How do you get a 2 year old to use a public restroom?

Question

My niece is 2 and she is completely in underwear when we are at home. She will not go to the rest room anywhere else though. This includes grandparents or other peoples houses. I have a travel potty seat so that it can go onto any toliet and we take it with us everywhere. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Maybe she's afraid she'll fall in. When my kids were small, we'd use the handicap stalls which were bigger. I'd reassure them I was holding on to them, and even let them put their arms around my neck. And I let them flush, too. Some handicap stalls have hand rails near the toilet which they can also hold on to.

I think I'd leave the travel seat at home. They can be a little wobbly on public toilets because they don't fit right. As well as the hygiene issue of carrying a toilet seat around!

Depending on how close to 3 she is, I don't think I'd worry too much. Just use those disposable training panties incase she has an accident. If she really is trained, and has to use the toilet, she will. Otherwise, it'll all come in time...

Answer 2

Sometimes it's hard, and you just have to bite the bullet. It's time to stop catering to what she wants, and just make her use the public restroom. Do not take the travel potty any more. When it's time to go, she'll either have to hold it, or use the other restroom. She'll probably end up wetting herself a few times, but she'll get sick of that really soon and will begin using public toilets. Also, be sure to reward her when she does go potty in a public restroom (or at Grandma's).

By the way, it may be a good idea to have her spend a couple of days at Grandma's using this technique. It's a little more familiar than a public restroom. Also, you can have plenty of extra clothes at Grandma's for her.

Answer 3

Have you tried children's books that encourage kids to use the potty. If you could find one that shows a child using several different potties maybe the child would follow the lead represented in the book.

Also a rewards program may be effective. Example: Every time she does use a different toilet she gets a sticker and shen she gets 3 stickers she can get a toy at the dollar store. as she gets used to using different potties you can raise the amount of stickers she needs to get in order to get a toy. If she's reluctant to start the reward system perhaps you could bring her to get one free toy to start so that she will see how much fun it is to pick out a toy!

Answer 4

It could be that she's afraid of the automatic tiolets in public. Carry some stickers in your purse to place over the sensor while she is using the toilet so it won't flush while she's still on it.

By carrying a toilet with you, you're giving her a choice not to use other toilets. Try taking her into a "foreign" toilet when she doesn't have to go so she can get used to it without the pressure to use it.

Answer 5

Probably just a phase, but don't allow her to pee or poop in diapers again, that's like taking two steps forward and three steps back. You pee in the public toilet first, show her it's ok.

Also, congrats on training soooo young. My son is 2.5 and still has no interest. We aren't forcing the notion yet.

Answer 6

My kids were always scared of the loud flush of public restrooms. If you think that's the case, let her stand outside the stall while you flush.

Answer 7

Get her convinced she can use the toilet like an adult. just encourage her to try something new. Inform her that new things aren't bad, and that she will be proud of herself for being such a big girl.

Answer 8

hey, a 2 yr old potty trained? good for you. im still trying with mine.