Potty Training on the Go for a Boy-what Do I Do?

This will probably be the silliest response you get....but I have 2 boys and it never failed.
get a Propel bottle (the flavored water) - the neck on those bottles is nice and wide. If you have a restroom, it becomes his personal urinal that you can just dump in the toilet and rinse out....for the car, if you can pull over it keeps him from needing to stand on the side of the road, he can stand up in the car and use it. I kept one in the car forever! I know it sounds crass, but we never had an accident in public after that.

Our little girl was terrified of regular toilets when she was newly potty trained so we got the Baby Bjorn Little Potty (http://www.google.com/products?q=baby+bjorn+little+potty&... ). To make matters worse, she was less than 2 1/2 and she's very small for her age so a regular toilet was even more daunting. We keep the little potty in the car and she loves using it. Even though she's fine with toilets now, we still have it in case we're going to friends for the night or are driving awhile and away from bathrooms.

Another option is a toilet ring. They do make folding ones, but I've read good and bad things about them, so we only got a regular one (http://www.google.com/products?q=baby+bjorn+toilet+traine... ). Even if you don't use the ring when you're out, it's great practice for them to learn how to use the toilet and feel confident. Once she saw her friends using a toilet ring and she learned that toilets aren't so scary, she will use regular toilets all the time we're out now. Even on vacation, she could care less about using the toilet ring, and just used the toilet (of course at home she still prefers her potty).

As for pull-ups in the car... you know how well he can hold it. If he hasn't had an accident for awhile and is really good about telling you when he needs to go, then he'll probably be fine in the car. It's amazing how quickly they learn how to hold it for a little while and we've even had to make our little girl wait a half hour or more if we were on our way home and stuck in traffic. The main thing to do is try to make him go before leaving (I know that they sometimes just won't) and remind him that you'll be in the car for awhile and will have to wait to go potty if he doesn't go now. He'll probably be fine. Worst case scenario, you'll have to wash his car seat cover. I was freaked out about the idea that she might pee in the car, but my friend said, "So what? Wash the cover," and it put it in perspective for me. It's no different from the newborn days when there was poop blow outs and milk pukes all the time - in fact, it's just a little pee. ;-) Good luck! I know how hard it is helping them with their fears at this age.

One of the things I did for my son that worked was I put him on the potty facing the back, so he didn't feel like he was going to fall in, the only challenge was we did have to take one shoe and pant leg off so he could straddle the toilet that way. My Daughter did the same thing for a while, but her fear is mostly the Auto flush toilets, and if you put a post-it note over the sensor they don't go off on their own. If your son is worried about Germs, you could carry a small bottle of disinfectant spray, and spray the toilet down. My 4 year old daughter only objects to Porta potties now, and I'm not sure how to get past that one, because I don't like them either. :) LOL

Hi S.,
My son was potty trained by 2.5 yo. He didn't like using the public toilets too because of the loud noise. Here are few things that helped us. First, no pull ups, this is like telling him that it is OK to go in his underwear. For number 1 I used to get him to step on my feet, so he can reach. If there is a chance that he can do it somewhere outside I will let him do it in "the bushes". He really liked doing it out side. When he got potty trained we were in Europe and that is OK there and it really helped. So, we brought the habit in the States and I did reduce it gradually. Another thing he likes is to pee in a empty plastic bottle. There was a period that we would take an empty bottle even in the public bathroom with us, so he can do it in it. He liked to see the results and talk about the amount and the color. Keeping an empty bottle in the car will help when you are on a long trip. There will be at least another year before his nervous system is developed enough to give him an "early warning" and 40% of the kids (especially boys) don't get there until age of 6. And for the "aiming" just bring along some "Fruit Loop Cheerios", they are colorful, cheap and make the perfect target. For number 2 we bought a plastic folding sit and I would still cover the toilet sit before I put my sit on top. (I'm germs freak!) It helps to keep your sit clean and to avoid any "splash back" from the toilet. Buy the one with the soft vinyl cover, the ones that are just plastic can pinch his bottom. I love ours and we still using it. Hope I was helpful. Good luck!

I'm sure you've heard over and over to not push the potty training. I have to admit that I pushed my 4 1/2 year old a bit and we had a bit of a set back. Everything returned to "normal" as soon as I decided that he'd use the toilet when he was ready.

I have two bits of advice. First, take the pull-ups off. This lets your son know that you trust him and that accidents are ok and normal. (The car seat is plastic under the washable cover.) Throw an extra pair of underwear and pants into the car "just in case". Second, purchase toilet seat covers. Most restrooms have them, but when they don't, you can whip out one of your own. Yes, public restrooms can be filthy, so teaching him how to deal with it will help in the long run.

