When You’re {Still} Potty Training On A Trip

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Oh potty training… That season of life that promises to only last a day or two, but ends up lasting months. A lot of people choose to really buckle down on potty training during the Summer. There seems to be a potty training mania that happens every year, especially if you are staring down the barrel of a Fall preschool requirement for potty trained kids only. Suddenly kiddo can’t just take their time to potty train, they need to do it NOW so you rush out and stock up on Pull-Ups® and hope for the best!

I love the character descriptions given by Pull Ups® for little potty trainers. My daughter was definitely the turtle: Content with not being potty trained, slow to warm up to the idea and stubborn.

Yep, that would be my kid. There are squirrels (always on the go, won’t slow down, love games), puppies (ready and willing, work well with habits), owls (determined, want to understand boundaries, need to be clean), and bears (floaters, predictable but flexible, relaxed). Each potty training character comes with their own struggles. But if you have a turtle like me chances are it might take the majority of the Summer to finish up potty training.

So what can you do if Potty Training bleeds over into vacation time? Do you abandon it altogether or keep trucking along and try to figure it out as you go? We have some ideas that can help you conquer potty training, even in the midst of traveling, extended stays out of town and vacations!

To get you ready for a potty training on vacation adventure, we’ve created a list of everything you’ll need!

First off, you’ll definitely want to run by your local Walmart to pick up some Pull-Ups® Learning Designs®. These are essential for your child during a potty training vacation. The packages can cost as little as $8.97!  They will help your child build confidence while working on potty training in the car or on the plane, but also keep you from having to deal with too many messes on the go.

They also make the Pull-Ups® with coverage exactly where boys and girls need it the most, which is crazy helpful especially since they are more absorbent than Pull-Ups were before! They have 10% more stretch which is perfect for active kiddos as they are on-the-go plus 10% more coverage for fit and protection.

These Pull-Ups® also have no-tear sides which makes life so much easier when traveling AND the wetness indicator helps too on the cute Disney character like Lightning McQueen or Doc McStuffins!

We also suggest getting a portable toilet seat for the kiddo. These are so great because they can easily be tossed in a bag right along with the Pull-Ups®. Since you won’t be able to bring their potty training chair that they might have gotten used to at home, this is the next best thing. It will give them a familiar feeling wherever you’re taking them potty and help them not be afraid of falling in the “big hole” in a strange restroom.

Flushable wipes can also come in handy. Pull-Ups® have their own line of these and I highly recommend them! I’ve found that sometimes toddlers really need that extra wet-wipe “down there”, that toilet paper won’t quite do the job for them, especially if they’ve had to sit in a carseat for a few extra minutes while you hunted down a gas station on an empty stretch of road. Keeping these in your potty training bag is an absolute must!

Antibacterial gel or wipes can also be extremely helpful when potty training on the go. You’d never believe how many gas station bathrooms don’t even keep soap in the restroom at all. And don’t get me started on having to grab that nasty handle after you’ve already washed your hands…kinda defeats the purpose! And then, there’s always the change-the-kid on the side of the road adventure because there’s literally no other option. You’ll want to be able to get yours and your child’s hands sanitized afterwards for sure!

Lastly, make sure you pack a couple of changes of clothes in case any accidents occur along the way. This includes everything from underwear (obvious) to socks (often forgotten) because you NEVER know what might happen.

The easiest way to pack all of this is in a fun tote bag. That gives your child and the people around you, some sense of privacy about their potty training, especially if you are carrying a training seat in and out of a restaurant or other public place. This also affords you the opportunity to make a big deal out of transitioning AWAY from the diaper bag. “All we have is a potty training bag now, and soon that will be gone too!”

Alternatively, this would also work great if you are just dropping your child off to spend a few days with grandma and grandpa. Giving them all the tools they need to get through a successful couple of days potty training can mean the difference between your child regressing back into diapers or pushing through and staying the course with potty training while with grandma and grandpa. In that case, we put it all in a clear bin so it’s easy to see everything they need, right there in their bathroom so they don’t forget!

Learn more about Pull-Ups® Learning Designs® available at Walmart! You can even take your child with you so they can choose which favorite character they’d like to travel and potty train with! Our kids LOVED seeing Lighting McQueen on their Pull-Ups® Learning Designs®!