Traveling with toddlers is an adventure, but throw potty training into the mix, and it can feel like navigating uncharted territory. Remember that moment on a cross-country flight when a kind stranger stepped in to help you manage a potty emergency with your 26-month-old? Those are the moments that highlight the unpredictable nature of toddlerhood, especially when you’re away from the familiar comforts of home. And if there’s one unsung hero that can truly save the day (and your sanity) during these travels, it’s the humble Travel Potty Seat.
Think about it: unfamiliar bathrooms in airplanes, restaurants, or rest stops can be daunting for newly potty-trained toddlers. The loud noises, strange smells, and different toilet sizes can easily trigger anxiety and accidents. This is where a portable potty seat becomes invaluable. It offers a sense of security and familiarity, no matter where your adventures take you.
Whether you’re embarking on a long flight or a simple road trip, managing potty training on the go doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are essential travel potty training tips, with a spotlight on how a travel potty seat can be your best companion.
10 Essential Travel Potty Training Tips
1. The Undisputed King: Travel Potty Seat
For toddlers just getting the hang of potty training, consistency and comfort are key. A travel potty seat provides that familiar and safe space they need, even in unfamiliar environments. Imagine navigating airport bathroom lines after a flight or needing a quick solution at the beach – a folding potty seat is a game-changer.
During a cross-country solo trip with a 26-month-old and a 6-month-old, a Potette portable potty seat proved indispensable. From airplane bathrooms (set on the changing table!) to public restroom floors, it was used everywhere. These seats are also perfect for parks, beaches, and restaurants. Having a portable potty seat for public restrooms ensures you always have a toddler-friendly option available.
Another excellent choice is a bumble bee travel potty, designed to seal pee and poop for disposal later. This type is especially useful in situations where immediate flushing isn’t possible, such as playgrounds or airports. For many parents, this travel potty seat becomes the best travel potty solution for its convenience and cleanliness.
In cars, a folding potty seat like the Potette is incredibly useful. Bathroom stops might be miles apart when you hear the urgent “potty!” call from the backseat. Having a travel potty seat ready in the car minimizes stress and potential accidents.
2. Backup is Your Best Friend
Whether it’s a short trip to the park or a long vacation, always pack extra clothes – at least two sets. Utilize wet/dry bags to keep clean clothes separate from soiled ones. One bag for fresh clothes and another to store a travel potty seat and any accident-related items is a smart organization tip.
Even after your toddler is reliably potty trained, accidents can happen, especially in new environments. For flights or train rides, consider packing a spare set of clothes for yourself too! Spills or accidents can happen to anyone, and being prepared ensures comfort for both you and your child.
When traveling by car, particularly in the early days of potty training, padding the car seat is a wise precaution. Cloth prefolds can add an extra absorbent layer, providing peace of mind during car journeys.
3. Preparation and Communication are Key
Toddlers thrive on predictability, and the world can be overwhelming for them. Preparing your child for travel, including bathroom expectations, can significantly reduce anxiety. Whenever you’re out, point out bathrooms as a gentle reminder of their availability.
Make it a fun game by challenging your toddler to spot the potty. This proactive approach makes them more aware and comfortable with the idea of using bathrooms outside of home.
Before a first flight after potty training, walk your child through the airport experience using pictures. Show them security checks, airport bathrooms with loud hand dryers and automatic flushers, airplane interiors, and even tiny airplane bathrooms. Talking through these scenarios beforehand can make the actual experience much smoother and less stressful. Knowing what to expect minimizes anxiety and promotes cooperation.
4. Taming Public Bathroom Fears
Automatic flushers in public restrooms can be terrifying for toddlers, sometimes leading to potty training regression. A simple trick is to carry Post-it notes to cover the sensor temporarily before your child sits down. This prevents unexpected flushes and reduces bathroom anxiety.
For noise-sensitive children, consider packing toddler headphones. These can muffle loud noises like hand dryers and automatic flushers, making public bathrooms less intimidating. Headphones can be useful in many travel situations, especially on flights.
5. Your Comfort Matters Too
Public bathrooms aren’t always pleasant, even for adults. If you have any bathroom anxieties, being tasked with potty training in less-than-ideal public restrooms can amplify them. Making yourself comfortable is crucial to avoid transferring your anxiety to your toddler.
Initially, using a travel potty seat inside the stall can provide a sense of control and avoidance of the public toilet directly. Gradually transitioning to potty covers or toilet paper on public toilets can help reduce anxiety over time for both you and your child. Potty training on the go can actually be a great way to become less squeamish about public restrooms in general.
6. Make it Fun and Engaging
Two-year-olds love independence, but sometimes they need help with tasks like handwashing, especially in public restrooms with high sinks and no step stools. Instead of just lifting them, make it playful. “Superhero legs” – pretending to be a superhero while you lift them to reach the sink – turns assistance into a fun activity, minimizing potential meltdowns.
7. Essentials at Hand
Keep wet wipes readily accessible for quick cleanups. Toddler poops, especially after trying new foods while traveling, can be sticky. Wet wipes are invaluable for thorough cleaning and can be used for many other travel messes. Store them in a zippered wet-dry pouch for convenience.
Hand sanitizer should also be easily reachable to ensure quick hand cleaning, preventing the spread of germs, especially before little fingers go into mouths. For road trips, a car organizer can keep all your potty training essentials – wipes, sanitizer, travel potty seat – neatly together in the trunk, ready for any pit stop.
8. Coconut Power for Smooth Sailing
Travel can often lead to constipation, even for adults. For toddlers, this discomfort can make potty training while traveling even more challenging. Incorporating full-fat coconut into their diet can help keep things moving. Coconut acts as a natural stool softener, making it easier for them to poop even in new environments.
Full-fat coconut is often more effective than high-fiber foods for promoting regular bowel movements in toddlers. When pooping is easier, it’s easier to encourage potty use. Coconut-based snacks, like fruit bars, are portable and travel-friendly, offering a tasty way to help with regularity while on the go.
9. Embrace “Travel Pants” When Necessary
Flying with a newly potty-trained toddler diaper-free isn’t always practical, especially during takeoff, landing, or tarmac delays when bathroom access is restricted. For air travel during the initial stages of potty training, pull-ups, or “travel pants,” can be a sensible compromise.
To avoid confusing your toddler, introduce pull-ups specifically as “travel pants.” Explain that while they are excellent at using the potty, airplane bathroom access isn’t always immediate. These “travel pants” are just for the plane ride, framing it as a special, temporary measure rather than a step back in potty training.
10. Celebrate Every Success
Travel with toddlers is full of surprises and new experiences, and potty training on the go is no different. Make it a team effort, and celebrate every potty success, big or small. High fives for making it to the potty on time reinforce positive behavior.
Singing a fun song while washing hands adds a joyful element to the routine. The memories of bathroom runs in new places, discovering different restrooms, and using the folding potty seat by the car become part of the travel adventure. These everyday moments are just as precious and memorable as the picture-perfect vacation highlights.
With a travel potty seat and these tips in your toolkit, you can confidently navigate potty training while traveling, turning potential stress into memorable family adventures.
