It’s only when you read stories like what Abby from Juicytots has shared about her potty training exploits that you realise how clueless and unprepared you can be about some stuff! Here’s how to cope with toilet training when you don’t want to be chained to the house living in fear of an accident…
No3 is now 2 and a half and showing all the signs of wanting to be out of nappies. I must admit third time round and very busy I have put this off a bit as I am getting a bit lazy and didn’t really feel up to lots of mad dashes to the loo when out and about. “Me need a wee†said No3 very loudly whilst I was in the cafe having my weekly catch up with a friend. I realised I would look like a very bad mother if I just ignored her and carried on chatting. The time had come…
Time to get prepared! This is my Checklist for out and about when potty training:
– Baby wipes (always handy)
– Plastic carrier bags (bad for environment but good to contain icky messes)
– 6 pairs of knickers/undies (buy a size bigger so they are easier to get on and off)
– 6 pairs of spare trousers (or PJ bottoms if desperate)
– Couple of pairs of socks (don’t forget the socks, they always get wet too)
– Potty (travel one is great, I will explain why)
– Small hand towel (to sit on in car and buggy and to mop up big accidents)
Shove the whole lot in a bag and you are ready for anything!
Speaking from experience, I would say it is worth getting a travel potty. I used to think they were yet another gimmick designed to make you spend money and you would probably only use them once or twice. They kind of flip open and have a bag with a pad in the bottom to soak up wee. I changed my mind after the following incident took place………
I had planned my shopping trip carefully, just me and No3, with no-one else to distract me from my mission. Since having kids I have put on a few pounds but sadly still have illusions of thinness – if only! Buying clothes takes longer now, as I am always on the lookout for clever trickery that will disguise the fact that really, I still need to lose weight, especially off my tummy. So I took No3 into H&M changing rooms (yes, I have illusions of youth too!). There I was merrily trying on clothes, having cleverly planned ahead and palmed off No3 with a sweetie bribe for this sole purpose, when she suddenly said, “me need a wee!†Oh hell, now what?…
I took out the potty (note: NOT a travel potty) I had brought from home in a huge bag, “God, I am getting good at thisâ€, I thought. No3 produced a brim lapping wee. “Oh well done, that’s brilliantâ€, I said. Then realisation dawned…I am in a H&M changing room. The potty is now full to the brim. Where can I dispose of the contents?
Somehow I didn’t feel confident about marching outside and asking for help. I gingerly peeped outside the curtain; there are two 17 year olds chatting about last night, no good freaking them out. No pot plants in here either…now what? Suddenly, genius idea, I found a nappy, ripped it open and managed to soak up most of the wee and then tie it up in a carrier bag. Funny how you get so resourceful when you become a mother, and I was never even in the Guides! I have been in the cubicle so long now I am expecting to be searched by security on my way out. This would have been so much simpler with the travel potty…
We now (thankfully) own the Tommee Tippee Travel Potty (pictured above) which is £8.50 from Oliver’s Babycare and is also available to buy from places like Mothercare although it seems to be called a ‘Potette’ in these places. Refills for the Tommee Tippee are £3.25 and it folds down compactly enough to fit into your changing bag. Just line it with the plastic bag and then dispose of the ‘goods’ when done. We use it for camping and long journey’s even with our older kids!
If you can suggest another travel potty, we’d love to hear from you (email contact AT bambinogoodies.co.uk as they’re rather thin on the ground!
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