Potty Training Toilets

Updated on November 07, 2008
T.G. asks from Lakeland, FL
12 answers

Hello,

I am in the process of looking for a training toilet for my 2 year old. I am not sure what is best: a training toilet that attaches to a toilet or a training toilet that sits on the floor. Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated :) Thank you, T.

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So What Happened?

I would like to thank everyone for all the wonderful responses! I have decided to buy both types of training toilets. I greatly appreciate everyone's suggestions :)

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D.C.

answers from Fort Myers on

Hello T. I would recomend the ones that attaches to the toilet with a kid step tool so that he can get through.And if he or she is not comfortable than put some books to in the bathroom close to the toilet and believe me they learn fast to the bathroom and save you the pull ups that are so expensive. I'm mother of three boys they were a year apart and learn the toilet in time. But for napping or at nite you will need to keep using the pullups until they start school. Boys take longer to stop wetting at night. Not every day but it will happen.Good Luck

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T.C.

answers from Tampa on

I bought both when my son was training. He used the floor model often in the beginning--his feet touched the floor, he didn't need help getting on and off, he could reach his books while he sat. After he gained confidence and skill he started using the toilet insert. He is now trained for day and night. We no longer need the insert as he can balance on the regular toilet seat or simply stand. He does still use the floor model at night. We have it sitting on a bath rug in his bedroom for nighttime potties.

Note: We also used a portable insert for public bathrooms until he gained mastery.

Good luck!

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R.

answers from Tampa on

Each child is different. My son used the one that sits on top of the toilet and had no problems with that. My daughter does better with a training toilet as she likes her feet to touch the ground. That does help when they have BMs. We have a cheap potty from Ikea that was $3.99 and a $30 princess potty that plays music when she goes potty. She uses both, but she loves her princess potty. She does a little dance (while sitting) when the music plays. I never thought in a million years I would pay that much for a potty, but I don't regret it. So not a real answer for you. The nice thing about a training potty is that you can put it anywhere. We had it out in the living room for a while with a plastic cloth underneath it for a while as she would not use it in the bath room. So they are nice and portable. Good luck!

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A.A.

answers from Punta Gorda on

Hi T.,

I have always used a floor potty for her, and I perch her on the big potty whenever it's convenient or necessary, like when we are out at a restaurant. I was always afraid of her trying to climb up and sit on the big potty on her own and falling, though that's probably an unfounded fear (she's never tried to).

I have not bought the small-size potty insert that some people use over the big potty seat. It's just not been necessary for us even though she started when she was very little (19 months). She's never fallen in! ;)

I do think we may buy the steps & rail that attach to the big potty seat (at onestepahead.com I think) if it becomes a helpful transition item later on.

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M.F.

answers from Tampa on

Hello T.,
As a mother of a potty trained 23 month old daughter I would suggest getting both! That way your child can use/experiment with his/her potty when they want to without any help and you can also put them on the big potty when you are training.
This seemed to accelerate my daughters training and she is now successfully trained! I have to admit training my daughter was easier than my son. I got her a baby bjorn potty from
www.theecstore.com
It was 6 dollars + shipping.
Good luck! And remember, let your child go without diapers as much as possible! Be prepared to clean up pee and try to
watch for the signs that they have to go!
Make it fun and rewarding. Never scold them for not making it to the potty. Just take them in there and tell them that we go Pee on the potty.
HAve fun!
M.

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A.M.

answers from Orlando on

I just got a soft seat that goes on top of the regular toilet. I also bought a stepping stool to match so she could climb up on her own. Bought them both at Walmart for about $25. I find these to be better options because a) they are portable and b) since she is petite, she can continue using the soft seat until she is big enough to not worry about falling in the big toilet.

P.S. If your child is exhibiting signs of being ready to potty train, don't worry about the age. It is a gross misconception that "2 is too young." My daughter was originally trained at 18 months for daytime use. She was put back in diapers due to confusion between her father and I on the process being used. Good luck.

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T.P.

answers from Tampa on

I recommend the one for the ground. When he has the handle on using the potty he can use it as s step stool for the big potty, a graduation milestone my little guy was very proud of. He still uses his ground potty in a pinch....really handy!

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S.M.

answers from Tampa on

I use the small ones that go on the floor. My child's doctor once said, it's harder to go number 2 when your feet don't touch the ground. I had never thought of that and so I got the on the floor kind which has worked great for my kids. Plus there is one that when the lid is down it is a step stool so I use it for the kids at the sink to brush their teeth. So the double duty works great and takes up less room in our small bathroom. Best of luck!

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T.Y.

answers from Sarasota on

Well, I see many moms told you to try both but I have to tell you that I swear by the bjorn potty trainer (I have 2 and had to order them from leapsnadbounds.com) It goes on the toilet. It fits our elongated seat and it is more like a normal toilet. My son uses it and although he now will go on a regular toilet if he has too, he prefers his seat. I have 2 small potty chairs that were gifts but I only use them as stools. I cannot even think about cleaning out a potty chair. I would rather change a diaper. But that is my issue. Good luck and I guess most importantly, it is whatever your child will use!

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M.H.

answers from Sarasota on

I think it is best to have both and it really isn't a big financial investment to make. My son always went on a seat on the toilet until he went to daycare, then he used the small ones on the floor. At home, he never wanted to use the floor one and I'm glad, I really didn't want to clean that up! I have the baby bjorn seat and love it. Have both and your child will choose.

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H.B.

answers from Tampa on

I had two...one on the floor next to the big adult potty and one off the living area of our home. It worked great with our daughter. Both of ours are the Bjorn ones...one bigger one in the living area with the taller back and the removable bowl and the one in the bathroom was the smaller solid one. I think they are at Babies R Us and online usually $10 and $20 or so.

Some people don't like having the kids potty anywhere other than the actual big potty in the bathroom and get toilet seats on top, but for us personally, our daughter is very smal and it was a big hassle to try to get her up on the big potty every time. This way she felt more involved and in charge of going potty. It was so much easier for us to have convenient potty area in the house and after she was going well we removed the one that was in the living area and only used the one in the bathroom....then the potty ring on the big potty.

Good luck and go slow...2 is REALLY young. My daughter started at about 2 1/2 and was completely trained (except for sleeping times) by about age 3...

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R.C.

answers from Lakeland on

Hi T.,

We used both. When we first started training, we used the little potty so his feet could touch the ground and he was comfortable. We sat there for long periods of time and read books. We still have the basket of books in the bathroom for all the kids. As he grew, got better at the potty and was fine using the big potty, then the little potty "broke" and had to go away. It was not a big deal either way for him. My son is small in size, so we are now getting rid of the seats that go over the toilet seat as he is fine on his own.
Personally, I would start out with the one that sits on the floor and move from there. It makes it easier for the kids.

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