Traveling with toddlers is an adventure, but potty training adds a new layer of complexity, especially when flying. Can you take a travel potty on a plane? Absolutely! Here’s how to navigate potty training while soaring through the skies, including tips for using a portable potty seat.
That heartfelt thank you I never got to give? It goes to the woman I met on a cross-country flight to Seattle. I was solo with my 26-month-old and a 6-month-old baby. She stepped in and held my baby so I could navigate the tiny, swooshy, smelly airplane bathroom with my daughter, trusty green potty in tow. She wanted to use her potty, even on the plane!
Thank you, green portable potty seat, for saving us countless times that trip. From beach emergencies to unfamiliar public restrooms, you were our safe, consistent option.
Travel Potty Training Tips for Airplane Travel
Traveling while potty training presents unique challenges, but with a bit of preparation, it can be manageable. Here are some tips for traveling with a diaper-free child.
Traveling with kids means:
- Magazines go unread.
- Red-eye snoozes are a dream.
- Another small human’s needs are top priority.
Your Potty-Trained Toddler Needs to Pee—Fast!
Bathrooms may be far away, with long lines. What’s not recharging is managing an accident in row 11 on a flight to see grandma and grandpa.
1. Travel with a Portable Potty Seat
Having a familiar and comfortable potty can make all the difference when traveling. A folding potty seat provides a safe and happy spot for your child to go. On that cross-country flight with my two little ones, our Potette portable potty seat with silicone liner was a lifesaver. We used it everywhere from the terminal bathroom floor to the airplane bathroom changing shelf.
This portable potty seat is also great for beaches, parks, and restaurants. It’s your reliable portable potty seat for public restrooms.
Another option is the bumble bee travel potty, which seals up the pee and poop. A mom shared that this potty saved her on the playground and in the airport. It was the best travel potty for her when dumping and flushing wasn’t immediately convenient.
Bring the travel potty to the restaurant bathroom and offer a choice: big or small potty. Our Potette folding potty seat also got the most use in the car, where bathroom stops are often miles apart.
2. Pack Backups
Whether going to the playground or vacationing 800 miles away, pack extra clothes. Use a wet/dry bag for both extra clothes and a travel potty. Accidents happen, even after solid potty training.
For flights or train rides, pack spare clothes for yourself too. One puke incident on a red-eye flight is enough to learn that lesson!
When traveling by car, pad the car seat just in case. I like cloth pre-folds for extra absorbency.
3. Talk Through the Trip
This big wide world is NEW to toddlers. Preparing your child for what’s ahead makes them feel more comfortable. Point out bathrooms wherever you go.
Challenge your little one to find the potty.
Before our first flight, I showed my daughter printouts of airport photos:
- Security check
- Airport bathroom
- Inside of a plane
- Tiny airplane bathroom
We talked through it, and the airport experience was smooth. Less anxiety when a toddler knows what to expect!
Use a sticker activity book about airports to prepare your toddler. It’s a great distraction that fits in a carry-on.
4. Make Public Bathrooms Less Scary
Automatic flushers can be frightening. Jamie from Oh Crap Potty Training suggests using a Post-It over the sensor.
A scary incident can cause regressions. If your child is sensitive to noises, pack toddler headphones to muffle loud noises from hand dryers and flushers.
5. Prioritize Your Comfort
Public bathrooms aren’t always pleasant. Make yourself comfortable to avoid passing anxiety to your toddler. This may mean:
- Using our travel potty in the stall at first.
- Using potty covers or toilet paper.
Over time, the process can make you less squeamish too!
6. Make Potty Time Fun
Two-year-olds want to do everything themselves, but sometimes it’s not tidy. If sinks are too high and there’s no stepstool, make it fun. We did “superhero” legs, turning hand washing into a superhero transformation.
7. Keep Essentials Accessible
Sticky poops require wet wipes. Keep them handy, along with hand sanitizer. For road trips, a handy organizer keeps potty gear organized in the car.
8. Toast to Coconut
Travel can cause constipation. Full-fat coconut helps keep things moving.
Full fat is better than high-fiber for regular poops. Easier poops mean more potty success!
Anything coconut helps, like these yummy fruit bars, a packable snack.
9. Consider “Travel Pants”
How do you fly with a newly potty trained toddler without a diaper?
You don’t.
Liftoff, landing, and tarmac delays make it impossible to always get to a potty.
So, use a pull-up for the plane.
Here’s how to avoid confusing your child.
Jamie shared this tip: call the pull-up “travel pants.” Explain that you know they use the potty well, but on the plane, they might not always be able to use the bathroom. These travel pants are just for the ride.
10. High Fives for Your Toddler
There will be new and surprising situations while traveling. Make it sound like you’re on the same team.
High five your child for making it to the potty on time.
Sing a song while washing hands. These moments of running to bathrooms, seeing different bathrooms, and waiting behind the car while your toddler uses the folding potty seat will be just as awesome as the Instagram-worthy moments.
Conclusion
Taking a travel potty on a plane can significantly ease the challenges of potty training while flying. By preparing your toddler, packing essentials, and making the experience fun, you can navigate air travel with confidence. Remember, the goal is to create positive experiences and support your child’s progress, even at 30,000 feet. So, can you take a travel potty on a plane? Yes, and it might just save your trip!
