When your child is young but out of diapers, dealing with a public restroom can be a logistical nightmare-- especially if they're with dad. Today, Parents Ask expert Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Potty Training Solution discusses how dad should deal with potty visits in public places.

Q:  When my husband is out shopping or at a restaurant with our daughter and she has to go potty, what should he do? She’s much too young to go into the bathroom alone, and there’s no way she can hold it until they get home. I certainly don’t want to prevent them from going out together, so what’s the solution?



A:  You’re right – a young child should never go into a public restroom alone, as this is a safety issue on many levels. In addition, you should never entrust your child to a stranger (even if it’s employee of the business) to watch her in the bathroom. You are also right not to ask your daughter to hold it, which could lead to an accident or, if repeated, problems with urination.



It’s always been acceptable for mothers to bring both little girls and little boys into public restrooms, and these tend to be very private with separate toilet stalls for each person. Having Dad bring his daughter into the men’s room is a little bit different.



I turned to the expert in our house for solution to his dilemma. I asked my husband what he used to do when our two girls were little. He said that it was never a big issue for them. If the men’s bathroom was a single room he’d just bring her in with him and lock the door. If he could find a single room restroom, he’s use that. If the only option was a room with multiple stalls he’d scoop her up, tuck her head into his shoulder to cover her eyes, and walk quickly into an individual stall. (He said it was a common site in men’s bathrooms.)



Happily, these days many public places now have “Family Restrooms” intended for diaper changes or for a parent and child to utilize, and hopefully these will become more commonplace. Another option for you is to keep a portable potty in the car for on-the-road pit stops.



One more point, since we’re on the topic of public restrooms. Never he afraid to politely ask if you can move to the front of a restroom line, when you are taking a child in need. A smile and a mention that she’s newly potty trained will have most people happily allowing you to go first.