Like this post? Please share!
If you are potty training your little one, a vacation or trip can certainly throw a wrench into the progress. There are a few things you can do to help promote potty training while you are away from home and on vacation. Check out these tips to help you and your little one stay on track and not ruin the headway you’ve made.
Take a Potty With You
Be sure to take your little one’s favorite potty chair with you on vacation. Familiarity is very important when you are trying to potty train and stick to a routine. Keep the potty handy in the vehicle if you are driving so your toddler can use it when possible.
Take a Potty Seat
If taking the actual potty chair isn’t possible, a few weeks before vacation, start introducing your toddler to a potty seat that goes on top of a full-sized toilet. The seat is more portable and can be used anywhere, but since toddlers are creatures of habit to begin with, you will need to give them plenty of time to get used to the new seat.
Make Plenty of Potty Stops
Toddlers can’t hold it like adults can. Their muscles are not as developed so you will need to make plenty of stops for potty breaks. If you are driving to your destination, plan on allowing plenty of extra time for the trip so you can stop often to let your toddler use the potty.
Use the Potty Every Time You Stop
Never waste a stop. If you make an unexpected stop at a gas station or fast food restaurant, be sure to turn it into a potty break.
Use Disposable Training Pants During Travel
While you are out and about, you may want to consider putting disposable training pants on your little one. Even if he or she has been wearing cloth training pants or underwear, if they haven’t quite mastered the potty, you might want to use the disposables to guard against messy accidents.
Keep Extra Clothing Handy
Keep extra clothing handy in case of accidents. If everything is packed away and an accident happens, it can make it difficult to dig out what you need. Throw a couple of changes of clothing into a bag to keep close at hand, just in case.
Be Ready for Setbacks
When you’re going through the potty training process, setbacks will happen. Changes in the routine and even changes in environment can throw your little one off. Don’t make a big deal about it, just clean up any messes, accept that you need to start again with some things and move forward.
Potty training takes work and perseverance. It can be especially challenging when you are on vacation and away from home. Be patient and loving as you encourage your little one to keep at it. Be ready for setbacks and don’t make a big deal. Hug your toddler and enjoy your vacation whether they do great with the potty training or need to start over.
Have you had to endure potty training while on vacation? Have any additional tips to add?
Even when the kids were potty trained, I adhered to many of these rules. We still make everybody get out and go at all stops to stop the “I have to go NOW!” issues. You have a great list here – I never think about having to give your little one time to acclimate to a new potty chair seat.
I never had to potty train any children but as the adult driver for my friends and their young children YES–make as many stops as you possibly can before it is too late!! Of course the adults and the dogs need more stops then normal as well.
These are awesome tips for parents when traveling while potty training little ones. My dad had put a lil potty chair in the very back of our van when my sister was little. Thanks for sharing.