Diapers at 5?

Hello:

My son is 5-years-old and will be entering Kindergarten this fall. Although my son has been potty trained since the age of 4, he still finds certain aspects of dressing himself difficult. This is especially true when it comes to him being able to button his pants.

I'm extremely concerned about him being able to use the restroom during the day when he enters Kindergarten. I don't see how he'll be able to use the restroom during the day if he'll be unable to get his pants back on. It's a bit odd for me to even consider, but do you think putting him in diapers during the school day may be an option?

Since he wears pants with elastic at the waist at home, toileting is currently not an issue. However, he will be attending a private school which requires him to wear a uniform. The uniform consists of a shirt, tie, and pants which have to be buttoned.

I was hoping to hear from other parents concerning the use of diapers in this situation. At this point, I'm not really sure what to do.

Thanks for your time.

Dad76

Feel free to email me at:

In Message-ID: posted on Sun,
21 Aug 2005 14:29:43 +0100, Dad76
wrote:


Hello:

My son is 5-years-old and will be entering Kindergarten this fall.
Although my son has been potty trained since the age of 4, he still
finds certain aspects of dressing himself difficult. This is especially
true when it comes to him being able to button his pants.

I'm extremely concerned about him being able to use the restroom
during the day when he enters Kindergarten. I don't see how he'll be
able to use the restroom during the day if he'll be unable to get his
pants back on. It's a bit odd for me to even consider, but do you
think putting him in diapers during the school day may be an option?

Since he wears pants with elastic at the waist at home, toileting is
currently not an issue. However, he will be attending a private school
which requires him to wear a uniform. The uniform consists of a shirt,
tie, and pants which have to be buttoned.

I was hoping to hear from other parents concerning the use of diapers
in this situation. At this point, I'm not really sure what to do.

Get a pair of those pants and practice with him. Often.

Most schools, particularly private schools, will not allow diapers.
Also, this would be quite strange and embarrassing for him if he is
potty trained now and not wearing diapers. I would be concerned about
regression if he is forced to wear diapers during the day.

Is the school aware that he is not able to completely dress himself?
Many schools insist on this as a prerequisite, as a way of "weeding
out" those who may not be ready to start Kindergarten (especially in
crowded districts), and to prevent the situation you have just
described.

"Dad76" wrote in message
news

Hello:

My son is 5-years-old and will be entering Kindergarten this fall.
Although my son has been potty trained since the age of 4, he still
finds certain aspects of dressing himself difficult. This is especially
true when it comes to him being able to button his pants.

I'm extremely concerned about him being able to use the restroom
during the day when he enters Kindergarten. I don't see how he'll be
able to use the restroom during the day if he'll be unable to get his
pants back on. It's a bit odd for me to even consider, but do you
think putting him in diapers during the school day may be an option?

Since he wears pants with elastic at the waist at home, toileting is
currently not an issue. However, he will be attending a private school
which requires him to wear a uniform. The uniform consists of a shirt,
tie, and pants which have to be buttoned.

I was hoping to hear from other parents concerning the use of diapers
in this situation. At this point, I'm not really sure what to do.



Teach him to pee through his fly, or take these last few weeks at home to
work buttons. Some uniform pants, especially those in smaller sizes, have
elastic on the sides that make them able to be pulled down fairly easily.
As for bowel movements, chances are he won't go at school - would you really
want him to poop in a diaper at school anyway? Using a diaper would be a
very bad idea.
What kind of school makes a kindergartener wear uniforms?

In Message-ID: posted on Sun,
21 Aug 2005 14:29:43 +0100, Dad76
wrote:

Since he wears pants with elastic at the waist at home, toileting is
currently not an issue. However, he will be attending a private school
which requires him to wear a uniform. The uniform consists of a shirt,
tie, and pants which have to be buttoned.


Why can he not button the pants? Is this just something that he
hasn't had to do yet? If so, practice with him.

