The potty training process is hard. Whether it’s your first or your fifth, there’s no skipping the mess, the setbacks, and the questioning: Is now even the right time?
If you’re asking that now, in the middle of summer, the answer may or not surprise you as: yes.
Why Summer Is the Sweet Spot for Potty Training
Summer is Less Structured
Here’s the thing about summer—it’s unstructured, unscheduled, and often (blissfully) pants-optional. And when it comes time to start potty training, that’s a good thing.
With most kids off from daycare or preschool, there’s space to focus on new routines without the pressure of needing to be "fully trained" in three days. There’s time for the regressions that inevitably come, and time to try again. Without the intensity of a looming deadline, the process feels more organic and collaborative, and not fiercely imposed.
Vacations are Often Less Clothed
And let’s be honest—it’s just easier to clean up accidents when you’re not layering five pieces of winter clothing.
Letting your toddler roam naked at home (a common potty training method) is a lot less risky when it’s 85 degrees and sunny.
It Gives You Time to Potty Train Before Next "School" Year
Many daycares and schools want your child to be potty trained by the start of the next school year. This usually happens around age 3. So beginning with a little bit of time ahead of time, if possible, is a great approach.
But Remember, There's No Trade-In For Buy-In
That being said, potty training also works best when the child is a willing participant or instigator of the initiative. There’s no trade-in for buy-in.
Not looking to toilet train just yet? Bookmark this blog, and revisit on “Spring Break.”
Ready to take the plunge (and potentially the plunger?) Read on.
Potty Training at Home in Summer Makes Sense, But What About Travel?
Ah yes, the summer paradox. Great time to train… but also when you’re likely to be out and about.
Whether on the road, on vacation abroad, summer is often a time we are out of routine, and far from the comforts of your own home, environment, and home potty. It’s a challenge. But not impossible. Here’s how to make it work:
Summer Potty Training Tips (That Work With Travel)
1. Portable potties are your best friend.
Keep a travel potty in the car, in your trunk, or even in a tote bag if you’re flying. Some fold flat. Some come with disposable liners. Either way, they’re worth their weight in gold.
2. Build in bathroom breaks.
Treat potty stops like snack breaks or stretch breaks. Whether it’s a rest stop, a coffee shop, or a quiet spot on a hiking trail—give your child regular chances to try.
3. Embrace pull-ups as a tool, not a failure.
On longer trips or flights, it’s okay to use a pull-up as backup. Just let your child try to use the potty first, and explain why they’re wearing one. Regression is normal—progress is still happening.
On travel you may face a long road, and the same is said for in any transition process, including potty training your child.
The approach of building in stages is a helpful and useful one generally, especially because you want to allow your children small wins and growth without them feeling like they’ve let anyone down if and when they regress a stage or a few.
You know your child, so you can be sensitive to fluctuations. Consider for specific long drives if pull-ups are preferable to a greater risk of potty training accidents in the car seat.
You can read a bunch of great resources that get into more of the mechanics of how to potty train (like avoiding punishments, celebrating accomplishments, establishing routines, limiting fluids before bed, looking for signs, and more) - but for our purposes right now, remember to keep the slant positive, with reinforcement and celebrating accomplishments. And when preparing your diaper bag (or should we simply call it “bag” now?) ahead of time? Bring extra patience. And on the topic of preparation…
4. Pack extra everything.
And we mean extra everything. Underwear, pants, wipes, disposable changing pad liners, and plastic bags (or even better, wet bags like the one I recommended here). You’ll almost never regret overpacking when it comes to a potty-training toddler.
Yes, even for you. That’s a general tip for traveling with kids, but especially for the combination of potty training and traveling. The number of times my daughter got her pasta (or worse) on me on an airplane when I had extra clothes for her but not me? High, my friends.
Overpacking can also mean bringing diapers, training pants, or pull-ups with you as a backup just in case they’re necessary. No judgement.
5. Talk about it as you go, and because of where you go.
New environments can be intimidating. Narrate what’s happening: “This bathroom looks different, but we still go pee in the potty here too.” Normalize the new, and prepare for the next expected unexpected.
Potty Training and the Car Seat
If you’re mid-training and using a car seat for toddlers (convertible or otherwise), a few things to keep in mind:
1) Don’t potty train in the seat tops or put the potty on the seat on stops.
Car seats are for travel, not toilet time. They’re not the place to “just see if you have to go.” Yes, this seems like stating the obvious. But let’s state the obvious anyway.
2) Dress for easy access.
Think stretchy waistbands and fewer snaps. Those milliseconds are precious when you stop “just in time.”
3) Bathroom break to start before you depart.
One of the famous kid questions may be “Are we there yet?” But the caretaker version is “Do you have to go?” And it’s a classic for a reason.
Check in with your child before you leave the house to help avoid car seat accidents. Remind them that at home their toilet seat or potty is their throne, but their stunning babyark throne in the car? Not meant for going potty 🙂 So a great time to try just for a second to sit on the potty is right before you take off.
4) Rally the troops even if you have an oops.
As we said before, accidents happen, and it’s fine. Make sure you’re flexible.
Something that can help? babyark sells extra zip-off fabric covers, which makes removing one on the go (and holding onto it to wash in the machine) easier cleanup, easier forgiveness.
Some would vouch for “seat protection” such as liquid-resistant liners. But we want to remind you that you should check products you want to use with your car seat to make sure they do not interfere with the proper functioning of the car seat. If it hasn’t been crash tested, we can’t recommend its use.
And while it might be tempting, don’t change your travel system for convenience, and never “skip the car seat, just this once.” Your child, potty trained or not, still needs to be securely buckled in every time in the right regulated car seat for his age and size, no matter how short the trip.
The Bottom Line
There’s no perfect time to potty train, but summer does offer a window of flexibility and opportunity to go diaper free that’s hard to beat. Yes, travel adds a layer of difficulty, but with the right mindset (and a well-packed bag or stocked trunk), it’s entirely doable.
Like everything in parenting, it’s a mix of timing, patience, and trusting your gut, and your child! And if you need to take a break and try again next month? That’s okay too. You’ll know when your child is ready, and you’ll be ready.
You’ve got this. (And so do they.)
And we’ve got your back.
