How We Potty Trained Our Traveling Toddler Before His Second Birthday Using the Oh Crap Method
- D Siesta House
- Aug 2
- 5 min read
Real-life potty-training tips for parents on the go
If you're wondering how to potty train a toddler before age two—even while traveling—you’re in the right place. We successfully potty trained our son just before his second birthday using the popular Oh Crap Potty Training method by Jamie Glowacki. And yes, we made it work even while on the road.
Created by parenting expert Jamie Glowacki, this approach is sometimes referred to as the Oh Crap method, bootcamp potty training, or even 3-day potty training (though it typically takes a little longer). The idea is to ditch the diapers, tune into your toddler’s cues, and go all in with structure and support.
Whether you’re prepping to start or you're already in the thick of it, here’s how we did it—plus what worked, what didn’t, and how we stayed sane through it all.
Why We Chose the Oh Crap Potty Method While we Potty trained our toddler
Before we started, I read Oh Crap! Potty Training, which came highly recommended by moms in a Montessori parenting group. Although I found it a little long and wordy, it was key to our success. The method is clear, practical, and helped us feel confident—especially in those early days when nothing makes sense.
Three things I kept repeating to myself and my husband:
Do or do not. There is no try.
Stay calm, consistent, and nonchalant
Look for progress, not perfection.
The reviews on the Oh Crap! Potty Training book speak for themselves—it’s a go-to resource for thousands of parents for a reason. You can check it out here on Amazon.
Our Setup: Simple, Supportive, and Travel-Friendly
To give ourselves the best chance of success, we prepared intentionally:
My husband took four days off work so we could be fully present together.
We chose a start date (July 5th) during a travel-free window.
We had a small toddler potty, a portable potty, and a toilet seat with built-in potty ready.
We kept disposable cups around the house—because in the beginning, our toddler would only pee in cups!
Tip on choosing the right potty: The less bells and whistles the better!
Most importantly, we made a commitment to stay calm, consistent, and nonchalant. No pressure. No punishment. Just support.
Day-by-Day Breakdown: Potty Training a Toddler Under Two
Following the Oh Crap method, we began with the bare-bottom phase to help our son recognize his body signals. Reminder: Each toddler is different and the length of time you will spend on each block depends on the individual.
🗓️ Days 1–3: Naked and Learning
For the first three days, he wore no clothes at home.
We watched for signals and helped him connect “I peed” with “I have to pee.”
By Day 2 or 3, he began to anticipate when he had to go.
But—surprise! —he refused the potty and only wanted to pee in cups. We didn’t make it a battle. We just followed his lead.
💩 The Poop Process
When it came to poop, he’d tell us many times that he had to go but would only sit on the potty when he was absolutely ready.
He needed to hug one of us while pooping for the first few days, which was his way of coping with a new experience.
To keep the mood light and encouraging, we added playful elements that made potty time fun:
🎭 The Bear Poop Game - We used his favorite plush bear to act out potty time. I’d say: "Oh no! Bear has to go poopoo!" Then Bear would sit on the potty, push and push, and finally “poop” (I’d place a small object inside the potty to pretend it was poop). My toddler thought this was absolutely hilarious—and it helped him emotionally process the act of pooping in a totally pressure-free way.
🎶 The Potty Song After every successful pee or poop, we’d sing a little celebration song together. It became a fun ritual that made him proud and reinforced the behavior in a positive way. These little games and songs made the process feel less like training and more like a silly, special part of our day—and that made all the difference.
We read with our toddler the Let's Go to the Potty!: A Potty Training Book for Toddlers.
By the end of the first week, he could poop without physical comfort—and was even a little proud of it!
👖 Transitioning to Pants (But Still Commando)
On Day 3, he started wearing pants again—but without underwear, as suggested in the book. This commando phase helps prevent regression by keeping body awareness high without the sensation of wearing a diaper.
Potty Training While Traveling (Yes, It’s Possible!)
By week three, we were ready to test our progress on the road:
🛣️ 1.5-hour car ride🏨 3-night hotel stay
We made sure he went potty before the drive, brought our car seat protector and a portable travel potty, and stayed consistent. He surprised us:
No accidents during the trip to the hotel and the trip back home.
He told us when he needed to go, even when in the water with a swim diaper!
Traveling with a potty-training toddler doesn’t have to derail your progress—just plan ahead and stay calm.
PS: Check out our blog post on our stay in Key Largo with a toddler (Coming Soon!)
What Made It Work
Here’s what helped us successfully potty train our toddler under two years old:
✅ Fully committing—no switching back to diapers
✅ Having both parents present and involved
✅ Keeping it relaxed and positive
✅ Trusting the Oh Crap process
✅ Using tools like a portable potty and disposable cups for outings and trips
Our Favorite Potty-Training Essentials
Looking to potty train your toddler under two? These were our MVPs:
🪑 Toddler training potty – perfect for early home use
🚗 Portable travel potty – essential for the car and hotel stays
🥤 Disposable Cups – helpful when your toddler refuses the potty
📘 Oh Crap! Potty Training Book – our go-to resource
(These may be affiliate links that support our site at no extra cost to you.)
Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Potty Train a Toddler Under Two
Potty training a young toddler isn't always easy—but it’s absolutely doable, even with travel in the mix. With the Oh Crap method, a little prep, and a lot of patience, you can give your child the confidence and independence they need.
If you're considering starting potty training under two years old, trust yourself, commit, and remember: your calm confidence is the key.
We potty trained our toddler before age 2 using the Oh Crap method—even while traveling! Real tips, travel tools, and no-pressure potty training advice.
Want more toddler travel tips and parenting wins? Follow me on Instagram @d_siesta_family
Have a question or want to share your potty-training story? Leave a comment below!
Comments