|
Potty Training
So your toddler is finally ready to master the skill of potty training?  Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for potty training supplies that will help excite and motivate your child to leave the diapers behind. Try to keep an open mind and a positive attitude when starting down the potty training road. If you make bathroom time fun and stress free, your child will embrace this new concept.
A Note to First-Timers
Most children potty train when they're between 18 months and 3 years old. iVillage, Potty Training Concepts, and About.com have loads of information about how and when to potty train, including tips for all of the troubles that may come your way. Don't worry! Together, you and your family can get through this. Some parents swear by a reward system complete with potty charts. Another tip is to have your child pick out special underwear. Keeping their new underpants clean and dry is a good motivational tool for some children. It's a good idea to have pull-up diapers on hand during the transition from diapers to regular underpants.
| Potty Options |
|
|
|
|
|
One Piece Potty Chair - Pro -- Low, light, cheap, and easy.
- Con -- Too small for big kids, have to dump to empty.
|
Potty with Removable Cup - Pro -- Easy cleaning, some portable, fun designs.
- Con -- Cup/chair intersection could pinch, many not portable, too big for small rooms.
|
Potty + Stepstool - Pro -- Could still have easy-empty cups, enable kids to climb to the bigger toilet.
- Con -- Can be expensive and ineffective.
|
Potty Seats - Pro -- Fits over the regular toilet, eliminating the intermediate potty steps, cheaper.
- Con -- Too high for some toddlers, toilets can be scary, must be removed when grownups want a turn.
|
Travel Potty Seats - Pro -- Portable and inexpensive.
- Con -- Not good for every day use so you'll still have to buy something else.
|
Important Features- Clean-up should be easy.
- Stability keeps your child from being nervous while learning this new skill.
- A potty should be comfortable and easy to sit on, it should not tip easily and it certainly shouldn't leak.
- Some customers complain that certain models have lids that fall down too easily.
- Read reviews to get an idea of how sturdy it may be so you don't end up disappointed.
- Look for a potty with high backs and sides to give full support to your toddler while sitting.
- A potty seat should be fun to use and colorful.
- If the child finds the activity to be enjoyable, the process should go smoother.
- Favorite characters, like Elmo and Dora, are available in potty training supplies.
Less Important Features- Flushing sounds mimic the sound a real toilet makes.
- Stickers reward good bathroom habits and can be used to decorate the toilet, letting your child know that this is a special possession.
Bottom Line?
$10-$40 will buy you a decent potty training seat.
Trainer to the Real Thing
When your little one is ready to move on to an adult toilet, try Toilet Buddies. This innovative toilet trainer makes learning to use a real toilet fun and easy. The decals, mimicking cows, puppies, giraffes, and bunnies, attach directly to the toilet with velcro and will not damage the toilet's surface. The unique names, "Gatago Giraffe", "Poo P. Bunny", "Puddles Puppy", and "Ca Ca Cow", are as funny as they are fear-free. This is a wonderful help for children afraid of transitioning to using an adult toilet.
Popular Products
|
Shopping Directory