Hope this helps.

We didn't put my son in a pull up because it gave him an excuse to use one. We live 30 minutes out of town so this was a BIG worry of mine too. I have one of those little potty chairs (I like the Royal one the folds into a step stool). I keep it in the back of my car (I have a stationwagon so he can just sit in the back and pee but you could put it on the ground next to your car also). My friends who have little kids all have one in the back of there cars, minivans & SUVs. They come in handy for all sorts of things...like parks with out bathrooms, etc.
Best of Luck!

In public toilets parents often take kids in to the large handicap stall. The toilet is often much higher in this stall. I take my son into a regular one, and if it is still to high, I have him stand on my feet while I stand behind him. If he needs a little more boost, just lift the front of your feet a bit. I would not recommend putting him in a pull-up when you go out because it could make him feel like he is expected to fail. I used to bring an extra pair of pants and a pull-up just in case he had an accident, but would let him wear his underwear until an accident actually happened. You can also put a towel in the car so if he does pee in his car seat you can put the towel down until you can get home to wash the cover. As for learning to stand up to pee, this was hard for my oldest. What worked was taking him for hikes and letting him pee outdoors in the woods with Daddy. He thought it was funny to pee on rocks or different plants and trees, and as a result lost his fears and could then pee standing up into a toilet.

Best of luck and Blessed Be.

That's a pretty complex question, and one a lot of parents must consider. Especially with the appalling condition of some restrooms.

Here are some devices that may help:
Baby Bjorn travel potty. Smaller, stable.
Foldable child size toilet seat. Look online for this.
Check out the One Step Ahead site. Something may appeal to you there.

The Propel bottle idea listed earlier is great. Kind of an updated version of the circa 1970's coffee can in the car. We had one in ours for emergenies and carsickness.

One other thing to consider: Ask your son what HE'D like to do. See what he might suggest that would feel comfortable for him. Does he want to wear underwear or a diaper while he's out of the house? Toilet learning is very challenging, and some kids are far more comfortable working on these skills at home. Ask that open-ended question, does he want to try using the toilet while he's out? See what he has to say. Children are likely to feel better about a challegning learning process when they have some say in the matter and are listened to.

Keep patient, too, he will grow out of this!

I hate to say it, but he won't be big enough to stand and use a public toilet for several years. Start having him use the big potty sitting down at home. He'll get used to it. Then either use antibacterial wipes on the toilet seat (keep them in your purse) or use a toilet seat cover. Your fear has transferred to him in using public toilets...now you will have to convince him it's really ok. It's all part of toilet training.

This may seem strange but it worked with one of the kids in my daycare. Have him make a sign for his favorite store or place and put it above the toilet at home. Then pick out some of the disposable potty covers for kids, let him help. Also check around you may be able to find a fold-up lightweight stool he can use to reach public toilets. Some kids also don't go in public until 5 or 6 but are comfortable at home and school. My daughter is the opposite, she loves to try out every public toilet she can and is almost always dry in public, but at home she forgets.

I have a boy, who is potty trained as well (he will soon be three). Since we began, back in February, I have had him stand on the front of the toilet seat when we are in public. I of course stand right behind him, and sometimes I need to help him aim a bit (but that is mostly because he likes to be a troublemaker and tries to pee all over...) It works great for us. He touches NOTHING, I touch NOTHING...If he has to poop...that's another story, we just cover the seat well, and he sits...just part of life!!! I have never used pull ups, I always make sure he goes before we leave if it is going to be a long car ride.

Hello S.,
I know it sounds scary but if I were you I would just stop with the pull ups. If your son is dry at home he is almost certainly ready to be completely done with potty training and just be potty trained! I think the pull ups are more likely holding him back. My youngest has been completely potty trained for about 2 months now and he too doesnt like public restrooms. Everything just works itself out, dont stress. As a mom of 2 boys both completely potty trained before their 3rd b-days..I say this with love.. I think we Moms make it out to be more stressful than it really is:)!!
K.

