Potty training your toddler while you’re out and about

Potty training your kid doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself in the house. Follow these tips for potty training on the go, and your little one will be accident-free in no time.

If your kid has just started out on the potty training journey, you may find yourself with a serious case of cabin fever. How do you leave the house with your tot without risking messes or regressing back to diapers? Not to worry: Toilet training doesn’t mean your family has to stay sequestered until the process is done. By training your toddler on the go, you teach her to adapt to all kinds of different situations. Follow these tips on how to potty train when going out, and your family will be enjoying diaper-free, accident-free adventures in no time.

Bring a Backup Bag

Congrats, you’re done with the diaper bag days—but you should still pack a backup outfit for your kid whenever you’re venturing away from home. Keep a small tote stocked with a change of clothing for him (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) and even shoes if you have a pair to spare. There’s nothing worse than trying to manage an accident when all your kid has are soiled clothes.

Keep a travel pack of wet wipes in your bag too, to help with clean-up in the event of an accident. And make sure you bring along a bag for wet clothes. A spare grocery bag works great for keeping your tot’s dirty outfit contained until you get home.

Pack a Travel Potty

How many times have you driven down the highway and seen a little one making a pitstop on the side of the road? While emergencies do happen, you can avoid putting your family in an unsafe situation by taking along a portable potty.

With the 2-in-1 Go Potty with Travel Bag, you can you have your little one pop-a-squat in the back of your car, using disposable bags with absorbent pads to keep waste contained. The fold-out legs allow you to secure the seat over public restroom seats or place it over your own seat at home. By using the potty at home too, your tot can rely on the familiarity of his regular seat wherever he goes.

Resist the Diaper Crutch

A tricky part of potty training when going out is knowing how to dress your little one. As much as you may want the security of a diaper or pull-up when leaving the house, resist the urge. Commit to keeping your kid diaper-free during the day throughout the potty training period, and stick with that plan, even when you’re leaving the house. Putting your tot in a diaper when you’re running errands sends mixed messages and can set back the toilet training progress.

Make Lots of Potty Visits

It’s not magic, but it does take a little planning to have an accident-free excursion early in the potty training process. Set your little one up for success by having a rough idea of where you’re going and how long you’ll be out. Try to make your first few trips short ones to get your toddler used to being outside the home without a diaper.

Before leaving the house, have your toddler try to use the bathroom. Once you arrive at your destination, head directly to the restroom to see if your little one has to go. Whether you’re out shopping, dining or visiting, make sure you take your little one to the bathroom again before heading home, to avoid emergencies or accidents on the trip back.

These frequent toilet visits may sound excessive, but they serve several purposes. Not only are you getting your little one used to visiting the bathroom in different places, but you’re also providing plenty of opportunities for her to empty her bladder, raising the odds of an accident-free adventure.

Accept That Accidents Will Happen

If there’s anything you can count on when you’re potty training your tot, it’s that accidents will happen from time to time. By anticipating this reality, you’ll be prepared in the event of a potty emergency. Bolster yourself, channel your patience, and realize that the only way to tackle the fear of leaving the house, sans diaper, is to put yourself out there and give it a go. You and your kid will be pros at this in no time.