Potty training on the go is a little bit like being a Boy Scout. No matter what your method is, you’ve got to be prepared. Try to get your child to use the bathroom before setting out on your trip, and make sure you’ve got everything you could possibly need before heading out the door. More clothes are better than not enough, and never leave the wipes at home. Here’s how you can be prepared for different situations. Most importantly, don’t forget to exercise the same patience while out with your child that you do when potty training at home.
Shopping
When shopping, some children are afraid of using the big potty. It’s loud in there, the toilet is large, the flusher is loud—who can blame them? You can help by bringing along a seat that fits in the regular toilet. This can be large and cumbersome, but since the diaper bag isn’t full of a lot of diaper paraphernalia anymore, chances are you can find a seat that will work. You never know when potty emergencies while shopping may actually work to your advantage. If your child loves a toy store, he may be reluctant to leave rather than giving in and using the public restroom. This can be a breakthrough for using the potty.
Visiting Friends or Family
When visiting friends, you’ve have a little more flexibility. You can bring a potty chair along as well as any dolls and books your child might enjoy while going to the bathroom. Just make sure you outfit your child with plastic pants or even pull-ups if you have a friend who is uncomfortable with accidents on furniture or floors. Make sure to explain to your hosts how you handle accidents and ask that they try to maintain a positive atmosphere for your child. Ask about any special bathroom issues. Is the toilet very loud? Is the toilet paper hard to reach from the toilet? Is the light easily accessible? Does the toilet have any problems flushing?
Driving
There are some great potty chairs available for road trips. There’s an inflatable potty (Inflate-a-Potty) that uses regular trash bags for liners. You can pull over and go right there if you’re not close to a gas station or rest stop. These chairs are inexpensive enough to equip every vehicle you own. Make sure you have changes of clothing and wipes handy just in case.
Concerts, Fairs, and Other Events
The inflatable potty will certainly work for these situations too, and there’s also a chair that folds up like a suitcase that your child can carry if you already have a load of stuff to carry.
