Toddler Pottying in Public Places

There are portable toddler potty seats to put on the adult toilet! I have one and I love it...so does my daughter! It has a little plastic ziplock type bag to store and carry it in and it folds into 4ths so it's easy to take along in a diaper bag or larger purse. I got it at Walmart for I think $10?...and because it is Dora, my little girl loves it, too!

Yep. Dream world. No, actually, like the other posters said, they do sell little seats or covers for things like that, but most public restrooms have the paper seat covers available anyway. When they're out or not available, lysol has an "on the go" spray that can fit in your purse, or you can carry Clorox or lysol wipes. Kids need to get used to using a "big potty" seat anyway because most elementary schools I know don't provide smaller toilets for kindegarteners. Maybe work on using the big seat at home so your child will get used to using it and not so reluctant in public places. I also agree that you should try not to make a huge deal out of germs so that your child won't develop a phobia. Being clean is not a bad thing. Even I make sure my daughter opens public bathroom doors with her hand towel when possible. I think it's more important for your child to keep their hands clean than their little tushie. Kids hind ends and legs get so dirty from sitting on floors or public chairs or park benches and toys anyway. It's more important to keep thier hands clean to avoid spreading illness. My kids have had pink eye for the last week and a half. It started with my oldest and cycled through the other three and now is back with my oldest. They aren't keeping their hands clean enough. (well, I'M not keeping them clean enough. But with 4 under 4, that seems impossible!) If your child is afraid of the automatic flushing toilets, keep a pack of sticky notes in your purse and stick one over the sensor while sitting on the toilet and take it and throw it away when finished. Anyway. Hope that helps a little. Good luck.

I have one, it folds to the size of my purse. I can say I never used it. I would have the kids hold onto my forearm and lean a little forward. One thing is you don't want them to be afraid of public toilets either. If they are smaller, which my daughter was, I kind of just held her over the toilet without even touching it. My son is a lot heavier and I would just have him hold tight to my forearm if he was pooping but he stands for peeing so it didn't matter.
I have one that is still in the bag, folded up in the car that I have never opened or even used as it never was necessary. Funny as the floors in public bathrooms have way more germs then the toilets themselves. If you are that worried put down a layer of paper on the seat. Carry a small pack of clorox wipes and wipe down the seat if you are worried. Just don't make a big deal out of the germs so you don't create a phobia with kids while out.

We had a little seat that folded and loved it. We are always on the go, so it got lots of use. My only complaint was it was so heavy! It was a pretty short lived stage, and then I just started lining the seat.

Hi S.,
I would try my sitting backwards on the toilet it is steady for them and you can use the paper seat cover. You can also buy those paper seat covers in little packs like at walmart and places like that so if they don't have any you still will, it will be a little more work because you will have to take Pants and all off, but I think that will help them to be able to and take alot of anxiety away from you. Go out and enjoy the world. I have been working with toddler's for over twenty years now and I can tell you a thing or two about this first hand, I have been right behind many little tykes when they succeeded, and the first one would be: Do not force them, let it be their decision. Forcing them just makes the process alot longer. You take them to the store to pick out their own new underwear and then it only takes a couple of times having an accident before they get the hang of it. But their is 7 signs they need to meet before you even start. When they have an accident do not scold or show disappointment, just say uh oh, it was just an accident, you can try again next time. When they do succeed and get it in the potty, internalize their success for them. I know that you want to jump up and down and hoop and holler but contain it, they have little control over alot of things in their life, this needs to be their accomplishment and idea, so to internalize it, when they do it, you say to them (calmy) wow! how does that make you feel? You put your Poop and Pee in the potty, that is yours isn't it? Another thing I do is I have them sit on the potty backwards so that they feel more secure sitting and they see the BM and urine leave their body which is another internal cue for them. The reason why it is called Potty Training is because the parent is trained to ask if they have to go incesently, and that is a drain on their little self esteem, I know that none of us would want to be asked over and over again or lead in there every hour or so, it's humiliating for them, think about it from their perspective, so if you are reminding him/her or taking them in all the time you are training yourself and humiliating them. We do not give these intelligent little people the credit they deserve, their biggest wish it to please you as a parent so why wouldn't they do it on their own when they are ready, instead of being made to. I do not know if you are familiar with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton, but he has a book called,"Toilet training the Brazelton way" and in his book he has the seven signs to watch for readiness in your child that I mentioned and his philosophy is the one I adopted and I can promise you that it has worked for my children and for countless children in my care for years.
Best of luck in whatever you decide.
These are the beautiful years. (Poop and all)
J. P.

There is a seat cover that folds and can be stored in your diaper bag or purse. Look at your local baby store or where you buy your baby supplies, they usually put them between the potty chairs and pull-ups.