If he has some disability that makes buttons difficult, I would think
that you could tailor the trousers so that they would be easier to
button (make the button hole a little bit larger and then do extra
button stitch so it didn't fray), or would not require buttoning (put
an elastic gusset in so that they look like they button, but really
don't).
grandma Rosalie

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 14:29:43 +0100, Dad76
wrote:


Hello:

My son is 5-years-old and will be entering Kindergarten this fall.
Although my son has been potty trained since the age of 4, he still
finds certain aspects of dressing himself difficult. This is especially
true when it comes to him being able to button his pants.

I'm extremely concerned about him being able to use the restroom
during the day when he enters Kindergarten. I don't see how he'll be
able to use the restroom during the day if he'll be unable to get his
pants back on. It's a bit odd for me to even consider, but do you
think putting him in diapers during the school day may be an option?

Since he wears pants with elastic at the waist at home, toileting is
currently not an issue. However, he will be attending a private school
which requires him to wear a uniform. The uniform consists of a shirt,
tie, and pants which have to be buttoned.

I was hoping to hear from other parents concerning the use of diapers
in this situation. At this point, I'm not really sure what to do.

Thanks for your time.

Dad76

Feel free to email me at:

Assuming you're not a troll.....
No, I definitely would not put a child back in diapers. Your best bet
is to teach him how to button his pants back up, or alter them by
putting elastic in, but letting the button and fly remain.

Nan

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 14:29:43 +0100, Dad76
wrote:

I'm extremely concerned about him being able to use the restroom
during the day when he enters Kindergarten. I don't see how he'll be
able to use the restroom during the day if he'll be unable to get his
pants back on. It's a bit odd for me to even consider, but do you
think putting him in diapers during the school day may be an option?

No, do NOT put a 5 year old in diapers if he is already trained.
Buy him pants that don't need to be buttoned and unbuttoned instead.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..

The Outer Limits

I agree with other posters about not putting him
in diapers, but modifying the pants. You can buy
a bigger size of uniform, leave the button done up
all the time, and sew elastic on the sides.
You can shorten the pant length by folding them
up and sewing them like that, and then when he
gets older you can remove the elastic and
lengthen the pants again. (They might look
funny after re-lengthening if they got worn out a bit, though.)

To practice doing up buttons: you could make
things like I've seen at some kindergartens, for
him to practice on now. You get a piece of cardboard
and attach a piece of cloth on each side. One has
a huge button, the other a huge buttonhole.
You can have other ones with zippers, velcro,
little hooks etc. It can be like a game, to
do up and undo all the thingies.
Once he masters the huge button, you can give
him one with a slightly smaller button
to practice on, etc.

He may benefit from some guidance: telling him
for example that the button usually goes through
edge-first; that before unbuttoning
you have to move the button so that it's centred,
which can require sort-of holding your breath
to make your waist smaller; and that placing one
thumb on the opposite side of the cloth from the
button can help. Or, maybe just practicing lots
of times will get him doing those things without
needing to be told or even to think about it.
--
Cathy Woodgold
http://www.ncf.ca/~an588/par_home.html
We are all Iraqis now.

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 14:29:43 +0100, Dad76
wrote:

Since he wears pants with elastic at the waist at home, toileting is
currently not an issue. However, he will be attending a private school
which requires him to wear a uniform. The uniform consists of a shirt,
tie, and pants which have to be buttoned.

Practice the buttoning and unbuttoning. Get the pants early and
put them on him at home so he has a chance to practice. Or, buy
them big enough where he can pull them down without unbuttoning
them.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..

The Outer Limits

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 19:29:11 GMT, "dejablues"
wrote:

What kind of school makes a kindergartener wear uniforms?

Public schools here have uniforms in all grades.

Private schools do too.


--
Dorothy

There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..

The Outer Limits

You may want to check with the school on uniform requirements. I know that
the belt rule at the school I used to teach at was waived for young students
who couldn't manage it.

In addition, rest assured that kindergarten teachers are more than capable
of helping a child with clothing who needs it. If the uniform is difficult
for one kindergartener, it's probably difficult for many. I don't know of a
single non-special needs student who went to school with diapers at age 5,
but I know many who had toileting accidents a few times in kindergarten,
which was no big deal.

--
Donna DeVore Metler
Orff Music Specialist/Band/Choir
Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP
And Allison Joy, 11/25/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor)