My 20month old son has just started showing an interest in potty training. He uses a little seat that sits on top of our toilet and has peed successfully several times within the last couple days. My questions is, how do I have him use the public restrooms. Most of them have the opening in the front of the toilet seat and I know he will pee all over his pants. He is very small for his age, so he can't stand up and pee and he wouldn't be able to sit on the toilet by himself either. Would love some ideas of what other mom's of little boys have done. Thanks!!
I think someone else posted something similar, but I just lift my boy up and he pees facing the toilet bowl. I used to have him sit straddled between my legs, but he likes standing better. He stands at home too on a little stool.
It took me a while, but I finally found that my son had an easier time getting all the pee in the potty when he stood up instead of sat down. So we switched to the standing method. But the problem was that he was too short for the bowl.
At home, my husband made a short little stool for him to stand on. And when we were out in public restrooms, I just had him stand on my feet so he would be tall enough.
The times when he had to sit (like when he was pooping too), I taught him to either tuck it down, or use his hand to point it down.
Good luck :)
I took my son in the ladies restroom until he was 4ish. And even then if we were in a large venue. When he was tiny I held him on the toilet and taught him to aim down. When he got bigger and could stand he went in the stall himself. Even when he could go to in the men's room I waited outside.
I would never let my boy in a public restroom without close supervision until I was sure he was safe and I taught him not to talk to anyone while there.
Hi A.,
My little boy is almost 4 now and what I did with him when he was too short to stand at the toilet was:
1) put the main seat up and have him stand on the toilet. I would kind of point him down. I would sometimes have to clean up a little pee that didn't make it in but for the most part that would work
2) If he had to poop and pee I would sit him side ways on the toilet so he could keep his legs together and his "weewee" tucked down. The key is to have his pants all the way down to his ankles in case some pee escapes it won't get on his pants.
3) Keep carrying an extra set of clothes. Even when they make to to the bathroom sometimes they just can't help getting pee on their pants.
Hope that helps!
A.
My son potty trained at 22 months so I remember this challenge :) When in a public restroom just pick him up with one arm and help him aim it down with the other hand (you probably don't want him sitting on public toilet seats anyway, they're usually pretty gross!)
I actually discovered that my son was able to keep the pee from spraying out BETTER when seated without the little seat. If you teach him to hang onto the outside of the bowl and drop his bottom down into the toilet, all the pee stays in the potty. Also, the "hanging bum" pose is easier when they start to try and poop into the toilet (it's more like a squat).
Good luck!
T.
