Potty Training & Road Trip

Updated on September 28, 2009
D.M. asks from Dallas, GA
17 answers

Hello Mama's!
My darling 2 year old daughter is potty training and she has the "pee pee" down pack. Does anyone have advise on Potty Training and Road Trips? We will be traveling to Disney for Christmas. I have 2 boys who, if we reached a long stretch, and no restroom facility was in sight, I would pull out an empty water bottle and they would go pee and be done. 1)Any recommendations on travel potty? 2) Also, how do you handle when the have to go #2? I would hate to put the pull up on her, but it seems like the most sense to me right now? Now, I remember, I would put it on my son and he just would hold it, until we could get to a bathroom. But that would make his tummy hurt and then back him up! It would make me sad and hurt for him! Help!

Thanks in advance!

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So What Happened?

Thanks to all you fabulous moms who responded with your Awesome suggestions & Encouraging words!! I love the idea of bringing the potty & lining the potty with the plastic bags in our vehicle. OUr mini van will accomodate the space for running around on the weekends. I also will be going to purchase the Ikea potty for our road trip since the one we currently have is a bit bulky & takes up space for a long trip. I will let everyone know how it goes when we return from Disney!! Thank you again.

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F.N.

answers from Savannah on

What type of vehicle do you have? We had a van years ago when my youngest daughter was 2 or 3 and we carried the potty in the van with us. Usually she didn't do no. 2 but if she did, we would stop at a rest area or some place that had a bath room and dump it there.

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L.C.

answers from Atlanta on

I like the idea of the inexpensive IKEA potty and putting a plastic bag as a liner. I use to drive around with a potty training "kit" in addition to the potty. It had wipies, disinfectant spray (for odor), paper towels, toilet paper and ziploc bags. This was so I could be prepared for #2 whenever necessary. I'd pull over when needed, let them do their business, clean up and drop the ziploc with all the yucky stuff inside the closest trash can. This saved me a lot of time (finding a "clean" toilet, getting everyone out, etc.) and we didn't have to suffer with the smell.
Have fun in Disney!

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V.E.

answers from Atlanta on

A road trip is no reason to go backwards. Take along a folding potty chair for her and it should take care of everything. We even took the large coffee can with the lid and our girls had no problem going p in that and we just put the lid on until we had a place to dump it. You could also take one of the pottys that fit on the commode and take in with you at rest stops. You would not want to use adult diapers for yourself just because of a road trip so don't expect her to either. Locate the bathrooms at your destination and give her adequate time to go as needed. Stay away from beverages like colas or tea and they should be able to make the rest stops for the bathroom. V.

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A.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Please, please, please do not put a pull up on your dd. You are trying to teach her to go to the restroom, and then are willing to take a huge step back and say "never mind everything that we have talked about. Now, I want you to use the pullup because it is easier for me right now." They make a blow up potty that might be convenient for your trip. You put plastic bags on/in the potty for easy removal. I will look to see if I can find you a link for it. You still have time before your trip to work more of #2, so hopefully by the time for your trip dd will have it down pat as well which will make it easier for your trip.
Good luck and enjoy your trip to see Mickey!

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K.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Have you considered cloth trainers? These might be a great option especially when traveling. You could also purchase a wet bag to store any accidents in. Check them out at my site if you'd like at www.balterbaby.com

Thanks,
K.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

This one is driving me nuts, but I just suck it up and introduce my 3 year old to the gas station bathroom. I try to stick to large travel plazas and fast food restaurants where (certainly not always) but most of the time it's better than a random gas station. Since he's a boy I do let him go on the side of the road a good bit, and I would do that with a really little girl too (being able to pee outdoors has actually served me well as an adult!). Although it's not a lot of fun, just take several easy-to-reach changes of pants and undies and be prepared to pull over. There are disposable kiddie toilet-seat covers out there too.

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J.S.

answers from Atlanta on

Plan your trip. Go to Chik Fil A 's website and they have a place where you type in your starting and ending points and it tells you all the restaurants along the way. Call ahead because somtimes they may be in a mall. I use my regular potty in the car, but put a zip loc in the cup so I can trow out the mess. While at disney I used a foldable potty seat I got from Toys R Us for about $10. It fold up small enough to put in a gallon zip loc bag. That way the butt never touches the real toilet seat.

Have Fun!

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M.C.

answers from Savannah on

I bought a little IKEA potty that looks like the mini Baby Bjorn. It's one piece, super easy to clean and we leave it in the car. We use it all the time. We just clean it out with some Lysol wipes. If your kid needs to do #2, just line the potty with a plastic bag, then tie up the mess and throw it out. The IKEA potty cost me $3.99--much cheaper than the mini Baby Bjorn.

