Revising potty training policies

[bright sparks]

I do things a bit differently. From the get go I have parents sign a contract and policy that toilet training is at my whole discretion. I take the lead and parents work based on my method. Those who do not agree are free to go elsewhere and I respect their choice as a parent to do so.

I have their child for a potential of 50 hours a week and in group care so it is my way or the highway. We work together equally, and collaboratively. I also use the same method for all children. I have toilet trained about 30 kids and have never had an issue with my method. Only when I was at the very beginnings of doing daycare, 10 years ago, did I not have this policy in place and I had similar complaints about issues with parents. Never since.

I send the parents home with a checklist and potty book just before the age of 2 . They observe and document if their child is meeting milestones necessary to train. I do the same here. The book is read to the child and made available at all times to encourage independent verbal cues, at home and at daycare. Once the child is regularly meeting ALL milestones AT DAYCARE, then I will instigate training. Milestones are things like, interest in toileting/potty, dry diaper for extended periods of time, waking dry from nap, bowel movements at regular times, able to verbalize own needs outside of toileting etc

Once these have been met, the parent should start with 1 on 1 training over the weekend to get a head start prior to group training. I absolute do not toilet train with pull ups and to be consistent a parent has to agree not to use them at home or in the car. If a child is truly ready to train and has not been started to early, all it will take is a couple of accidents and that will be it. If I expect a child to be able to comprehend the concept of toileting, I should understand that they also know that a pull up is a diaper and a safety net for them so to speak. I understand that it's convenient in a group setting, but if its really time for the child to train then they aren't going to be peeing and pooing all over the place. Also it is a diaper and I see far more opportunity for laziness and none compliance because the diaper has always been used for toileting. I know very few providers who train this way, but I also know very few providers who don't have some kind of issue with training at one time or another, whether with a child or a parent. My method typically takes about 1 week on average to be successful.

[kindertime]

I send the parents home with a checklist and potty book just before the age of 2 . They observe and document if their child is meeting milestones necessary to train. I do the same here.

Would you be willing to share your checklist?

[bright sparks]

Would you be willing to share your checklist?

Yes absolutely. It's late when I get home from class so give me a couple days...I'm on my phone not my computer