Our trip to Stein Valley was the first trip that Toothless could be hiking without a diaper and without easy (constant) access to a pit toilet. When car camping pit toilets are accessible and the food keeps your tummy on the same schedule but backpacking is different.

While he has “standing pee” figured out already, I had to develop a technique on trail on how to support Toothless using a cat hole.

The technique

• Dig a cat hole while toddler squirms and expresses the urgency of the poop (I like to leave him with Natasha while this happens so I can take my time and find a good spot and dig a good hole)
• Get toddler to hike off trail towards the cat hole, while explaining that while you normally stay on trail you can go off trail to poop
• Inevitably boost toddler in the air over obstacles, or deal with their cries when branches catch their clothes or hit their face
• Sit on ground with cat hole in between legs (roughly between knees or thighs close to knees)
• Get toddlers pants down and have them sit on legs right above the knee. Boom. Instant toilet seat.
• Look away as toddler poops in cat hole directly.
• Get toddler to stand and stay still. Wipe and bag used TP. Sanitize hands.
• If feeling lucky get toddler to help fill hole with dirt. Then stamp dirt down.
• Hike back to trail.

There you have it. How to get a toddler to poop in a cat hole!