Mastering Potty Training on the Go: Helpful Tips for Success
Potty training is a huge developmental milestone for you and your child. Whilst it can be easier to potty train at home, there will come a time when you will have to take your little one on their next great adventure outside. Although the fundamental steps remain the same, we understand it can be daunting to continue potty training your child in unfamiliar settings.
Here are some helpful tips for every stage of the potty training journey when outside:
1. Before you have left the house
Potty training on the go preparations must start before you have left the house! Planning for your journey ahead of time will ensure that you and your little one are equipped with all the essentials to make the process run as smoothly as possible.
Some parents find it helpful to have a ‘potty training travel kit’ prepared for all their journeys. Inside this travel kit, it might be useful to have a change of clothing in case of accidents, flushable wipes, any books or props you use to help with potty training at home, and a resealable bag that can be used if clothing does become soiled after an accident.
It is also important to have a portable potty seat that can fit over most public toilets. The Potette Max & 3 Liners is the ideal travel potty. The full size portable potty can be folded flat and its 3-in-1 feature means it can be used as a potty at home (with the reusable hard-liner), travel potty (with the biodegradable disposable liners) or as a toilet trainer seat!
Designed with easy collapsible legs and unique rubberised feet for stability, this is the ideal potty for parents looking for to potty train on the go. It can be easily cleaned with household cleaner or antibacterial wash. Detach the legs for hassle free, hygienic sanitation. It was awarded Gold for ‘Best Potty and Toilet Training Product’ in the Made for Mums Award 2020.
2. Whilst out and about
You and your little one are about to set off on a great adventure - make sure to go the toilet before and after you’ve been outside. This will allow your child to go to the toilet in a setting that is familiar to them.
Once you are outside, it is important to know where the nearest available toilets are. This will means that if your little one tells you that they need to go to the toilet or they show signs that they may need to go, you can take them right away. Some parents like to make this step a game. For example, you could say to your little one ‘Hold my hand, and let’s see who can find the potty first.’
It can be difficult to remember that going to the toilet in an unfamiliar setting may be unsettling for a child. If your little one is finding this new process challenging, it can be useful to show them beforehand any changes they might face in public. For example, show your child how a hand dryer works or how a public toilet flushes - especially if the toilet has an automatic flush. These are things that can be noisy and a little bit scary for a young child. Showing them beforehand how to use them can make this process a little less intimidating.
If your child uses any potty training flashcards to help them with potty training, take these with you on your journey to keep some familiarity with the process. The Potette Potty Training Flashcards are a helpful, educational aid for your potty training journey that uses ‘Baby Sign’. Susan Wallace, our Potty Training Expert, has developed these amazing flash cards, offering visual help for every stage. Baby Sign is an effective way to help your child communicate, allowing your non-verbal little one to express their needs before they know how to use words. Better communication, in turn, leads to smoother interactions and fewer frustrations.
3. A final tip to make potty training on the go a success
Potty training whilst out and about is a big accomplishment for you and your little one. They deserve some praise - and so do you! Continue to praise your child when they successfully complete all the steps of potty training in and outside the home. This will remind them that the process is the same but that there may be slight adjustments to the steps when outside the home.
It is important to not shame the child if they do have an accident. Be mindful and try to remind them of the potty training process. You could say something like ‘Wee’s like the potty. Let’s try to get to the potty next time.’
Potty training when on the go can make some parents (and children!) feel nervous. However, there are lots of tips and tricks that can make the process smoother when out and about. Wherever your next great adventure is, enjoy it!