by Terry Baldwin

Created on: June 13, 2009

How to handle potty training while out?

It is a strong possibility that your child will need to go potty while you are shopping or visiting friends. Many parents are just tempted to put a pull up on their child and change it when needed, so they don't have to deal with accidents. This is simply sabotaging your own effort to get your kid out of diapers.

Potty training isn't any different than at home. It's just that the environment changes. Your toddler is no longer in the comfort of her own house. For some parents going out poses a problem, because their children refuse to go potty in an unfamiliar place. There are a few tricks to help your child to continue potty training while out and about.

1. Don't make it a big deal. Treat it as a normal thing (because it is) that sometimes everyone has to go potty in a public restroom.

2. Bring your child's own potty and a hand sanitizer. A potty seat that fits a regular size toilet would be best. If your toddler objects to use a regular restroom toilet because he is afraid of it, you can always bring his potty chair. You may have to have him go in your car, but that's better than soiling the diaper. If you don't want to lag a potty with you, most likely you will need to help your child to use the big toilet. You can either kneel in front of the toilet and hold him up, or sit on the toilet far in the back and hold him in front of you.

3. Offer a reward like a cookie or a lollipop. It is just a simple bribery, but it works with children very well. Just make sure to bring it with you, so you don't and up in a store buying a whole box of cookies, or a bag of lollipops. Children usually don't want to stop on one cookie and if you let him, your toddler might eat a bunch of them. And then he won't be able to eat lunch or dinner.

4. Always have a couple of training pants handy. Best, if you don't have to use them, but accidents happen and you don't want to cut your outing short and rush home.

5. Be supportive. Even if you are a bit stressed out about the whole potty training, never show it to your child. Remember, you were potty trained at one time, too. If you are kind and encouraging, the training will go much smoother.

No matter where you and your toddler go, potty training has to continue. You just have to remember that it won't go on forever. The more consistent and patient you are, the sooner it will be accomplished.

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