Traveling While Potty Training – Crazy or Possible?
If you find yourself traveling while potty training, rest assured it is entirely possible. There are many tools and techniques that will help get you and your little one through it and we’re going to go through them in this post.
We have potty trained one of our kids in our former home, and another while full-time traveling in our RV around the USA. We are about to start potty training our third child the same way and with the tips below, we’re not stressing it. We hope these tips can help you too whether you’re in an RV, or traveling some other way during this big milestone in your kid’s life!
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Why You Might Be Traveling While Potty Training
The first question you might ask is, “Why would I even be potty training while traveling?” If you are a full-time traveler like us and have a young child, it’s inevitable you’ll get to the point of needing to potty train. You might be in an RV like us, flying between destinations at a fairly quick pace, or slow traveling around the world.
Or you might have done most of your potty training at home, but the process is ongoing longer than you expected and now you have a trip coming up. Even if you’ve mostly completed your child’s potty training, you’ll need to be prepared for accidents during the trip and take some steps to make sure your kiddo continues to be successful in using the bathroom.
Preparation
If you’re starting from scratch and just beginning, preparation is key, and you’re in the right place. If you’re through the bulk of potty training and in the continuing to practice and maintenance stage, you can move on to the Continued Success While Traveling section below.
Is your child ready?
It’s good to make sure your child is ready. We potty trained our oldest child at 3 years old but my son already at 2.5. You’ll know best for your child and you can always back off and revisit a bit later if needed.
Getting Comfortable
Work on some body awareness and getting comfortable with the potty itself that you’ll be using. Since the potty and tools you’re using somewhere other than home might be new and different to your child, it’s good to help them feel comfortable.
Start Practicing
We had introduced a little potty slowly months before so he could sit on it when he wanted. We started by asking him if he wanted to use the potty and taking him when he said yes so he could start practicing.
Make it a Routine
Start making it part of the routine. When routines are different while traveling this could take a bit longer. We just started taking him to use the potty before and after nap time and bedtime. Once that was normal to him we thought he was ready for full on potty training.
Reward and Reinforce
You can consider doing a reward such as stickers or a little toy. While traveling you may want something easily portable that won’t clutter up your suitcase, so this may be a small sticker book, a consumable treat, or doing something fun together afterwards. Our kids would get a big sticker as a reward when they went or a little one for trying and could put them on a potty chart we made.
I also used the library as a resource to find various books and DVDs for kids about using the potty. While traveling you could use digital library resources through Libby, Kindle Unlimited, or streaming services like Amazon Prime Video. We especially liked Daniel Tiger and Elmo’s potty training episodes.
3 Day Potty Training
There are several opinions on potty training approaches. You might be taking a slower approach, letting your little one take the lead. As you travel, you’ll need to be prepared to continue at your chosen pace.
We’ve had great success with a 3 day method with two kids. I’d recommend it if your kid has done well through the preparation steps and seems ready, and if you have 3 days to set aside to focus entirely on potty training.
If you have travel coming up, you could do this quicker 3 day potty training approach and try to get it done before traveling. Alternatively, if you are traveling a bit more slowly and have the time at your current location, you can do this type of potty training while traveling.
Hold a Potty Party
As the day approaches, get your child excited that they will have a “Potty Party.” First thing in the morning have a special breakfast, make and put on paper crowns, and dance around. You’ll want to have bought a treat to use as rewards, such as M&Ms, and a salty snack like goldfish to encourage thirst.
I bought various juices my kids don’t usually get much of and made sure we were stocked up on milk. This will make sure your child will need to frequently use the bathroom and get a lot of practice. Show all these yummy things to your little one! Then it is time to begin!
Practice Peeing
We removed the rug from our RV’s main living area and set the potty in the middle of the floor. Our son could sit in a little camping chair without making too much of a mess if he had an accident or directly on the potty. We made sure he was drinking and snacking when he wanted. Then we passed the time watching shows and reading books.
We would set the timer for 15 minutes and at first would have him try to use the potty at that time. As time went on, we would ask him if he needed to use the potty then. If he said yes and used the potty we would reset the timer. If he didn’t, we would set the timer for a shorter duration and then try again.
If you’re traveling, you can get a foldable potty, or an insert for the toilet and take your child to the bathroom. We found it was easier not to have to go far though.
Phrases we used:
Remember to let us know if you have to use the potty.
Pee and Poop go in the potty.
Remember to listen to your body. (Thanks Elmo)
If you have to go potty, stop and go right away. Flush and wash and be on your way! (Thanks Daniel Tiger)
We can take a break (from reading / and pause the show) and use the potty.
Sometimes he used the potty when the timer went off, but often by reminding him to tell us he actually became very good at that and would just run to the potty when he needed to go. Every time he went he got an M&M as a reward. There were a few accidents here and there but then we just said “Oops accidents happen. Remember pee and poop go in the potty.”
