[bees-knees]

I have a 3 1/2 year old with Down syndrome, and we are toilet training at the moment. I am having a bit of weird problem, and thought I'd ask EB for help. My questions is this: How do you know your little one has done a wee when they're on the toilet? We had been using both either the potty or the toilet, but I prefer her to use the toilet, because I feel like if she gets used to the potty, then I just have to get her used to the toilet after that, so I'm being lazy, essentially!

When she's used the potty, I know whether she's done a wee, and exactly how much it was, but on the toilet, I'm flying blind a bit. Sometimes I can hear it, sometimes I can't. She doesn't have enough language to tell me she's done one, and I can't see it after she's finished, because we have disgusting, straight-from-the-river water, which is not even close to totally clear, so it's impossible to tell if a little wee has been added to it. And sometimes I can actually see her weeing, but most of the time I can't, because of the wee-guard on the toilet seat.

I'm not overly hopeful of a solution, because I imagine most people know because either their little one tells them, or they can see it in the toilet, but figured it was worth asking.

[Mamabug]

The only thing I can think of is a bed pan type set-up under the toilet seat so you can cathc anything. Makes more work for you though as you would still have to rinse out the pan!

[ImpatientAnna]

Could you stick a bowl in the toilet bowl?

[Riotproof]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that if you put blue food colour in the toilet, the wee turns it green. Maybe that would work?

[nen-c]

If you have a toilet where the wee generally goes onto the bowl first, not straight in the water, you might see some 'wee remnants' on there, or you could put a square of toilet paper on the bowl first & if that is wet, or submerged you can assume she has. I know these tricks as DS used to try to trick me into providing a reward when he had actually only done a 'pretend wee'!!!! Are you giving her a wipe afterwards, if yes then the paper should be a little wet after wiping? HTH

[dirtgirl]

Can you get a potty with a detachable seat that you can put on the toilet. Hard to explain, but my DS has one (here is a picture of it).

It has a detachable soft potty seat, and a yellow lift-out chamber pot that he can pee into. The seat and chamber pot combo fit on the normal toilet seat, so he sits on the toilet, but his wee is caught in the chamber pot, which we can then empty separately. It's a bit of double handling, but at least you would be able to monitor if she has had a wee or not.

Here's another pic


Good luck OP!

[bees-knees]

Wow, thank you! That helps A LOT.

I am going to give all of these a go I think - thanks ladies

[imamumto3]

I try and see if the colour of the water has changed or if there is wee drops on the front of the bowl.

[whale-woman]

There are times I didn't know with DD. Sometimes wetness when wiping might be the only sign if any.