling down & up his pants so I still go with him anyway. But, having all she needs there might help?

I'll see if I can find a pic of the big step we use. To begin with he used a standard-sized step to get onto the big one!

[littlesox]

I just found this one by accident ... not what I was looking for, but could that work for you? Valco Step Stool : Baby Road, Online Shop

This is the one we have: Buy Kids Super Stool Online - WhateverUwant

[mum17]

Thanks all for your suggestions! I'm going to head over to Bunnings tomorrow to scout around, then head to our BigW to see what they have.

Claireberry, re: "POOS COMING" LOL! Can't miss that one!

A big step, or two step system sounds like it'll be best for us. Bilbylove, could I trouble you to ask how high the stool isIs it the same one that littlesox posted the link for? The boon looks good - is it as high as that superstool you were talking about? I'm wondering if I can hit two birds with one stick here, so to speak. Also, how compact is the potette to carry? ATM, I carry around a foldable toilet seat, which is fine for shopping centres (IF we can get a toilet!) so I'm thinking either a potette or the boon would be a useful addition.

I know I'm not going to have a problem getting her OFF the toilet - I found her hanging off the toilet roll holder this afternoon! It was already folded as far out of her reach as possible, and she still managed to throw herself at it and start swinging and lifting herself off. *sigh*

Littlesox, thanks for those links. If my search tomorrow fails, I'll be making a trip to the baby stores here!

[Kelby]

the little ladder thing with the seat attached folds flat easily, it used to slip in beside the toilet when we used one here and we have a small toilet room

Ditto-the twins were day trained at about 16 months and used one. Our toilet was miniscule, couldn't even fit the nappy bucket in, but the seat fitted. We left it on and they just took themselves when they needed-or they went outside and peed on the grass

When we went out i'd hold them on the toilet-just picked them up under their arms and held them sitting up.

Oh, and they used to sit on the toilet yelling 'WIPE MY BUM!' over and over until we got there-it got a few laughs from visitors.

[SammiT]

We have one of these (to use for therapy, but I think it will be great for TT) UrbanBaby Kids Steps w Storage - UrbanBaby: Cool Baby Store for Babies & Toddlers. Shop for Baby Gifts, Baby Toys, Baby Clothes HTH

[mum17]

Ooh! that looks great and is pretty much what we need! Do you know if there is a retail shop anywhere which stocks it, or just at this website?

[SammiT]

I got it from the website, I looked EVERYWHERE for one and could not find anything like it. When I went back to the website and say they were on special I just grabbed one, i figured the discount covered postage! If you know anyone handy maybe you could buy the supplies and get them to make it?