Said It Here

How to handle potty training while out and about

Potty training away from home causes high anxiety and frequent public accidents in underwear. This fear of going outside makes parents question whether to revert to nappies and leaves them feeling disheartened when setbacks happen at shops or daycare.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    Using a portable potty or foldable toilet seat/reducer in public
  2. 2
    Keeping a nappy on when going out and only doing nappy-free time at home
  3. 3
    Offering the toilet preemptively before leaving, upon arrival, and before trips home
  4. 4
    Using pull-ups at daycare as requested by staff

In their words

Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.

r/Parenting2 people · September 2026

Just wondering if anyone has any advice for when you’re out and about in shops etc?source ↗

Enough-Wishbone4492 · r/Parenting · 3 upvotes

It’s the going outside that makes me the most nervous. Would it be better to still wear normal nappies out and about until she’s confident doing it in the house?source ↗

Enough-Wishbone4492 · r/Parenting · 1 upvotes

Today Twin A had 3 poop accidents in her undies. I'm feeling so disheartened and like I've failed her somehow.source ↗

Is it normal for it to take a while to click for them? Did anyone else's kid have accidents at daycare?source ↗

Alive-Cry4994 · r/Parenting · 1 upvotes

Where this came up

People with this problem also raised