16 answers

Potty Chair or Toilet?

I am starting to see good signs that my 16 month old is ready to potty train. But I want to think seriously about what will work best for her. Which is the best approach: potty chair (low to the ground) or toilet seat (overlay for adult toilet to fit their smaller size)? Also if you can suggest a make and model that you like, please feel free to share. -Thanks!

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So What Happened?™

Wow! So many different experiences and ideas. I can't thank you all enough for sharing your insights. It sounds like I need to be prepared for either the potty chair or the toilet seat, plus a travel solution. I will definitely give her some more time to truly demonstrate her preparedness, but if she still asks to, "go like Mommy," I will have the equipment to start. Thanks Everyone.

Featured Answers

I bought a Mommy's Helper Padded Potty Seat with Step Stool. It has a little ladder (one step) so they can get on and off the potty themselves. I prefer it because I did not want to have to clean a potty chair. I bought it at Buy Buy Baby, here's the link: http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SK...;

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter is 2 years old and expressed interest in the potty a few months ago, then we made a move accross the county and she is no longer interested, but we have a nifty thing called the "flip and flush". It is a seat for the adult toilet that attaches to the seat and can be flipped up for adults or down for kids. It makes it easier for her to do it herself rather than need help to put the seat on for her. We also have a Bjorn potty chair that she sits on sometimes too. Mostly she uses that as a chair to sit on while one of the adults is using the toilet.

More Answers

I bought a Mommy's Helper Padded Potty Seat with Step Stool. It has a little ladder (one step) so they can get on and off the potty themselves. I prefer it because I did not want to have to clean a potty chair. I bought it at Buy Buy Baby, here's the link: http://www.buybuybaby.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SK...;

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

I only had boys, but this would work for girls as well. Turn her BACKWARDS on the toilet! Her legs are supported by the seat itself (they feel safe from falling in). This method eliminates extra baggage when shopping, traveling,or going to grandparents house. With my boys, they were taught to hold their "squirt gun" down and try to hit cheerios in the water. Hope this helps! My "boys" are now 25 and 20!

Dear H.,
If you use the child seat overlay to the toilet, you can eliminate one step in the training process; the transition from the their personal child seat to the adult toilet. This type worked well for my daughter. In the beginning, I used to leave a few books by the toilet and read to her to help her relax and "go". It also made training fun for her. And the funny thing was that these stories were about Barbar the Elephant, so she ended up calling her acheivements "Big Baba" and "Little Baba". My daughter is now 24, but I used a style that resembled a step stool and folded up. It had 2 steps and handles attached to make her feel secure, and before long she could use it by herself.
The important thing, though, is to be in tune with your child. When my son came along, I was not having the same success, until I realized that he was afraid of this type of seat - or perhaps the flushing action. I switched to the tradition, low potty seat and had immediate success. Also he preferred to play with matchbox cars on a little table in front of his seat to reading books. Before long, he graduated to the other type of seat. The expressions "Big Baba" and "Little Baba" were used in our house until they became teenagers.
Good Luck and don't get discouraged. The most important advice in motherhood is the "use your imagination". W.

potty training is personal to each individual i say, my 2 yr. old does both because we have a 2 floor house. a potty downstairs and when we are upstairs i put her on the toilet she likes the real toilet because it flushes and she see me using it. the potty has songs and praises but i think she thinks it's a toy, also she can get off of it way too easy when she doesn't want to sit. her potty is fisher price and it looks like a real one except well you know all the songs and cuteness. pray on it gurrrl good luck God is love

When my daughter became interested in 'going potty', I set up a potty seat (her size) in each bathroom. I used a no pressure approach, and if she wanted to use the potty I'd take her into the bathroom, remove her diaper (this was before pull-ups!), and I'd let her take it from there. Most times, I'd use the grown-up potty at the same time so I wasn't hovering over her, waiting for her to go. Also, demonstration is a wonderful teaching device.

Try both. I personally liked the toilet since it's less work to clean. Other moms say if you use a potty, sometimes it's harder to transition from potty to "big" toilet...

My daughter uses the toilet most of the time, but once in a great while, she will use the potty...

If using a potty, baby bjorn with removable cup is good. I like the baby bjorn potty seat the best. :)

My 19 month old seemed ready at 17 months so we bought him a little ptty chair and the top comes off and also fits on the toilet. He loves it and tells me he has to "poop". He sits on the one that is low to the ground and plays sometimes, just to get accustomed to it and the other night he wanted it on the toilet so we put it there and he actually peed! I can't imagine it happeneing too often at this time but they say to let them use it when they ask so they get used to it. Sometimes he sits on it, even with a diaper on, and there are many times he walks around the house wearing it as a hat!
Good luck.

Potty Chair. It gives children a sense of independence.

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