potty training - how do you handle trips out of the house?

[kissmummy]

I've posted this on 'potty training' but not got many replies yet so thought i'd try here too.
We're in the second week of potty training and going on a big trip out this weekend.
We've made good progress but there are still lots of accidents. I'm very worried as i am taking my DS up to Scotland on Sunday (by plane from London) - we will be travelling for a fair few hours, door to door. It will all be exciting and new for him so concentrating on whether he needs to wee will prob be the last thing on his mind. It's just the two of us, and I will have to carry all his stuff and mine (prob in a rucksack) so taking a lot of potty training gear isn't very realistic.
i am very reluctant to put a nappy on him, as it might confuse him/send out mixed messages, but the alternative could be lots of accidents and stress all round. How would you handle this situation? (apart from not going, which isn't an option!) Would it do a lot of harm to put a nappy on?
Any advice on long trips out of the house in early stages of potty training gratefully received.

Hi, I am at this stage too right now! What I did was still put ds in pull-ups to begin with when we went out, I know a lot of people disagree with this as it can give out mixed messages, but i can honestly say it hasnt with ds - he is v aware of when he is weeing!! Now he is starting to get the hang of things I am putting him in towelling type trainer pants just when we are out (I got Bright bots from Amazon, possibly a bit late for you to get them now). Lots of people dont like these either but they are good I think because they still give the ds the "wet" sensation if he wees in them, but they hold in a fair bit (nothing like as much as a nappy) so stops soaking floors, trousers etc.

I have also folded up one of those disposable care mats and put it in a pillow case and put it on his car seat incase of accidents - is this something you could take on the plane?

I actually dont think it would be the end of the world to put him in a nappy for this one trip - but put a disposable pull up on instead of a nappy in case he wants to use a toilet or potty - then he can pull it up and down. Also I suppose lot of toilet stops en route if you can.

Good luck, I am still learning too!

Tricky. When I started potty training DD I used to put a nappy on her when we went out - till someone gave me a big kick up the backside and said I was confusing her. But its much easier to stay brave when you're pottering about and only doing fairly short trips.

I honestly don't know what the best thing to do is re. nappy or not - but if you decide not then take some changing pads or similar to put on the seat under him (this was a lifesaver for us when we flew with DD last year. She was pretty reliable, but not good at planning ahead so wound up needing a wee during both landings...).

Definitely put him in a nappy for the trip. Explain that it is a special occasion, and try and take him to the loo as often as you would normally anyway. He'll be fine and you will have less to worry about....

Have you tried a travel potty? We've got a Potette (from Boots I think) which folds up and can be whipped out at a moment's notice. Probably worth having some pull ups with you too though!

We had a long car journey at this point in DS1s potty training, and i worried about it a lot, too. But we put him in pull-ups and he was fine.

For a long journey def use a pull up. I also am very loathe to use them but flights (or motorway car journeys) are my exception. I'd take him to the toilet just before you get on the plane, and put a pull up on. Take him during the flight and again when you land (and take pull up off at that stage). If you don't mind him wetting himself, instead take spare clothes and cover his seat in a disposable pampers change mat.

I did (pull ups) that until my DD was nearly 4, because we had bad experience when she was quite newly toilet trained of saying she was desperate during take off and you just can't go then. Managed to get a pull up on her (luckily had one in bag). My DS is nearly 4 and I would probably put a pull up on him for a long car journey (he still wears nappies at night).

I'd also buy a travel potty - they are very light, and the wee/poo goes in a bag so you don't need to clean it. You can use it in an airport queue for example. I'd also always carry around a pull up as well as spare clothes.

with my DP's DD we took her out on the bus whilst potty training, it was funny looking back now...she said she was desperate for a wee so we tried asking her to hold it in for as long as she could, then all of a sudden she said her jeans were wet, so we said its ok not to worry it was only a tiny bit, at which point she must of really let go coz the bus was suddenly flooded in wee!!all the old ladies were stepping over it!haha!should of taken some nappies!