Potty training--2 story house and only one bathroom?

Tess12 · May 2009

I've wandered over from 12-24 to ask for some advice. My daughter has decided to potty train somewhat earlier than expected and our house is set up very well for this.

We have one bath room upstairs and spend most of our time downstairs. We have potty seats both up and down, but I'm wondering if anyone has tips for ease of use and sanitation?

It's easy enough to flush the potty contents upstairs, but not so much downstairs. Also, washing out the downstairs potty is an issue. I refuse to wash it out in the kitchen sink. This morning I used wipes, then anywhere spray, but I don't know if that's enough. And also, cleaning her afterward is a struggle downstairs.

Lastly, she's really short, so washing her hands in the kitchen or bathroom sink is hard even with a chair or a step stool. Any ideas?

brightning · May 2009

I don't know about the PT issues because we're definitely not there yet. But for the hand-washing, I always just sit DD on the countertop with her feet straddled around the sink and she washes her hands that way. I'm standing directly behind her, of course, so there's no chance of falling. That's the only way I wash her hands.

neverblushed · May 2009

First of all, your DD is ADORABLE -- love those curls!!

Second, get a potty where you can remove the inner cup where the pee and poo go, and just carry that little cup up to the big toilet, flush it away, and rinse out the cup up there. Safety First makes a great potty designed like this and it's one of the cheapest, most convenient potties out there. The base and the seat come apart, and the base can be turned over to make a step. The seat snaps safely on the top of the big toilet.

I found it helpful when my kids were small to have them kneel on the counter at the edge of the sink when washing hands. I held them securely around the waist with one hand and helped manage the water, soap, and washing with my other hand.

I got sick of washing the whole potty all the time, and wound up just spritzing it with lysol and wiping it down as my kids developed better aim. Also, I encouraged them to graduate to the "big potty" as soon as possible.

Thirdly, don't be surprised if your DD becomes wishy-washy about using the potty as she nears age 2. My DD also first used the potty at about 15 months, but she wasn't really completely potty trained until she was closer to 30 months. I think when she was 15 months, the potty was more of a fun novelty for her than a serious commitment! Just keep it in the back of your mind that she might decide to express her defiance and individuality by having accidents as she gets older and more "two-ish".

GL!

jen5-03 · May 2009

Well it sounds like you have to go upstairs to empty it anyway, right? So why not just clean it up there?

If it's just pee, I just dump and then rinse it with some water. If it's poop that didn't stick to the potty, dump, squirt of foam soap, swish with water. If it stuck to the potty I wipe it with toilet paper before squirting with soap and swishing.

I clean DD with a roll of toilet paper that is laying around in our living room (an attractive home accessory!) or with a kleenex.

Hand washing - DD's pretty tall, but it's still not easy. If she's on a step stool I hold my hand under the faucet so that the stream of water goes forward a few more inches and she can reach it. When we're out I basically hold my knee up, she straddles my knee and leans her belly on the counter to reach the water.

Tess12 · May 2009

brightning:
I don't know about the PT issues because we're definitely not there yet. But for the hand-washing, I always just sit DD on the countertop with her feet straddled around the sink and she washes her hands that way. I'm standing directly behind her, of course, so there's no chance of falling. That's the only way I wash her hands.

I should have been able to think of this myself, but I didn't. lol I tried it and it went okay. Hopefully she'll warm up to it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Tess12 · May 2009

neverblushed:
First of all, your DD is ADORABLE -- love those curls!!

Second, get a potty where you can remove the inner cup where the pee and poo go, and just carry that little cup up to the big toilet, flush it away, and rinse out the cup up there. Safety First makes a great potty designed like this and it's one of the cheapest, most convenient potties out there. The base and the seat come apart, and the base can be turned over to make a step. The seat snaps safely on the top of the big toilet.

I found it helpful when my kids were small to have them kneel on the counter at the edge of the sink when washing hands. I held them securely around the waist with one hand and helped manage the water, soap, and washing with my other hand.

I got sick of washing the whole potty all the time, and wound up just spritzing it with lysol and wiping it down as my kids developed better aim. Also, I encouraged them to graduate to the "big potty" as soon as possible.

Thirdly, don't be surprised if your DD becomes wishy-washy about using the potty as she nears age 2. My DD also first used the potty at about 15 months, but she wasn't really completely potty trained until she was closer to 30 months. I think when she was 15 months, the potty was more of a fun novelty for her than a serious commitment! Just keep it in the back of your mind that she might decide to express her defiance and individuality by having accidents as she gets older and more "two-ish".

GL!

Thank you. :-)

I really expect this potty training thing to either be a phase or something she does casually for about a year before actually getting it down fully. That's fine with me. I just want to get the germs under control from her new "hobby."

Tess12 · May 2009

jen5/03:
Well it sounds like you have to go upstairs to empty it anyway, right? So why not just clean it up there?

If it's just pee, I just dump and then rinse it with some water. If it's poop that didn't stick to the potty, dump, squirt of foam soap, swish with water. If it stuck to the potty I wipe it with toilet paper before squirting with soap and swishing.

I clean DD with a roll of toilet paper that is laying around in our living room (an attractive home accessory!) or with a kleenex.

Hand washing - DD's pretty tall, but it's still not easy. If she's on a step stool I hold my hand under the faucet so that the stream of water goes forward a few more inches and she can reach it. When we're out I basically hold my knee up, she straddles my knee and leans her belly on the counter to reach the water.

Well, this morning she pooped but didn't pee so I was able to dispose of it in the old diaper and just take it out to the trash and then clean out the pot as best I could until we could make it up to the bathroom.

But, yeah, I guess I'm probably going to take it directly upstairs most of the time. Which should be fun considering M isn't walking yet and I can't leave her down by herself while I do it.

Thanks for sharing your techniques.

moroccojade · May 2009

I'd just get in the habit of taking her upstairs for all of her business. Get a ring insert for the real toilet. Flushes away. No cleaning required.

I don't think this is just a phase. Go for it. She'll be out of diapers in no time. You won't miss them!

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