Tips for days out while toilet training

[Crunchyontheoutside]

DS3 is getting the hang of toilet training but isn't great at knowing when he needs to go. He'll wee & poo on the toilet quite happily when I tell him to go (or put him on) but doesn't yet take himself. He refuses to use a potty at all, we went straight to the toilet.

We're going to be spending a few weeks in London visiting friends and family (we live abroad) and I'm getting a bit worried about all the public "accidents" that are likely to happen (eg on the tube/buses etc) as we've got a busy schedule trying to see everyone. And a few long car journeys.

I don't want to put him in nappies again (even in pull-ups he prefers to wee in them rather than use the toilet). He's been in pants every day for a week (been doing poos on the toilet almost every day for a month or so - it's the wees that are causing trouble!) and he asks to wear pants in the morning.

So, basically, any tips for getting out & about while he's at this stage OR tips for getting him to realise he needs a wee and going to the toilet?

When are you going away and when did you start toilet training?

Disposable change mats are useful for chairs/car seats you want to avoid accidents on. Perhaps make a 'special cushion' to take with you? Get a pottette and make it a game of using it in the garden now, then you can use it out and about in emergencys eg parks/sidestreets.

Otherwise just accept accidents will happen sometimes, bring plenty of spare trousers/pants/socks/machine washable plimsoles and brace yourself for the wetwipe strip wash while out and about. plastic bags for taking home wet clothes and muslin to stand on when stripping off are handy.

what about pants on and pull up over them. He will be uncomfortable if he pees because the pants will be wet, so he might ask to go to toilet. Pull up will stop you worrying about accidents.

Thanks for suggestions!

Odyssey - We're going away in 2 weeks. He's been in underwear for a week but he's been using the toilet before that for a month or so (only when prompted).

He's never liked using a potty at all - it was only when we suggested the toilet that we got anywhere at all - so I don't think he'll use one when out & about.

I'm thinking just make him go to the toilet before leaving the house & whenever we pass one! Maybe disposable change mat for the car.

Any tips for helping him to realise when he needs to wee? Or helping him remember to ask to go to the loo rather than just weeing in his pants?!

no advice sorry. took my ds a long time to be fully toilet trained. He did not like pottys either. I carried a thing called a happy-pee (from Amazon) in my hand bag for ages. It made life much easier for us. Ds happy to pee in it and very convenient. I still have one in the car for emergencies.

Good luck, I hope you have a great time when you are away.

If he'll have a wee on demand, ask him to go whoever you are near a toilet. If he's had a lot to drink, look for a toilet. I second Potette idea. I know you said he doesn't like potties. Neither does dd, but she'll use the Potette rather than have wet pants.

He might be different in 2 weeks time anyway.

I'm afraid my advice is too late. It would have been don't start until after you get back.

Buy absorbent microfibre pants, put a plastic carrier bag on their car seat and take lots of spares. Also, take a few pull ups just in case it gets too stressful. This is the sort of thing that can ruin a holiday.

Also, I'm afraid you cannot train them to know when they need to wee. This is something they have to learn for themselves. We were well into week three before that happened.

Thanks, that's all good advice. We weren't planning to start before our trip but it kind of happened organically. He's asking to wear "big boy pants" every day and I felt it was better to encourage him than put him off. He's had 2 days accident-free this week and he even took himself to the toilet this afternoon so maybe it won't be too bad hopeful face :)

I'm just having visions of puddles on the Northern Line & disgusted commuters!

tacal that happy pee thing does look good. Might get one for emergencies! Don't know whether DS will like it but can only try.

My suggestion for helping him to recognise when he needs to go would be to stop prompting him. A few accidents may be what is required for him to get to know the feeling of really needing to go. My DD seemed to make the biggest improvement when we left her to it. I would just remind her where the potty was for if she needed to go.

A few accidents at home will be easier than when out and about.

I am not sure if others will think this is gross, but I always let ds1 wee in fun public ish places. Find a tree in the park, a drain on the side of the road if we're not near a loo etc.

My experience of little boys is that they are SO busy they will never really find the time to go independently so it's got to be fun. My ds also does a lot of stand up wees in the loo now because he thinks it's fun and he's allowed to mop up drips with loo roll!

Just take lots of spare pants and trousers, sure he'll be fine!

It will be fine. We live in London, never used potty either. Have x2 boys.

I would just get them to go to toilet before leaving and on arriving at places first week or two. So if you have two more weeks he might be fine anyway.

So ie: wee at house, bus to library, wee at library on arrival, wee at library before we leave, bus home, wee at home

You can do the same. All cafes are fine with little ones using toilets even if you don't actually buy something, John Lewis has toilets if in town, all museums have toilets, some tube stations do etc.. I also have let mine wee up the odd tree discreetly if needed in a park. Dogs wee everywhere and up trees so I figures its fine, although have only needed to do maybe once every 6 months. Mine are 3 and 4 years