by Robin Tidwell

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: July 01, 2009

While potty training presents its own set of challenges, thinking about training a toddler while out running errands or visiting at someone's home can be overwhelming. Both parent and child can easily become distressed at the prospect and be tempted to give up.

If done correctly, potty training will take not much more than a month's time. This is not so long that one can't schedule visits or trips outside the timeframe, but parents usually need to go grocery shopping or would like to take the kids to the park or even to visit Aunt Mary at least once or twice.

Don't panic! Just like packing only the essentials in a diaper bag, or even forgoing a bag altogether for short trips of an hour or so, taking a potty-training toddler anywhere is really not a problem - if you do a bit of planning.

First, pack extra undies and wipes, just in case. Accidents happen, and more frequently if the little one is over-excited or in an unfamiliar place. And yes, that's undies, not diapers- a toddler who is being potty trained should be using undies. Diapers are designed to whisk away wetness, but undies add to the little one's discomfort and so provide more incentive to train.

As a word of assurance, however: using a diaper once in a while, such as during a somewhat lengthy car trip, will not set back training in any significant manner. If you can't bring yourself to forgo diapers altogether, you will not damage your child's chances of ever using the toilet. Many toddlers switch to diapers at night for a few months, until they are able to awaken themselves on cue; doing this occasionally during daytime hours will not be detrimental either.

Take the child to the bathroom just prior to leaving home. It might also be wise to limit liquids for a couple hours before then as well.

Finally, maintain the potty routine as much as possible. If you take your child to the bathroom every hour, stop every hour and do so again, regardless of where you happen to be at that time. Remember that toddlers only actually go about every two to three hours, but a break in routine can cause this to change.

Wherever you go, wherever you are, take your child to the bathroom first thing. He is familiar with his own bathroom, but not necessarily others. Just as adults are less comfortable in different surroundings, so are toddlers; toddlers are also more curious and easily distracted. Give your child a chance to get used to Aunt Mary's fluffy pink toilet seat cover.

If you're out running errands and your child has to go, either on schedule or because he tells you, go immediately to the nearest bathroom. Tell him about the bathroom, show him, and be prepared to wait as he checks out the place. He may or may not actually go, so plan on a return trip as soon as a few minutes later.

It's best not to plan a lengthy car trip or, heaven forbid, airplane travel, during the time of potty training. Overexcitement can lead to an overactive bladder, and one doesn't really wish to pull over every ten miles or continue disturbing other passengers every five minutes. Wait until this stage has passed because, sooner or later, it will.

Don't panic, don't become a recluse, but use common sense and regular bathroom breaks to alleviate the stress of traveling or going out with a training toddler. Potty training in itself isn't half the production that most parents anticipate or traumatize.

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