Potty Training on Trail: The Art of Getting Your Kids to Go Outside
Hi WildKind community!
Our three-year-old twin boys have had a lot of transitions over this past year, including potty training. Like most parents, I had anxiety about taking my twin boys out once they no longer wore diapers. Also like most adventurous parents, I did not want to let potty training get in the way of taking my kids outside on adventures.
Potty training on trail doesn’t have to be scary! Pack extra supplies, start with short adventures, and keep a positive attitude. As always, don’t forget snacks!
Potty training is a tough transition, no matter where you work on it. Potty training toddlers (especially twins at the same time) is time-consuming and scary. You will feel intimidated when taking those first few trips out of the house. You know in the back of your mind that your kid could have an accident at any moment. But do not let that stop you from venturing out of the house to explore outside!
Read below for my advice for potty training while keeping up with hiking and adventuring in the great outdoors.
Packing: The Key to Potty Training on Trail
When the time comes to venture into the wild diaper-free, you will need to rethink your adventure packing list. Some essential items I always have in my backpack include:
-a changing pad
-baby wipes
-extra underwear
-extra shorts/pants
-extra socks
-a few grocery bags (good for packing out poop, used wipes, or to carry out soiled clothes from an accident)
Most of the time it’s not practical to bring the training potty, but the WildKind editorial director started bringing her’s on short approaches after a seeing a friend do the same.
For my boys, I alway pack an empty vitaminwater® bottle for when the pee moment happens in crowded areas with no time to find a tree or bush. I have honestly tried a variety of bottles (water bottles, Gatorade bottles, etc.), but found the vitaminwater® bottle to be the perfect size to store in my bag and for my boys to quickly and easily pee into without mess.
For potty training anyone that squats when they pee on trail, consider investing in a Kula Cloth®, These antimicrobial pee cloths eliminate the need to teach your littles to “shake off” or “drip dry”, as well as the need to pack out excess toilet paper. They snap on to any backpack and come in an ever-changing variety of designs.
Our WildKind sustainability expert’s child learned first hand how great Kula Cloths® are for potty training on a recent hike.
Kulas have one waterproof side so your hands don’t get wet when wiping, and antimicrobial, absorbent material on the other. They have reflective stitching so you can easily locate it with your headlamp when your little one waits until they cannot hold it any longer because they do not want to leave the tent to pee in the middle of the night while camping.
Don’t forget WildKind Club members receive 15% of Kula Cloths® in December. They make great stocking stuffers!
Potty Training Adventures: Trailhead Pit Stops & Short Outings
Trail selection will be as important as what you pack when heading out on trail with your potty training kids. I recommend starting off with trails that have bathrooms easily accessible at the trailhead. Get your kids used to trying to go to the bathroom before a hike and after a hike. Our twin boys now automatically head towards the bathroom to go pee before any hike with an open bathroom at the trailhead.
Behind a tree, off trail, and away from water, is a great spot to go No. 1 while potty training.
I also recommend starting on shorter trails that first month or two. This will greatly increase the odds your child will not have to use the bathroom until they get back to the trailhead. If they do need to pee during your adventure, I always do a quick look to find the best spot off the trail, out of view for them to go.
Keep in mind Leave No Trace principles. Find a spot at least 200 ft from water, and pack out your toilet paper. LNT has a great video on what to keep in mind when peeing outside.
When It’s Time for #2
Poop accidents will happen on trail. My honest advice: stay calm when it does. (Not “if it does”, because let's be real, it will happen to every parent.) When a kid has to go poop, they have to go, and that means now. When this moment occurs, I do a quick look around for the best spot off the trail. I help them take off their underwear and shorts, and help them squat down to go. Hold their hands if they need help staying in a squat.
Don’t expect the first poop in the woods to be filled with smiles. Make sure to keep a calm, positive attitude when helping your child potty train outside - it’s contagious!
This moment can be stressful for kids, especially the first time. So make sure to talk them through the process. Remind them that they need to squat back enough that their poop will not fall on their clothes and shoes. Keep smiling, and stay positive about going poop out in nature. Always do your best to make it a stress free and natural moment with your kids.
No matter how things go, congratulate them for doing a great job with everything when they finish. If they have a poop accident, this is when the changing pad, extra clothes, and bag to put all the dirty items come into play. It only took me one time not carrying a bag with me to always make sure I had a few plastic bags (or disposable bags) in my backpack.
Potty Training in the Wild: Reward with Snacks
Look for a potty spot off trail, preferably with a tree, bush, or rock to allow for some privacy.
Rewarding your potty training kids after going to the bathroom in the wild with a favorite snack or treat really helps encourage them to let you know they need to go. Honestly, my twin boys received a lot of treats! It helped them get excited to let me know when they needed to go and avoid an accident.
As they mastered potty training on trail, I started slowing down the amount of treats. I alway pack snacks for a break on all my hikes and rewarding them with their favorite healthy snack is also a great option.
