He already recognizes when he needs to go, warns and even uses the bathroom without accidents, but in daycare everything changes. The teachers tell me that sometimes he refuses to go, other times he has accidents and even asks to be put in a diaper. I feel like this frustrates him and it worries me too. I don’t know if it’s because the environment is different, if it’s because he sees other children in diapers or he just doesn’t feel safe outside the home yet. I want to help him without putting too much pressure on him. How can I make this transition easier for him and maintain consistency in both places?
I went through this exact thing with my little one, and it was so frustrating! She would be fully potty trained at home but then have constant accidents at daycare. I felt like we were taking two steps forward and three steps back. What worked for us was bringing a small comfort item from home like her favorite book or a sticker chart that she also had at home Maybe that could help your son feel more secure in both places?
We had a similar struggle! My son was doing great at home, but daycare was a whole different story. He’d straight up refuse to go! It turns out he was getting overwhelmed with all the noise and other kids. We worked with his teachers to set up potty breaks at regular times, so it wasn’t so unpredictable for him. Maybe try talking to his teachers about doing something similar? You’re doing an amazing job!
Ugh, I totally get how hard this is. It’s so tough when you feel like things are going well at home, and then the moment they step into daycare, everything falls apart. It’s exhausting and confusing. You’re not alone in this struggle
I feel like I’m dealing with the same thing but in reverse! My daughter is doing great at daycare, but at home, she refuses to use the potty. Do you think maybe they just feel safer in one environment over the other? It’s so weird how kids process things differently in different places
I went through this with my oldest, and consistency between home and daycare really helped. We made a laminated potty schedule that matched the daycare’s routine, so it felt familiar at home too. We also had the daycare use the same reward system we used at home stickers, high fives, etc… Maybe ask the teachers if they can incorporate a reward or routine that’s similar to what he does at home? It might help bridge the gap between the two places
This is super common and totally normal! The daycare environment is full of distractions, and he might be picking up on the behaviors of other kids who are still in diapers. Try talking to his teachers about making potty time feel more predictable, maybe a specific song they sing before potty breaks or a special cue just for him. Also, some kids need extra reassurance when away from home, so reinforcing his success with praise and small rewards might help. Keep it positive and low pressure, and he’ll get there!