Toddler Scared of Public Restrooms

Don't push it. Remind her to use the potty at home before you go out, then try to avoid large amounts of fluid while yo're out. Without suggesting that she use it, invite her into the bathroom stall with you. Let her watch you use the potty and ask her if she would like to help you flush. If she feels in control of the flush, she may be less afraid of it.

If her fear is becoming more of an issue it might be worth a trip to Home Depot or Lows. Let her examine the toilet plumbing... touch all the parts etc. Once she understands that it is just the sound of air and water moving quickly through the pipe, it may be less frightening (ie not some growling monster who is likely to grab her as well as the poop!).

Good luck with this. Hope this helps.

T.

try restrooms in gas stations as they are more private. the multi-stall configuration may enter into her personal issue.

I have 2.5 yr twin girls who are just potty trained about a month. We have a small on piece Baby Bjorn potty, that fits in a back pack. We take it everywhere and it has come in handy at the park. I have a bunch of plastic grocery bags in the backpack along with wipes. I will slip the grocery bag over the potty and my girls sit and go in it. Then I tie up the bag and throw it away. The potty is small enough to where they could go in the trunk of our van or on the floor of the car. It didn't cost much either, I think $9.99 at Babies R Us. My girls aren't afraid of the noice in the public bathroom but were scared of the huge potty, so I also got a fold up plastic travel potty seat for those bathrooms. It's great, it comes in a zip lock bag and we bring it in the store with us just in case.

Oh Lord! It's those darn "magic flushes" that scare my daughter. She's going to be 5 on Nov 1st, and still doesn't like them. (She'll go now, as long as it's not a "magic flush") And we have to open the door so she can put her hands over her ears before we flush! I have always had to make sure she goes potty right before we walk out the door, then limit her intake of fluids, and then, scope out restrooms with no "magic flushes" beforehand. A pain to say the least, but it made her feel better. I tried the whole "It won't suck you down" Watch Mommy go" and all that, but she still wouldn't believe me. She's mostly outgrown it, but it really took a lot of patience on my part, and a few accidents on her part to get through it. You WILL get through it though!

Is it the noise, the auto flush, or the "Big strange toilet" that has her scared? If you can pinpoint what it is, then maybe that will help with how to deal with it. Had I known about those porta potties, I would have gotten one of those!

Good luck and try not to get too frustrated. She will eventually be able to go potty in public if she really needs too.

My 6-month-old also has an aversion to public restrooms, so it's good to read that it's not all that unusual and that there are remedies for when she gets older. Also nice to know that she may really just be afraid of the loud noises in there. Right now, I can just change her diaper somewhere else...

I was just at Disneyland and a very nice woman mentioned a great idea to me...she over heard me consoling my child(in the bathroom)about the loud flushing noises. She said to carry post it notes in my purse and put it over the automatic flusher/motion detector. Then wait until your child was done pottying, and even out the door before you pulled the post it off. The toilet would then flush AFTER the child was out of the stall and away from the loud flush. I thought it was amazing advice...I wish I could take credit for it...

LOL, your daughter has good sense. I don't blame her!!! I'M scared of public restrooms.

We had a little platic potty I carried around in the van. It was just easier than toting three kids (two of them boys, and some moms freaked out about that) into public restrooms.

Man I'm glad those days are over. It's so much easier now.

my son is 4 years old and I had to go through that with him and at times i still do. He is starting now to get use to the noise of loud flushing.. I just tried to make it comfortable for him as possible. Just be consistent in letting her know that there is nothing to be scared of..if she has a favorate stuff animal or toy to bring in with her bring that.. hopefully that will help..

Wish you the best of luck!
C.