Potty Training Headaches!

[LilDuck]

Happy Friday, everyone!
Sorry if this runs a little long, but I need a little advice from you, as I am quickly approaching my limit. I've only been running my home daycare for a year, so I think it is my lack of experience (and my desire to please, ugh!) that is clouding my judgement. Here's the situation: I have a 2 1/2 yr old DCG who up until a week ago was not potty trained and the parents had not initiated any start to the training. She was off last week on a family vacation and this Monday morning, her DCM announced to me that she was put into underpants all week and hasn't needed a diaper/pull-up except for nap and overnight. I was skeptical but decided to take the mom's word and let her stay here in underpants only (mistake #1). Well, the first day she peed herself (and my carpet and sofa) three times. The next day, she pooped twice and peed again. Well, by day 3 I had had enough and put her back into pull-ups. I also sent the mom a message explaining what happened and that I had put DCG back into pull-ups as she was not ready to be in underwear. Well, DCM didn't take the news well and got very defensive and said that it's normal that she would have "accidents" and that they didn't happen all week on vacation. I said that kids tend to behave differently at daycare than they do at home, and the fact that she was freely soiling herself (and not alerting anyone that she had messed) is clearly a sign that she's not potty trained. I explained that we will continue to take her to the potty every hour or so (I have a potty trip schedule: 9:00am, 10:15am, 11:45am, etc), but she will have to keep the pull-up on here because I can't stop and steam clean my carpets and furniture 2-3 times a day. I reiterated this at pick up and mom was clearly not pleased - she mumbled that she didn't want pull-ups as this was going to cause a setback.
I even took the time yesterday evening to research a few potty training techniques that may work (while still wearing the pull-up to protect my house), asked her to let me know what she thought and DCM didn't even reply to my message. This morning at drop off, DCG shows up in underwear again. I tell her that I am going to have to put a pull-up on her and DCM sighs, kisses DCG and leaves without saying another word to me.
I am at the end of my patience with this... my husband thinks I should just tell her point blank that if DCG doesn't arrive in pull-ups, she can't stay. And if they don't like that, then they will have to find other care. (I should also mention that this DCM also ignores my rule that her child can't bring her own toys to daycare and often picks up late, despite several warnings). I don't know if that's too harsh. Part of me would really like to do that, but the other part of me also does not want to lose a full-time 2 1/2 yr old, as they are hard enough to find in Ontario, and the summer's been pretty lean anyways. I have put up advertisements for her spot, but again, being summer, I'm not getting a lot of interest yet.
What should I do? What would you do? Mu husband says the aggravation is not worth the income from her because she clearly doesn't respect what I do.

[5 Little Monkeys]

First, decide if you want to keep this family. Parents not liking our approach to things is normal and IMO, to be expected. Disregarding our opinion, advice and not being able to communicate and reach a compromise is not acceptable though. If you want to go forward with her, plan a time to discuss potty training (I like to just give a heads up that during pickup one day, we need time to talk) Than be ready with a plan and ask her what her thoughts are. In the end, at your home it's your rules but hopefully you 2 can come up with an approach that both parties are comfortable with. For myself, I treat potty training case by case and work WITH the parent and child as each child is different. I explain to them what the best approaches have been IME and most times they go along with that (a lot of parents want their child trained FAST so are willing to do whatever I suggest lol) but sometimes a family has had previous luck with an older sibling doing a different approach and if I'm fine with it, I'll give it a shot.

The approach that I've found works best is....

- child has to be showing signs of wanting to be trained (dry diaper after nap, holding it, knowing when they need to pee/poop, saying potty, taking off clothes etc)

- child wears underwear underneath the pull up (keeps my home clean but they still feel the mess when they go)

- at first, there's a schedule. However that is only for 1-3 days max as than its YOU that's trained not the child. After that, I encourage them to use the potty at normal potty times (snack, lunch, before going outside etc) but the in between washroom visits are left up to them

- help the child with pulling up and down of clothes, getting off and on toilet but don't do it for them!!

- once I feel that they're ready for just underwear, (some have been as fast as one day!! Some have been a few weeks) I plan to stay inside for a day or two. I expect accidents and prepare myself for that lol. Make sure the parent leaves quite a bit of extra clothing at your place. Don't allow the child on your "good" furniture and encourage lots of washroom visits and make a big deal out of every success (it's a huge milestone!!) and try not to shame them for the accidents (we all make mistakes when learning a new thing and if they're like most of us, they won't want to continue with it if they get scolding for their mistake)

- to be considered fully trained, they must be able to do all the steps themselves. I still wipe bums for poops but that doesn't last very long as they learn quickly what to do

Doing it this way has been the easiest and fastest method I've tried over the years. Good luck!!

[LilDuck]

Do you mind if I copy some of your steps above to create my specific potty-training policy for my contract? I briefly cover it in my current contract, but not in nearly enough detail. I will write one up and send it to all my daycare parents as a contract update for them to read and confirm.
Thanks for your tips!

[FernT]

What I first wore was cloth training pants! Just that I was terrified peeing naked and inside pants which I’d see my pee! While I got a being inside my cloth training pants which was why I could pull my cloth training pants ever before I wore pants! Esp I got a crush on the soft feel on my pee and my cloth training pants covering my pee! When I could pull down my pants I still wasn’t naked due to that my cloth training pants were still on which I was unambulatory to strip of! Even when I wore boxer brief undies, I was unambulatory to strip of my boxer brief undies! I just then try to pull the bottom and back of my boxer brief undies!

