Potty Trainning - Savannah, GA

Let her wear her underwear when you go off to the store? Hasn't she been wearing? Most 3 year old forget when they get to playing. I wouldn't let her go to the rest room, in public, by herself - too many preditors, at home, yes. Tell her that pre-K requires grown up behavior, but expect her to have accidents. A 3 or 4 year old is going to have accidents; very few don't. Give her grown-up underwear explaining that if she has an accident, it's not the world coming apart.

Wearing real big girl panties could be enough incentive to encourage her not to use her pants while out. Otherwise, my granddaughter is 8 and she still waits til the last minute to go to the potty especially while playing. Very few accidents, but they do occur occasionally. My suggestion is to always have a spare of everything down to shoes with you when you go out, but put the pull ups away for good at least during the day? and possibly nights if she does well then.

M. - mother of 4 - twins 27, 18, 16 and one granddaughter and another on the way.

My boys used to do this ALL the time. It was only because of playing though. I really wouldn't worry about it while out and about.

Of course, every kid is different but I think three is plenty old enough to successfully NOT wet her pants out. I say go for it -- and visit the potties in each store upon arrival. And HUGE praise for success!!!

Good luck!

Take her out in her underwear and visit the restroom upon arrival at the store. She will get the idea and will learn to tell you when it's potty time when you are out with her. Be sure and take a change of clothes whenever you go out. V.

Hey S.!
I agree with the other moms. It is best not to go back and forth. It is not uncommon for girls to have day time accidents. Boys tend to have less daytime accidents and more bedwetting. Girls are the opposite. She may just be a very busy child- both my girls tended to be the type who didn't want to stop what they were doing because they might miss something so they did have the occassional wetting accident. My six year old still has to be told some time to stop what she is doing, stop wiggling to hold it in and to please empty her bladder. Just keep extra clothes. Good Luck!

I have a little 3 year old girl and we just started taking small trips to the store in her underwear and then I would keep them on her through-out the day and see how she did. She would tell me when we were out if she had to go. Then I started leaving on longer trips and she did really well. You never know unless you try and it is a risk, but you have to do it and keep a lot of extra clothes in your car!

She is old enough to not have many accidents, but may have one now and then until she is accustomed to wearing only panties. This means, of course, that if you do away completely with the diapers or pull-ups, she is going to have an accident here and there which may be frustrating to you, but remember it is also frustrating to her and very uncomfortable to have wet panties on. This is, however, what will help to motivate her to NOT wet her panties. You must be extra diligent in asking her if she needs to go potty. Girls generally potty train much earlier than boys and with due diligence and attention, she should be completely potty trained in a short period of time. When you are out and about, be prepared to visit every bathroom in every store you enter; that is normal for a three year old, and it also will teach her that potty is always available. Just ask her very often when you're outside the home and take her to the bathroom frequently to try and eventually she will get the idea. Definitely do away with the pull-ups/diapers, though. It only encourages her to be lazy about going potty at this age.

Hi S.,Yes it is a very good idea,be sure to always take a change of clothes with you.I am a grandmother of a 5and1 year old. I still cary a change of clothes for the 5 yearold, you never know when they might have an accident.Good luck, http://www.livetotalwellness.com/anitamcclellan