Logistics of Toddler Boys Using Public Bathroom

Updated on January 01, 2012
S.S. asks from Los Angeles, CA
20 answers

My son has recently been pee-trained but not yet poop-trained. He's in underwear and I took him to the bookstore today (our first outing since starting potty training a few days ago) and he did fine but he drank a lot of milk and so I tried to have him pee in the restroom before we left the store and it was a logistical nightmare! He doesnt like to pee sitting down and always pees standing up at home "just like daddy". Well, hes too short to pee standing up, so I stood him on the rim but that didn't seem to work. We left without peeing and luckily he was dry when we got home but for future outings, I"m wondering how this will work...do I carry a stepstool around with me?? What do you moms of sons do? For peeing and pooping? Thanks!

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C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

When my boys were that young - I held them up a bit instead of having them try and stand on the rim of the toilet. If they didn't like that - I told them they had to sit down to pee - so they would sit down as they didn't like my trying to pick them up!!

They WILL adapt! All will be good!

No need to bring stools with you!! :)

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J.Y.

answers from Chicago on

My son stands on my feet which works for almost every public toilet. When he is still too low I lift him under his arms so that he is high enough.

3 moms found this helpful

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T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I just lifted my son up to where his aim was good, no problem!

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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I'm not sure how to describe this, but I just lifted my son under the arms and used my knee and lower leg to support his tush and push his hips forward over the toilet.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

I used to stand behind my sons and have them stand on my feet.

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J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Stand him on the toilet seat? He probably won't like that much, either.

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S.Q.

answers from Bellingham on

Either find the parents' rooms with the child-sized toilets, or lift him and hold him under his arms while he's peeing. I remember doing this for my boys, and it was no problem.

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C.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

Mine stands on my feet. Works great and you can "guide" him if necessary.

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C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

hmm. i taught my son to go sitting down, to start with. maybe once he starts pooping on the potty he will "learn" how to do both while sitting down. i know you don't want to discourage him from going on the potty, but i would try to incorporate sitting down. otherwise maybe tell him that if he can't go in public (sitting down) then he will have to wear a pullup when you go out.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

usually just having my kid stand on my foot/shoe gave him enough height.

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J.✰.

answers from San Antonio on

Well I have recently learned that the larger stalls (handicapped - to fit me and him inside easily) have taller toilets. So going to the tight-fit stalls will give you a shorter toilet. But also, if I were in your predicament, I would likely have my son STAND on my feet. My son is 3.5 and has, in the past, stood on tippie toes to pee standing and also sat on the toilet to pee (with me holding him so he didn't fall in), when at home he does not normally sit on the toilet to pee.

2 moms found this helpful

M.B.

answers from Orlando on

a lot of places have the family restrooms, that will have shorter potties, i look for those. when my son was first trained i stood behind him and let him stand on my feet, it gave him the extra bit of height he needed.

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S.S.

answers from Washington DC on

This is going to sound strange....but I lifted him up under his arms and then grasped his feet between my knees and tilted him forward....this way I could help him aim.....I did not think of the standing on my feet thing. I will have to try that. They sell portable potty toppers that I bought for about $10 that we bring to grandparents houses so we don't fall in.

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J.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

When my son was young, I either had him stand on my feet or stand on the toilet seat.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

My son was trained at age 3, and was able to reach public toilets to stand and pee. If you can find a little foldup stepstool, that might be a good solution.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from Houston on

I just picked my son up and leaned him in a little to help him aim.

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D.B.

answers from Dallas on

I stood my little guys on my foot and lifted my foot a little. They were light, so I would help them balance with one hand, and use my other hand to balance myself on the stall wall. If they were heavier, I'd probably do what Thea S said. Good luck!

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

If you can't find a family restroom (with smaller toilets) just lift him under his arms to get the correct trajectory. That's what I did, anyway.
For poop--give the toilet seat a thorough wipedown with an anti-bac wipe and poo as usual!

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

We taught our son to pee sitting down. Right away. My husband was kind enough to model that for him.

The big toilets can be scary for kids. Especially the sound of the flushing. You can cover the automatic sensors with a post-it (if you carry those around) or drape it with toilet paper. I can't advise you in regard to standing-up... this was the reason we taught our son to sit on the potty first.

I waited until my son was ready (for him it was 3 yr. 4mo. old before I could see readiness... and then we were staying dry all day within a week) and then I helped him up onto the public toilets. I sometimes had to hold onto him to keep him from falling in, and other times, the toilet was small enough. This was for poop or pee. You can also put him in a diaper when you are out and then it won't be a big deal.. when you get home, have him sit on the potty first thing.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I sit them on the seat backwards and it's just like peeing standing up.

1 mom found this helpful
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