[Katambra]

My ds is 26 months and if he has nothing on is about 99 percent. He tells me when he needs to go and he goes etc. etc. If he has a diaper or a pull up on he just goes in it. He is dry at night. We have always put a diaper on if we are out of the house (well almost always) I guess I'm too afraid to try and see because I don't want a big mess while we are out kwim? I don't really have to do anything with him potty wise except to turn on the light lol. I don't feel like I can say he has graduated since he still wears diapers when out. What do you consider a graduate and how old were your kids?
Kat

 

[Freddy]

I considered my son a "grad", when he would tell me consistently when he had to go. I didn't have to watch for subtle signals anymore and didn't have to remember when he peed the last time. If after 4 hours of not peeing he did not ask, he did not have to go. Getting to the toilet in time had become his responsibility - he could enlist my help for taking him there, helping with pants etc. but the "when" was not my job anymore.

Wolfgang was at that point at 20 months. We would still have an occasional accident when he was very busy playing - but that also happens to potty trained 4-year-olds occasionally.

Jutta is no grad yet, she's been completely diaperfree for 8 out of the 15 months of her life now (more than half of her life!!, but i still rely on intuition, timing etc., occasionally she tells me by making a "pffft"-sound.

Outings were the times where we actually almost never had accidents. In your place I'd really give it a try. Take him potty before you leave. Plan pit stops when entering a store or at his usual intervalls. Take extra pants, socks, maybe shoes and just in case an extra shirt along. If he has an accident after all, it's no big deal, you do the same you would do if he spilled a drink over himself, if he sat down in a puddle etc

 

[Katambra]

Wow cool. I haven't had to rely on intuition or timing or anything since he was around the same age as your oldest. He knows when he needs to go and he goes. Today he has had pants on without any accidents and we went on an outing where I KNOW he had to go but he didn't. I am just going to go for it and see what happens! Thanks for hte advice!
Kat

 

[Larisa Stephan]

I agree with Freddy.

My DS didn't "graduate" until he was 33 months. From 18 months to 33 he was mostly dry and clean (at night, too, by about 24 months), but he wouldn't volunteer to go. Then suddenly he decided it was his responsibility. By then he was old enough to do the entire thing by himself.

We still have ritualized potty check times like before leaving the house, before nap/bed, etc., but otherwise he handles it. I think he might not tell me if he didn't know where the toilet was in an unfamiliar place, so when we are on the road, we just make adequate toilet stops.