Training Your Child For Portable Toilets: Tips And Tricks For Dads

Using portable toilets is a very effective way to train your child to use a toilet properly. Here are you best practices.

Potty training your little ones is a lot of work. Making the transition from a diaper to the big kid toilet doesn't happen overnight. There's going to be accidents, temper tantrums, and frustration.

There will also be success, joy, and rewards! All it takes is a few tips and tricks for dads and plenty of patience. Starting your child with a portable potty is a great way to keep those accidents and your frustration to a minimum, especially while traveling. 

In our guide below, we discuss a few tips for dads on how to get your child ready to use the potty. From portable toilets to public restrooms, and everything in between, here's everything you need to know about preparing your child for toilet training!

Keep Personal Portable Toilets in the Bathroom

When you start teaching your little one to use their very own portable toilet, be sure to keep it in the bathroom in your home. You can move it from one bathroom to another depending on where the child is playing, but be sure to always keep it in a bathroom.

You want them to get used to going into an actual bathroom to go potty. If you place the toilet in their bedroom or playroom, then they'll get used to the idea of using the bathroom in other rooms. Normalize the idea of going into the bathroom for them.

Plus, this is where the sink and soap are for washing hands. 

Bring It With You on the Road

There is an exception to the bathroom rule, however. If you're traveling, then it could be a good idea to bright their portable toilet along with you. Sometimes, there isn't anywhere to stop and the portable toilet can come in handy. 

This is a great way to teach them that they still need to use the potty rather than the diaper even if they're in a car or outside of the home. Eventually, you can begin to help them make the transition from their small portable potty to a regular-sized toilet or "big girl/big boy potty."

Help Them Transition 

To help them make the transition, sit them on the regular toilet during the normal times when they'd used the potty. You should also have them sit on the toilet in the morning right after waking up, after each meal, and right before bed. 

Create a routine for them, and they'll feel more comfortable getting up there. You can also create a reward system. Have a potty chart, and each time they use the big potty, hand them a sticker to place on the chart or find other incentives. 

If the toilet is raised too high for them, then you can place a small step stool in front of it for them to use. Once they get used to using the big potty at home, you can then teach them to use public restrooms.

Make Sure the Floor Is Dry

There will come a time when you'll have no other choice but to send your child into a public restroom. Do be sure to go inside with them and then make sure the floor is dry. The last thing you want is for them to slip and slide in a public bathroom. 

This might be something that you look out for without even thinking about it, but you'll need to teach your child to look out for wet bathroom floors as well. They should also learn to step around any wet areas as whatever's on the floor will be on their shoe and then in your car and house.

Use Seat Coverings or Toilet Paper

When they must sit down on the toilet, teach them to use seat covers or toilet paper. Some public bathrooms provide seat covers you can easily place on the seat without touching anything. Others don't, however. 

When toilet seat covers aren't available, teach them to take a few sheets of toilet paper and line the toilet seat with it without touching the seat itself. This will help keep germs off of them.

Don't Touch the Blue or Water

Not touching the blue liquid in the toilet or the toilet water might seem like a given to an adult, but your little one doesn't understand this concept until you teach it to them. Teach them not to put their hands in the toilet water. They can play with water while washing their hands afterward. 

Some public restrooms and porta-potties have blue chemicals in the toilet bowl that might attract little hands. This is why it's essential to teach your children both porta potty tips and public restroom tips about good hygiene. 

Keep Hands Off the Seat

You might notice that your little one holds themself in place by holding onto the toilet seat. Remember, when their feet don't touch the ground yet, they can feel unstable on a big toilet. However, you don't want them doing this in a public bathroom.

Do teach them not to touch the toilet with their hands. If need be, you can let them hold onto you while on the toilet to help them stay balanced. 

Use Soap and Water to Wash

After they flush, they should immediately wash their hands. This step is important. As an adult, you know not to touch anything after touching the flush handle. 

Your child, on the other hand, doesn't. Teach them to be wary of the handle altogether. If they must touch it to flush, then they cannot touch their face, clothes, or anything else until they wash with soap and water.

If you have some on you, use hand sanitizer after washing with soap and leaving the bathroom entirely. Use paper towels to open the door as an extra safety measure.

How Can Portable Toilets Help Train Your Children?

Portable toilets are a great first step in teaching your child how to use the big potty! Keep this guide and all the advice listed here in mind when it comes time to potty train your little ones. Before you know it, your child will be a pro potty user, and you'll be a pro potty trainer!

For more dad advice, be sure to browse through our other posts and visit regularly for new ones.