[mickyc]

Do you have your potty training policy in your contract? If not you definitely need to add it in there.

I do not allow underwear until I agree to it. Once a child turns 2 I start introducing the potty to them a few times a day. I use the big toilet as I don't ever use a portable potty. Once the child seems to be showing interest we switch to pull-ups. Once we have dry pull-ups for a week or two I will transition to underwear. I also reserve the right to go back to pull-ups if there are too many accidents. I encourage parents to just use underwear at home. I have put pull-ups on over underwear too depending on the child. My parents all know this is my method as its in my contract so they know what to expect.

It sounds like you need to get firm with this mom and fast. If she doesn't respect your rules it is because you are letting her.

[LilDuck]

[QUOTE=mickyc;84423]Do you have your potty training policy in your contract? If not you definitely need to add it in there.

Unfortunately, I do not have a specific one. I address potty training in the contract, but now I see I wasn't nearly specific enough. I am writing one up and updating my contract as we speak. I will then send this updated policy to DCM in question, ask her to review it and let me know if she has any questions.
Thanks for your input!

[5 Little Monkeys]

I don't mind at all (if you meant my steps?)

I also don't have a detailed policy in my contract as its so individual IMO. I do have a more detailed page that i let parents read but it's not a "make or break" policy in my contract

[33 Daiseys]

Happy Friday, everyone!
Sorry if this runs a little long, but I need a little advice from you, as I am quickly approaching my limit. I've only been running my home daycare for a year, so I think it is my lack of experience (and my desire to please, ugh!) that is clouding my judgement. Here's the situation: I have a 2 1/2 yr old DCG who up until a week ago was not potty trained and the parents had not initiated any start to the training. She was off last week on a family vacation and this Monday morning, her DCM announced to me that she was put into underpants all week and hasn't needed a diaper/pull-up except for nap and overnight. I was skeptical but decided to take the mom's word and let her stay here in underpants only (mistake #1). Well, the first day she peed herself (and my carpet and sofa) three times. The next day, she pooped twice and peed again. Well, by day 3 I had had enough and put her back into pull-ups. I also sent the mom a message explaining what happened and that I had put DCG back into pull-ups as she was not ready to be in underwear. Well, DCM didn't take the news well and got very defensive and said that it's normal that she would have "accidents" and that they didn't happen all week on vacation. I said that kids tend to behave differently at daycare than they do at home, and the fact that she was freely soiling herself (and not alerting anyone that she had messed) is clearly a sign that she's not potty trained. I explained that we will continue to take her to the potty every hour or so (I have a potty trip schedule: 9:00am, 10:15am, 11:45am, etc), but she will have to keep the pull-up on here because I can't stop and steam clean my carpets and furniture 2-3 times a day. I reiterated this at pick up and mom was clearly not pleased - she mumbled that she didn't want pull-ups as this was going to cause a setback.
I even took the time yesterday evening to research a few potty training techniques that may work (while still wearing the pull-up to protect my house), asked her to let me know what she thought and DCM didn't even reply to my message. This morning at drop off, DCG shows up in underwear again. I tell her that I am going to have to put a pull-up on her and DCM sighs, kisses DCG and leaves without saying another word to me.
I am at the end of my patience with this... my husband thinks I should just tell her point blank that if DCG doesn't arrive in pull-ups, she can't stay. And if they don't like that, then they will have to find other care. (I should also mention that this DCM also ignores my rule that her child can't bring her own toys to daycare and often picks up late, despite several warnings). I don't know if that's too harsh. Part of me would really like to do that, but the other part of me also does not want to lose a full-time 2 1/2 yr old, as they are hard enough to find in Ontario, and the summer's been pretty lean anyways. I have put up advertisements for her spot, but again, being summer, I'm not getting a lot of interest yet.
What should I do? What would you do? Mu husband says the aggravation is not worth the income from her because she clearly doesn't respect what I do.

I would put the pull up on OVER her panties. Everytime she is dirty or wet take the pull up and panities, up them in a plastic bag and send them home for mom to deal with. You are making this way to easy for her. Once she has to be the one to clean up poop, i can bet that she will okay pull ups

[LilDuck]

I would put the pull up on OVER her panties. Everytime she is dirty or wet take the pull up and panities, up them in a plastic bag and send them home for mom to deal with. You are making this way to easy for her. Once she has to be the one to clean up poop, i can bet that she will okay pull ups

I have been doing that for several days now... I send home 2 - 3 pairs of soiled underpants (poop and pee) per day, and mention at every pick up that she needs to wear pull ups and she is clearly not ready for underpants only. DCM only mutters and/or ignores what I am saying and runs off with DCG. She is clearly unfazed by the soiled clothes and underpants because the next day, she is dropped off again in underpants only. I feel like I'm the crazy one here. I can't believe that this is where they are making their stand and this is what is going to lead to me getting rid of the family.

[Lee-Bee]

I don't think your proposed letter will work. She is shoving her in the door and running so you can't check and refuse care because mom will be gone before you check.

I would write up a letter of probation. If the child arrives in panties only again care will be terminated as of the next day. I would send this letter home, email it and text the content. Make it CLEAR that this begins tomorrow.

They clearly think they can manipulate you until you cave...make it clear they are on their last chance and the consequence of dropping in panties and running is they have nowhere to go the next day.

This is no longer about potty training this is them trying to win the situation and you do NOT benefit if they win this one as they will feel they control you.

:-(