Noises and public toilets

karen mc · #1 (**permalink**) 16-06-09, 08:40

Hi Everyone,
This post may sound really silly but my son Jack is 3 and toilet trained (day time). I take him out in underpants now rather than a pull up. At our home, relatives homes and when he was at day nursery, he will happily use the toilet and is ok at some indoor places e.g the garden centre shop/cafe and our local soft play area. However when we go out to parks he will not go to the toilet, even when he really needs to go. He gets quite upset and I end up having to take him to wee behind a tree!
I try to be v.positive and encouraging, going first myself and lifting him so he can stand up rather than sit on the seat but he just gets upset and says he does'nt need to go when he is obviously trying his best to hold it in. I think it could be the noise of the hand dryers as he does not like the sound of them or hoovers.
I would really appreciate any advice as I really want him to be happy to use these toilets as we go out every day while I'm still on maternity leave. Also have any other parents LOs been upset by household sounds e.g hoover and hair dryer and how did you get past it. Jack is fine with other loud or unusual sounds. He may ask what they are and is then fine and often when busy playing with his cousin Holly he does'nt even notice them! Now when I need to hoover I offer him the choice to pop into the garden and play on his bike/with his outdoor toys for a few minutes. This works well but I would like to help him to get used to it. Maybe it is just something he will grow out of.
Thank you
Karen xx

JulieBannon · #2 (**permalink**) 16-06-09, 09:12

cant realy offer any advice as i have been known to hoover around ellen and she crawls after the hoover with a smile on her face. maybe introduce these noises gradually?

not much help im afraid, hope you get some sucess

daisy duke · #3 (**permalink**) 16-06-09, 09:45

My LO hates the hoover too, she was fine when she was tiny but since she turned two shes decided she doesnt like it?

I get the hoover out and we talk to it say hello and give him a stroke and she'll do this now, before if i even got it out the cupboard she would run to another room! Now she sits on the sofa and watches but she wont get down whilst the hoover is on, im hopeing we can eventually keep progressing so she doesnt have to hide on the sofa!