Potty On The Go
Potty training is always a hair-raising experience. And from our experience, you might think your child is potty trained until you are on that long road trip in the middle of the desert. Our kids just can’t seem to give us enough notice to make it to the potty. We found a few life-savers that we always bring in the car, especially on road trips. And we’re confident that once you try them, you’ll be thankful for these items as well.
TravelJohn Disposable Urinal
OK we admit it, the TravelJohn looks and sounds funny. And it’s even hilarious to see used in person. But we always have a few in the car. For those times when you can’t find a place to stop with a restroom (or you don’t have enough time to make it), you can just pull to the side of the road and solve your child’s pee-pee problem. Dwarf Dad admits to liking this item as well as he has an aversion to public restrooms, especially those found in gas stations! These TravelJohns get an A+ review from us.
The TravelJohn is basically a long skinny bag that is sealed and rolled up for use. When you need it, you unravel and do your business. It’s filled with liquid absorbing polymer (kind of like what diapers are stuffed with) which solidifies your liquid into a gel in about 30 seconds or so. Just be sure to not try standing it up on the ground (or in your car) until it’s solidified, otherwise you will have a mess! Once it’s in gel form, you can save it for another use or toss it in the trash. The gel also absorbs odors so it won’t be offensive sitting in your car. The standard version does hold a decent amount of liquid, as Dwarf Dad and Dwarf Son have both used one before disposing it. Yes, it’s a little gross thinking of both using it, but on the road you gotta make do. The TravelJohn is also useful for children and adults that are not able to reach the urinal. Dwarf Dad is still shocked when he encounters public restrooms without a lowered urinal, but even that is too high for our son.
TravelJohn Disposable Urinal
The standard version. A+ from our family. Keep a few in the glove box at all times — you will not regret it. Amazon has had the 6-pack on sale for as low as $8.46. For the best per-item value, see the 18-pack below.
TravelJohn 18-Pack — Best Value
A much cheaper per-item cost than the smaller packs. If you have multiple LP family members or road trip frequently, this is the way to buy. Stock the car, stock the camper, stock the travel bag.
The Junior version is smaller and holds less liquid — better suited for younger children or as a more compact option for travel bags and backpacks.
Kalencom 2-in-1 Potette Plus
For those times when your child has to go #2 and you don’t have time to stop at a restroom, the Kalencom 2-in-1 Potette Plus is a lifesaver. It is very compact and stores easily in your trunk, in addition to being affordable.
Kalencom 2-in-1 Potette Plus
Comes with refillable disposable liners that are very absorbent and generally leak proof (liners are about 20 cents each). When finished, tie together the sack and throw away. To save money on refills you can use garbage bags, but they won’t have the absorbent liner and are more likely to leak. Available in Blue, Green, Pink and Red. Dwarf Mom has been known to use it in a jiffy! Also doubles as a seat reducer on public restrooms — place your child on the adult-sized toilet using the Potette Plus to bridge the gap. Used by both our LP son and average height daughter.
Potette Plus Refill Liners
The refill liners for the Potette Plus — about 20 cents each. Stock up so you’re never caught short on a long trip. The absorbent liner is what makes the Potette worth it over a plain bag — it solidifies liquid quickly and holds odor.
Helping Your Child Have Potty Independence
I don’t ever try to or pretend to be the “know-all-be-all” of LP knowledge. But the questions that POLPs often ask help me think back 30 years. When I write these blog entries, I hope my children will read this and see that we LPs do indeed live independent lives, as much as possible. But we do depend on others as well to help along the way. Everyone needs some help, even just to reach that one grocery item on the top shelf.
Independence vs. Safety
We as LP parents are very tough on our LP son. Though he is smaller than we were at his age, we try to encourage him to strive for independence as much as possible. We come from a generation that had no ADA rights or laws. If you overhear our conversations with our son, often we will say, “We know it’s hard to do things, but you need to try.” And sometimes, he cries and we say just to keep going, that he can do it. He often tries to just put out the pity card because he is 7 years old. The pity card only gets you so far with LP parents. We try to push him as much as we can to be independent, until he clearly has tried and just can’t do it.
I know a lot of average height parents ask, “Well, when can he/she go to the restroom without me? Are they going to be 10 years old and still need me?” Maybe so. But there is something to be said about safety versus independence. I would rather have someone bring my son to the restroom just because he is smaller than the average 7 year old and his limbs being as small as they are prevent him from defending himself as other 7-year-olds can. Even with my 9 and 12 year old average-height nephews, I send my husband or their dad to go with them to the bathroom, or ask them to go as a team. These days, you can never be too careful.
Summer Camp
For summer camp, bring a small folding step stool to help reach the toilet and sink. Ideally it can be stored in a grocery bag in their backpack.
Handy Laundry Folding Step Stool
Easy to open and fold, lightweight enough to store in a grocery bag inside a backpack. Great for reaching the toilet and sink at summer camp, school, or anywhere with tall fixtures. A staple for LP kids on the go.
Yoga Blocks — Compact Height Boost
If you only need a little extra height for the potty, yoga blocks are light and compact enough to fit in your child’s backpack. Keep them in a plastic grocery bag to take in and out — bathrooms can be gross. The yoga strap that often comes with a yoga kit can also be useful; pack it in the bag and they could use it to strap to the back of the toilet for leverage to shimmy onto the seat.
Hygiene Essentials
Packs of antibacterial wipes or gel are still great for me as an LP adult. We still can’t reach every sink, and kids are just dirty, so keep them at hand.
Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes
The Wet Ones brand because they’re less dry than the generic brands you find out there. Keep them in the car, in the diaper bag, and in your child’s backpack. For when you just can’t reach the sink.
Stick-In-Place Toilet Seat Covers
Your child may not be able to reach the toilet seat covers in a public restroom — or there might not even be any. Bringing along disposable stick-in-place covers solves that. The alternative is strips of toilet paper but they tend to not stay in place and fall in the bowl.
Do you have any other ideas for potty on the go? Let us know in the comments.
