thread: Scared of toilet

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    Somewhere in the West
    520

    Scared of toilet

    Can anyone help? My DD, 21 months, has been toilet training for a few months. At home she is confident and tells me when she needs to go. She is also fine when at any of my families houses. Problem is when we go out. She tells me she needs to go 'wee wee' and we run to the toilet. When we get there she starts crying and saying no. I have tried to bribe her and give her a special toy to play with but nothing has worked so far. Any ideas?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Apr 2007
    Living in the '70s
    136

    Embarrassingly I have to say that I was the same as your DD when I was toliet training. Home was fine but out was a different story.

    Can your DD express her fears in anyway?

    I didn't like other toilets especially public ones as I had a fear of germs and was afraid that they weren't clean as at home. Mum is a bit of a clean freak. You have to admit that some public toilets look pretty dirty and toddlers can be really aware of their environment. Might explain why home and family toilets are fine.

    Can't remember how I got over the fear. I remember mum using paper all over the seat. Might be just a phase.

    Hope you find some answers soon.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add aussienic on Facebook

    Feb 2005
    Boyne Island
    6,327

    First of all Congrats on the toilet training

    Is it possible to take a potty with you and just go to the car? gross I know but it might work.. Or use the child sized toilets. ( not everywhere has them though) Does she see you go to the shopping centre toilets? She might feel more comfortable if she see's you are fine..

    Good Luck I hope you can solve the issue soon

    my 21 month old son is fascinated with the toilet but he only sits on it. no wee's yet but I figure its a start..

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jan 2005
    Down by the ocean
    6,110

    21 months! Wowsers I am insanley jealous

    Only thing I can think of there is to reduce any pressure so it doesn't turn into a battle of wills and perhaps try using a potty, or sitting with her (on a stool or something) and reading her a story while she goes. She may then decide that the toilet isn't that bad after all.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    Somewhere in the West
    520

    Thanks for the ideas. Gidget I think you might be right about the germ thing. Public toilets can be so dark and dirty. I have now bought a portable toilet set, one of the ones that fits over a normal toilet seat. She wasn't happy about it but she sat for a few seconds. It's a start but I wont force the issue.
    Aussienic, I have tried showing her that I'll use the toilets too, but she just thinks it's funny and hands me some toilet paper, lol. Don't worry about your son. We got the first wee by accident and she liked the sound of the water so she kept wanting to go.

    I guess for now I'll keep putting her in nappies when we do the shopping. I'll keep offering to take her but wait until she's ready.