Days 1 through 3
Day 1 he wore nothing from the waist down and we didn’t leave the RV. Part way through Day 2 we added pants. That day we went out once and we took the potty along but didn’t need it. We just walked around near the RV. Part way through Day 3 we added underwear under his pants.
The reason for doing Day 2 and 3 in that order was that I had read some kids will treat underwear like a diaper if added too soon. On Day 3 we went out twice around the RV.
Originally we thought we might keep diapers for sleeping and night train later, which is an option, but it worked out to do it all together for us. My daughter had been so into the idea of no more diapers during those 3 days that she didn’t wanted them at nap or night time anymore either.
My son fussed about it a few times but I was able to distract him and sooth him to sleep most times without one. In an instance where putting a diaper on was the only way to get him to sleep, we just regrouped and continued with no diapers during the next sleep.
Get Used to Pooping
I had read that learning to poop in the potty can be challenging for kids. They’re so used to going into the diaper that letting it fall away into the potty can feel like their insides are falling out. And that can be quite scary. So we tried to be especially understanding and encouraging.
We had to keep an eye out to make sure our kids didn’t try to poop in their pants. For a while there they would get upset about using the potty for this. We just kept trying and kept saying things like, it’s ok, just let it out. They would try standing or leaning on us as well. It was always a huge celebration when they succeeded. Eventually with practice this too became easier.
Continued Success While Traveling
By doing the following simple things and packing the necessary items, you can minimize issues when traveling while potty training.
Remind and Reinforce
You will still want to help remind your kids to use the bathroom. You can keep track of time and take them after a certain amount of time has passed. You’ll probably notice signs they might not be paying attention to such as the tell-tale potty dance. Kids can often use a little reassurance that their toys will still be there when they get back and it’s ok to take a break.
Keep little treats with you if it continues to be helpful. For a while my daughter would still get a goldfish as a reward for using the potty, until she just gradually stopped asking and forgot about the reward.
Bring the Right Tools
For instances where you aren’t near a public toilet, it is helpful to have a little potty along. We always had this in our car when we went out, so that we could pull over and let our kids use the bathroom if they had to. It’s also a good alternative because sometimes public bathrooms are really gross and I’ve seen kids refuse to use it for that reason alone. Travel versions fold down into a carrying bag as well.
For using a public restroom, you may want to bring disposable toilet seat covers so that you don’t have to worry about your kid sitting on a gross toilet or putting their hands onto one. If they are still too small to sit on the adult seat, bring a portable seat insert. There are versions that can fold up pretty small and go into a travel bag.
Finally, one of my kids was terrified the automatic toilet would flush and this hindered her using the bathroom. Bring little sticky notes to cover the sensor. In a pinch you can dampen a piece of toilet paper and use that instead.
Disposable or reusable bed pads are good to make cleanup after bedwetting easier to do. You could also place a small disposable pad in a car seat or stroller.
Also consider bringing an extra sheet with you if staying overnight somewhere. Lodging facilities will often only give you one set and getting a new set overnight if you need to swap out sheets could be difficult.
We’ve put all these recommended items in a curated Amazon shop potty training list for your convenience.
Know Where to Go
Before you go, look into where you can find bathrooms on your outings, in airports and transportation hubs you are traveling through, along your road trip route, and elsewhere so that you know where to go before it becomes an emergency.
I look on the websites of the places I am going, search Google Maps, or search the app store for a toilet finder app. Plan your route or itinerary with these locations in mind.
Book for Success
When you’re booking a flight, check out available seat locations and their distance from the onboard bathrooms. Adults may not necessarily want to be seated near the bathroom, but for little kids that need to go, closer is better.
Also, is there a shorter flight option? Or would a layover be better for your child if airplane bathrooms are problematic at all?
Expect Accidents
Accidents happen. If you expect it will happen at some point, you’ll be more likely to be prepared and to be able to stay calm and positive.
Bring a change of clothes, wipes, hand sanitizer, and a bag to put dirty clothes in so you can clean up after any accidents and then all move on to enjoying your travels.
Plan Ahead
If you find your child is regularly having accidents while sleeping like our kids did at times, you could try regulating their liquid intake in the evening. You can also get them up at night to go to the restroom once before you head to bed if there’s any question.
Have kids try to use the bathroom when you have the chance, such as before you leave the house, when you’re passing a public restroom, when stopping to fuel the car, before you leave a restaurant, before you board an airplane, or before the fasten seatbelt sign comes back on for the descent.
We wish you the best of luck potty training and traveling with your kids and hope it goes smoothly and peacefully for you! If you’re traveling by plane as a family you may be interested in our top essentials for air travel with kids.
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