^TM

New Products for Summer Travel with Kids

By Katie McElveen

Potty Poncho

Tired of getting the heebie-jeebies when your toddler announces that he or she has to, ah, tinkle, at a really grungy place?  Or, worse, has he or she reached the dreaded age when your presence, though much needed, is no longer desired in the bathroom stall? 

Now, thanks to fellow germophobic mom Kristine Gibson, you can breathe a little easier. 

Resembling a vinyl tablecloth (with the addition of a strategically placed hole), Kristine’s invention, the Potty Poncho, is a protective toilet cover that comes ready to use in a very small, very slim plastic case.    Draped over the toilet, the Potty Poncho hangs about six inches past the lid, protecting little bottoms and hands, which usually end up gripping the sides for dear life, from the nastiest of germs.  {place potty poncho photo here}

The Potty Poncho can be whipped out in a jiffy, too, even with one hand.  It gets bonus points for its non-slide backing, which keeps it in place on the toilet.

Admittedly, it’s a bit tough to remove the cover, fold it and stuff it back into the pouch without touching the side that was in direct contact with the toilet, but it can be done.  When you get home, you can dump it out of its case straight into the washing machine. 

Now, pass the antibac gel.

Kid’s Car Suitcase

No bonus points here for name creativity, but once this one’s out of the box it won’t matter. 

My grandsons, 2 and 4, both loved this bright blue car-shaped suitcase (it even has 4 wheels) so much that they fought over it.  Wells, being older, won the brief scuffle and the right to pack his things in it and pull it down the driveway to the car.  The size made it easy for him to control it and once he learned how to raise and lower the handle he could do that by himself.  {place kid’s car suitcase photo here}

The suitcase sat next to him for the entire trip, no doubt to keep it out of his brother’s hands.  Upon arrival, once its duty as a suitcase was over, the car spent its days zooming around the floor of the beach house. 

Fun to pack, even better to play with, cute as a button and rugged as can be, this one’s a winner.  It comes in bright red, blue and yellow and meets airline carry on requirements, making it easy for your child to carry his or her own entertainment onto the plane.

Back to TravelLady Magazine