OT: Which potty for potty training?

[lindsmom]

I've potty trained dozens of kids, and experience has shown me that there is no one right answer

While you may choose a potty chair for your child, know that you may have to be flexible. To all the posters who don't believe in using a small potty seat, there are many children out there who are just too freaked out by the big potty to use it. I agree that it's much easier to have them learn directly onto the big toilet, but I've found that some kids would rather master the skill (on a small potty made for their scale) and then step up to the big potty when they're ready. Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing what kind of child you have until you start the potty learning process. So keep an open mind.

If you do go with a potty chair, I agree the simpler the better - and check how it's designed. If the seat of the chair is on TOP of the potty bowl (that you dump out), kids are more likely to pee between the seat and bowl, making icky puddles. If they actually sit ON the bowl (it drops into the seat), they're less likely to miss.

Some boys are more successful sitting backwards on the big potty, some prefer to stand, some prefer to sit.

I also agree to wait as long as possible - until it's almost painful to not be training. That's when it will take a week or less! If you start too early you'll just be wasting your energy.

Lastly (sorry so long winded), I also agree not to bother with pull ups etc. They don't allow the child to feel the wetness and they're way more of a hassle to put on than diapers.

Oh, one last thing (sorry I lied ) to the poster who doesn't get why people would have a potty seat in their car - we spent a whole summer with a potty in the back, and ziploc bags - we'd line the seat with a ziploc so dd could go to the bathroom at the beach (#2, obviously) and then we'd deposit the bag in the trash. Kept her successful with her potty learning.

 

[puffkin]

NEITHER of my boys used a "potty". We had three of them total. What a waste of money!

We successfully used (well, still use actually, for #2) a Baby Bjorn brand footstool paired with the Bjorn seat INSERT. This is the best way to go, IMO.

The whole thing about the little potties is that they are not "real world" preparation. Eventually, you'll have to leave the house, and public bathrooms don't have cute little plastic potties. BUT, you can easily bring along the Bjorn insert if you wish, when visiting friends/family, or when travelling. Doesn't take up much room.

I think one of the single most disgusting things is seeing parents who actually BRING and SET UP plastic potties at public places, like the park! Or, even worse, in the BACK of their cars. Ewwwwwww.

I 100% agree

This potty insert is the best thing out there! Super sturdy, easy to get on off and very easy to clean. DS preferred using this than a small potty at first.

We also had a Baby Bjorn potty which I also highly recommend. No bells or whistles and super easy to clean. DS started using that after he was used to going on the big potty. I guess he realized he didn't have to stop playing and go as far if he needed to go We didn't get a lot of use out of it, but it was nice to have and very convenient when he still couldn't quite recognize the urge and needed to get somewhere quick.

I HIGHLY recommend the Bjorn products, especially for boys since they have a nice high splash guard

ETA: DS trained himself pretty much at 28 months. Probably would have done it earlier if I was home with him more (I work FT). He never was a big fan of the other potty seats/rings because they felt very unsturdy to him. Once he got the Bjorn though he was good to go!

 

[nicki.momof3]

This may sound silly but it works great. Have your child sit on the normal potty (with no kid seat) facing backwards(so they are facing the back of the toliet). That way their little butts have the front of the potty to rest on and the fear of "falling in" is gone.

Also for boys it works great because it naturally aims urine in the toilet - no directing it in the right direction necessary. As we all know little boys have a problem aiming at times. No need to aim if you are facing backwards.