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J.D.

answers from Charleston on

Hi! We actually took a trip to Disney earlier this month with the kids potty training...they did great! We did put pull-ups on them in the car, but stopped every couple of hours and made them sit on the pottys we brought with us. It was no big deal. They were dry the whole way. But you can't ask if they have to go, you have to tell them this is what we're doing at this stop. And at Disney, there are restrooms everywhere. We just took them to the "big potty". Have a great trip!

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A.P.

answers from Spartanburg on

Hey! Well..I'm wondering why if you've had 2 you're asking for our help? lol...we should be asking you!!
It sounds like you are doubting yourself and you already know the answer. As much as it sucks, there are no other ways to do it. If she is almost done training now, hell even started she should DEFINENTLY be able to hold it for a few miles until you can either pull over (safely) or get to a restroom. She is already 2? I would NOT put a pullup on her for ANYTHING!! Truth be told, you should already have her trained and ready to go. She definently should have NO problem waiting a few minutes in december.
The only thing you're doing by putting a diaper (in any form) on her, is enabling her to continue peeing on herself & teaching her its ok. And obviously, its not, unless you want you're 5 yr old wearing a diaper to kindergarden!!
Good luck & have fun on your vaca!!
~~~Nicole

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J.M.

answers from Atlanta on

The best thing to do in your case, is carry along a potty chair. I know they are old fashioned but in an emergency they do come in handy.
This way no more pull ups!
You can even have a big towel handy to use as a "privacy screen". Don't forget to praise praise praise!!!
Good luck on your trip and have a ball!
Best Wishes...Nana

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E.B.

answers from Lakeland on

I highly recommend the "potette." It's a collapsable potty with little bags that absorb the pee (and poop.) It's GREAT. My daughter who is 3, and fully trained, still uses it when we're on the road or at a park without bathrooms. Build in plenty of potty breaks every 3 hours or so. Also, you can get a "piddle pad" which is a product that goes on the carseat (only where their bottom is) and will protect the seat if they have an accident. Both the Potette and Piddle Pad can be found online or at Toys R Us stores.

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M.K.

answers from Savannah on

I bought a Potette Plus at toys r us it's a portable potty that has legs that fold out to use as a childs seat on a regular toliet or legs fold down so they can use it anywhere. It also has plastic bag liners to catch the mess. I keep it in the car to this day for emergencies. I like it because the legs fold down and it doesn't take up much space. The little potty, a thing of wipes and hand sanitizer and off we go! Good luck!

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J.D.

answers from Atlanta on

Hey there! You could go to Sears or an outdoor store that sells a lot of camping supplies and get on of their camping potties. I have one and it works great! Or just get your freestanding potty seat out and bring it. She, and the boys, could just use that in the car, and you could dump it before you pulled back onto the road. I like the camping potty because it seals shut, and you can just dump at the end of the trip. But I also like stopping to stretch every 2 hrs, and just get the kids to go then, regardless of the whining everyone loves to walk around the rest stop or store:)

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S.G.

answers from Savannah on

Yes, the Ikea potty is great!! I got one for my son when he was potty training because of the oval shape and it is small too! My son decided to potty train while we were in IN for Christmas so we had a long drive back let me tell you!! We stopped about every 2hrs and I had him go then or at least try. It never failed that he wouldn't go when we stopped but of course had to 10 mins after getting back on the road!! We just kept driving. I had him wearing pull ups and diapers even though he was in underware for a week. He did have accidents along the way and we just didn't make a big deal out of it. I was afraid he would regress after we got back home but he didn't. He was 2 1/2 at the time!! I never used a potty chair in the car either. I always put him on a regular potty and held my hands under his arms to keep him steady on the seat.

Good luck and have fun at Disney!!
S.

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J.O.

answers from Atlanta on

A potty in the car is a must. Make up a kit: potty, regular shopping bags or small garbage bags, and wipes. One great tip is to cut some diapers in half (most everyone has some "leftover" ones in sizes kids have outgrown) and use a half to line the bag making the bag much less messy and smelly.

Stop often. Offer them a drink a short while before you plan to stop to guarantee they will go once you stop. Success!

Most kids won't care if you put a pull-up on in the car to save yourself some messes. If they mind though, you shouldn't do it.

Enjoy the trip!

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C.M.

answers from Macon on

I've had friends who would take the potty with them and just pull into a parking lot or something. Our daughter hated to ride in the car, so we didn't go very far when she was at that stage, so didn't have that problem myself. Best wishes.

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