How to Handle Potty Training When Away from Home

When you are out at the mall, store, or gas station there is a big chance that chance your child will have to use the potty at some point in time. Here is how you can be prepared for such a situation. It may be tough at first to convince your child to use the potty in a new place. They maybe afraid, so your best chance is to go right into the stall with them rather than waiting outside the door. Most children being potty trained need help inside the stall anyway such as being wiped.
In most restrooms at stores the toilet is alot bigger than they are used to at home and the flusher is loud. There are certain things you can do to make things go smoother for your child.
First, you can help by bringing along a seat that fits in the regular toilet. If you're not up for that, then try kneeling beside your child while they are sitting and hold their hand or their body if they seem scared that they may fall in. Another thing to try -- sit as far back on the toilet yourself and then put your child in front of you. This may be alittle difficult, but whatever gets your child to actually go on the potty and not in their pants is good.

When visiting friends or family you have a little more flexibility. You can bring a potty chair along, as well as any toys your child might enjoy while going to the bathroom. Just make sure you equip your child with training pants in case if you have a friend who is uncomfortable with accidents on new furniture or floors. Make sure, too, to explain how you handle accidents and make sure that others are going to deal with it the same way you do in front of your child. Ask about any special bathroom issues, for example -- is the toilet very loud, is the toilet paper hard to reach from the toilet, is the light easily accessible or does the toilet have any problems flushing?

While driving there are some great potty chairs available for road trips. There's an inflatable potty that uses regular trash bags for liners. You can pull over and go right there if you're not close to a gas station or rest stop. These chairs are inexpensive enough to equip every vehicle you own. Make sure you've got changes of clothing and wipes around just in case, of course.