Excerpt from "9 Things you should do when taking your potty trained toddler to Madrid’s public restrooms"

By Cathy Hackl on May 23, 2013

I remember the days when I hated changing diapers. I couldn’t wait for my daughter to be potty trained so I would only have one baby in diapers. Now I look back on it and realize that diapers weren’t that bad after all, because now we have to brave the public toilets whenever we go out around the city.

I need to clarify that I’m not necessarily a germaphobe, but I find that a lot of public toilets in Madrid are quite dirty and not very child friendly. That’s why I thought this might be a useful post for all those mommies trying to brave the public toilet conundrum.

Here are 9 tips for braving the public restrooms in Madrid with a little one:

1. Look for the handicap stall and use it if they have one. They usually have more space. If not, use the regular stall, but make sure you have enough room to maneuver with your child ...
2. Always keep some Post-it notes in your diaper bag. ... Most kids can get pretty scared by the automatic flushing and almost everyone doesn’t like getting their bottom drenched. Use the Post-its to cover the eye of the flusher and remove it once all is said and done.
3. Antibacterial wipes and gel are your best friends. ... Not only can you use them to wipe the seats down if you need to, but they will be very useful specially when the wash basins have no soap ...
4. Bring along a foldable toilet seat or a travel potty if you can. As gross as that seems, since you need to bring it back with you, a foldable seat is the best barrier between your child and the yucky seats. They’re also great because they keep them from falling in ...Travel potties are great for visits to the park, where getting to a public toilet might be a bit of hike ...
5. Bring a pack of disposable potty toppers. They are great for using on the go and some even cover the front of the toilet, so you don’t have to worry about their underwear or clothes touching the rest of the seat ... 
6. Always keep some wipes in your purse. Even though your kiddy might be out of diapers, you will need wipes for many things, especially in a public restroom.
7. Make sure you spot the WC prior to your child asking to go to the potty. Knowing where it is and how to get there is fast is key for avoiding accidents.
8. Always keep an extra pair of underpants in your diaper bag. You never know if you will need to replace them after using the WC.
9. Always have your child use the potty at home before heading out.

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Read full article published by Vaya Madrid!