S/O potty training methods: how to get around town?

[ThreeofUs]

So, when your DC has learned to use the potty - but is still at the "must be near a potty" stage and has some accidents - how do you do errands, run around after older children at sports events, etc.?

Do you put underwear on and keep plastic bags and extra underwear around?

Do you put on diapers (maybe with underwear underneath)?

DS1 has sports, school trips, a reading circle (that I lead!), etc. DS2 is not fully potty trained. And I remain confused and anxious.

How do I do this?

[SnuggleBuggles]

Looking forward to answers. Ds1 pt'ed in one day so we never had an awkward phase of needing to be near the potty. He could hold it for hours from the get go. Logistics like this though are what make me not push pt'ing enough with ds2.

Beth

[peanut520]

waiting for responses too. this issue just crossed my mind yesterday. i've been researching these items today:
http://www.amazon.com/Bonaco-Caboose...ef=pd_sbs_ba_1
http://www.amazon.com/PRIMO-Folding-..._bxgy_ba_img_b
http://www.amazon.com/Kalencom-2-in-...ef=pd_sim_ba_1

[HIU8]

When DD PTed, we did a couple of things (b/c I had to be out and about a lot). We had a portable potty in the car (one of the fold up kind where you insert a special plastic bag with an absorbant pad in it). I also had a pish pad on her carseat (just fit under her tush and it did help when she had accidents). I also had either a fold up potty or liners that I could use in public bathrooms (and we visited a number of public bathrooms frequently).

FWIW, I never put her in anything except underwear when going out. I just used the methods above (and I took along 1-2 full changes of clothes just in case). Honestly, that "hurry up. I've got to go NOW" phase didn't last very long (maybe about 3 months tops.

[ThreeofUs]

Hmmm.... ok. What's a pish pad, and where do I buy one?

ETA: I just bought this:
http://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus-2...9&sr=8-3-fkmr0

I guess I'll make sure he has on training pants when we go. Oh, my.

[MontrealMum]

Honestly, I think we've just gotten super lucky. DS is pretty good about speaking up and seems to be able to hold it long enough in most stores to make it to the bathroom.

But what we've done to try and prevent issues is: take a portable potty in the car, have lots of cloth diapers (great for messes) and extra clothes just in case, and put him in a pull-up instead of undies if there's going to be a long car-ride involved (that way if there is an accident, you won't be dealing with car seat cover issues too).

[egoldber]

We tried to stay home for several days straight. But IMO, this why pull-ups exist.

[ThreeofUs]

We tried to stay home for several days straight. But IMO, this why pull-ups exist.

Yes, we're just coming off a week-long potty training boot camp, and DS2's doing well. But I don't know if I will be sabotaging all his progress by putting him in diapers when we go out.

And I have to go out! He's got a.m. swimming lessons, a brother who has to be dropped off and picked up from school and escorted to sports activities, and food shopping to do with me!

I do have large imse vimse cloth diaper covers. Maybe I'll put him in training pants with the covers on. At least then he'll know he had an accident.

[ThreeofUs]

DS is pretty good about speaking up and seems to be able to hold it long enough in most stores to make it to the bathroom.

This is what I probably need to work on, getting him to tell me when he needs to go to the potty. Any pointers?

[MontrealMum]

What really worked for us - and it doesn't work for everyone - was DS having a few super-big accidents in his clothes. And making puddles in the hallway or other floors. He's the kind of kid that doesn't like to be dirty/sticky so he was horrified by it. Of course I always cleaned it all up right away, but just the process of going through that seemed to make the connection in his brain.

I know with an older one you might not be able to do this, but we were able to stay home for a block of days so that all those accidents were at our house.

Good luck!

ETA: Before the above, we started a sticker chart and initially gave him stickers just for telling me he had to go. That progressed to actually making it there to get a sticker, but I think the reinforcement of just telling me got him to speak up more quickly. We did have a few big accidents (see above) but those were rare.