One Step Ahead has a fold up toilet seat cover that is plastic. You can have him decorate it with his favorite stickers and then you just lay that on top of the public seat and he could sit on it. It folds up to fit in your purse and there is no splash guard, it's just a plastic seat that goes over the regular seat. I think the website is www.onestepahead.com Good luck, my 3 year old did the same thing. :)

You didn't say how recently your son was trained, but my son also was stressed for a few months when he was first potty trained. Eventually he got braver about public toilets (I'll have him sit sideways to hold on to the bar in the handicapped stall, and support his back with my hand to help him feel more confident), and then after seeing friends standing to pee, he's started getting more comfortable with that as well. We also had the issue with public toilets being too high, if you can find something he can stand on to boost him up a few inches, that can work better. We also kept with us for quite a while a fold up plastic potty seat that we could use in public restrooms, that was a help.

Good luck finding something that works!

My son is three years old also. We were recently in this same predicamant. Has your son ever peed outside yet? That helps tremendously if you are in the car and don't feel he can hold it long enough to make it somewhere to use a toilet. The first time I had my little guy do it, I pulled off the road and was near a chainlink fence with dirt on the ground. He felt funny at first, but then thought that "making mud" was cool. As for the public toilets being too high... when this is the case with us, I have my son stand on my feet, which boosts him up a little, and I support him under his armpits. I've taught him that we flush these toilets with our feet, which I have to lift him up to do, but it is part of the fun for him and seems to distract him from being afraid. I hope some of these tips can help you guys out! Good luck.

I have a three year old son that is done potty training. I had him practice standing to pee in the backyard so that he wouldn't have to sit in public bathrooms. I also have him go to the bathroom right before we leave the house and if more than a 30 minutes ride have him try to go when we get to our destination. For him this helped a lot and when we were in a public place he started going to the bathroom.

My husband and I also got him a very small $2 or less prize for going to the bathroom in public. I hope this helps and have a wonderful day!

I got a little childs potty seat and kept it in my van, i put a little garbage sack to line the potty so it was easy clean up. worked fabulous! Hopes this helps ya!! Also good for when you can't get to the bathroom and your on the road...Pull over, and walla! Portable bathroom.

I think that everyone who has children of potty training age can benefit from a great product called the WeeMinder. It helps in many areas. Children fall in love with Wally the Wallaby from the book and DVD and are given a watch to wear that plays the "Hop to the Potty Place" song every hour, two hours or two and a half hours to make Potty Training fun and the child feels in control. The child is positive and confident and the parent follows in step and fear is gone. The parent just encourages and it is amazing how much fun it is. The child is no longer holding back fighting you-they are now leading you to the potty and showing you how it's done! I found it at www.weeminder.com.

It was the last hurdle to get my son potty trained in public, too. He turned 4 in July and is finally able to handle it on his own.

I would try a potty ring that you could set on a public toilet...use it first at home and toss it in your bag when you're out. It's easier for older kids (my son is tall, the potty seats didn't work for him after awhile) and helps give them security on a big toilet. It has little handles on the side they can hold onto, so it helps with germs.

You could also make a game out of standing up and peeing...put cheerios in the toilet bowl and have him aim for them. ;) Good luck!

S.,

My son will be five in a couple of weeks and we've only had him trained since the beginning of this year. He was pretty late in the potty training, but we had some major setbacks along the way.

We did, and still do, have him go potty right before we leave, and then again when we get there. All public toilets aren't as clean as the ones at home, but they aren't a stinking hole in the ground either. He's making a big deal about the "nasty public toilet" because you are. If you don't make a big deal about it, neither will he.

I've had that pointed out to me by my kids almost everyday while they are playing. They might fall off the couch or do something else that I think might make them cry and they just get up and keep going like nothing happened. Then there are the times where they trip over their own two feet and I think it's nothing and they look to me to see if they should start screaming or not. Those are the times where I put a smile on my face and and make light of what happened. They so very much take our cues from us.

Hope this helps,
Melissa

I am in the thick of what you are talking about with your son. I found that when we were out and I put a pull up on that he would just pee in the pull up. I think they are just glorified diapers in my opinion. I ordered from one step ahead what is called a Dri Days training pants. If he accidently goes it really hold the pee in the training pants. When we are out I have him go every hour and either use the public potty (if it's too high I just let him stand on the toilet seat and he likes that) or I use this great traveling potty called on the go potty and then I can have him just use it in the car. After using the Dri Days training pants for a couple of weeks when we are out I was able to stop using them and now I know he knows the routine and he doesn't have any accidents. If you have any questions please email me!

I am sorry to have to ask this, but your three year old is too heavy to pick up? I also have a three year old son. When we go to the potty in a public restroom, I just hold him up by under his armpits, just high enough so he can go potty. I've been doing this since I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter (5 months ago). It's really not that bad. This way, they aren't touching the toilet at all. Good luck.