So Many Potties to Choose From, Which One to Buy?

I would suggest the little one tht fits into the big one, but f you really want a smaller one for indeondance, stay away from the ones that play music or "cheer" for them. We had one and my son very quickly realized he could ge the same sound by emptyin his cup into the pottty instead of going potty!

Lots and lots of moms use potties and stores sell them so there must be SOME use for them, but I am currently potty training child #3 and used to be a preschool teacher for 2 year olds so I have potty trained many. I think potties are gross and unnecessary! I never could understand why anyone would want to have a mini port-a-potty in their home when they have indoor plumbing!! It just seems so gross and unsanitary to me-- you have to clean and disinfect it every time it is used and when they really get into potty training they like to go constantly even if it's just a couple of drops. THEN, once you think you have them potty trained, you have to teach them to transition to the big potty... plus, if they only know how to go on the mini gross port-a-potty that you bought, what do you do when you are out in public??? OK, sorry for my crazy rant... I just have the cushy ring that sits on the real toilet. It has handles they can hold on to and keeps them from falling in for their first bathroom experiences. They love the whole process of pushing the stool over to the toilet and sitting on the squishy seat. For public restrooms, they are already used to the big toilet and the whole idea of the flushing and watching the pee/poop go down the drain. You can hold them so they don't fall in, or you can strip them and seat them backwards so they straddle the toilet facing backwards so they don't fall in. As for training her at 16 months, her interest in the potty is only one sign of readiness and there are many. If she is unable to hold it until she gets to the potty/toilet, you will be on a serious uphill losing battle for MONTHS of frustration, during which time you will end up switching back and forth between diapers and underwear,wondering if she really is ready, which is confusing as heck to a child. Or worse yet, you'll use those Pull Ups, which the only thing I have found more useless than them is a wipes warmer... but lots of people buy both of those things, so I think there are marketing geniuses who really are the devil, or many people just have money to burn and can't figure out what else to spend it on. Again, sorry for my crazy rant, but I find Pull Ups to be pointless and expensive. Diapers or underwear- pick one. My 2.5 year old has decided he wants underwear, period. At night, I put him in a "night night diaper" (a regular diaper) because we don't want his bed to get wet. Those will be gone soon, too, because he has been waking up dry most mornings. My sister had my 3 year old niece in a Pull Up at night for ages after she was potty trained until I pointed out that she was most likely staying dry through the night but peeing in her Pull Up first thing in the morning because why not? She has it on so why hold it and rush into the bathroom while she is groggy? So I saved my sister a ton of money she used to spend on Pull Ups by suggesting she test my theory-- she offered her daughter some sort of reward (sticker or something sweet) for every morning she stayed dry and low and behold she was able to get rid of Pull Ups within a week.
Good luck on the potty training. But I beg you to wait. There is no rush to start until she is truly ready.

I never actually used a training potty for my son. He was more interested in using the regular potty. I guess to be like everyone else. I bought one and tried using it but I just found the regular toilet to be easier. I keep the portable potty in the car and it becomes very useful in desperate times (and cleaner!) You may just want to get a step stool for your daughter. Hope this helps. Good luck.

My suggestion is keep it simple and don't get any that will divert attention from going potty. That is the point, not sitting on a throne and the toilet playing a song. Also, there is no need for spending a ton of money. I would suggest getting one with a padded seat though, as they will be more comfortable when trying to go poop. Must reads? My kids love Goodnight Moon, anything by Eric Carle or Sandra Boynton.

Must reads? I highly recommend any of Kevin Lehman's books! (Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours is one of my favorites). Which potty? You could let your child pick from 2 or 3 choices, I personally like the ones that have a seat that can be transferred to the toilet, and have a snap on bottom that can be used as a stool later. As far as books to read while on the potty, sturdy board or bath books that your child already likes are a safe bet, my children liked The Potty Book by Alyssa Satin Capucelli. (They also loved the Biscuit books, by the same author,about a little girl and her pup,Biscuit.)

Hi Karine.
I mostly agree with Tammy on this. Get an attachment to put on your regular potty. It is much better in the long run. you'll also need a step for her to help her get onto the potty by herself (and it helps with pooping to be able to put her feet on something rather than dangling). 16 months does seem a little early, so I wouldn't push the actual training. But it can't hurt to encourage her interest. Talk to her about it. Let her watch you when you go. That sort of thing.
My daughter was trained by her 2nd birthday, and we never had a huge big deal made about any of it. Just when she began going on her own, she received a lifesaver candy for her successes. After going became "rote", then she stopped asking about the candies too.
As for books, browse the bookstore. I vote for any soft backed books that she can hold on her own. She may want to read them while sitting on the potty, and the lighter weight it is, the easier for her to hold.

I used the book "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day" by Nathan Azrin and Richard Foxx. It took 3 days followed by a week of close observation to fully train my 21 month old son. I followed all the instructions. My son now loves to potty like a big boy. I really like the Contoured Cushie Step-Up potty seat that One Step Ahead carries (www.onestepahead.com). It is light-weight, easy to take on and off the potty, stays in place when my son climbs up and uses it, and since it has an attached step ladder you don't have to have a separate step-stool. I hope this info is helpful. Good luck!

Another product I recommend related to potty training is the Deluxe PiddlePad made by Kiddopotamus. It fits in the car seat or a stroller and holds over 1 cup of fluid - great for containing any accidents in the car (so you don't have to take the car seat cover off and wash the entire thing). You can also find that on the One Step Ahead website.

Karine-- I got the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair (at Babies R Us) because I noticed it got very good reviews. I was tempted to get that cute little Fisher Price one that plays music and cheers when the child goes, but a lot of the reviewers mentioned that their kids were distracted by it, and wanted to play with it instead of sitting on it. But go figure-- my son wouldn't use the potty chair at all-- he insisted on peeing into the big potty "like Daddy". :) And he wanted to sit on the big potty to poop, too, so I ended up getting one of those cushioned potty seats that fits onto the seat of the toilet for when he poops. Oh well--maybe my youngest guy will use the potty chair? :)

For our family, we chose the BabyBjorn potty chair (not the BabyBjorn little potty) which is great as there are no "nooks and cranies" for ease of cleaning. Then we found the "Xpress Trainer Pro-All In One-Real Simple Potty Training Elongated Family Toilet Seat" (which I found at Amazon). The later actually replaces your adult toilet seat and lid and we love it because our boys rarely used their potty chair as they always wanted to use the big boy potty like mommy and daddy. I especially liked how I didn't have to worry about where to put the "ring" type when company came over. It does have a slow close lid so little hands/parts don't get smashed. And since I was training two kids back to back, I figured our potty tools would be around for a while and the Xpress Trainer didn't take up any extra room, look unsightly or run out of batteries!

Karine,

As a mother to 3 boys and currently trying to potty train my youngest. Get her involved in picking out the potty. Take her to the store and let her help chose the potty and let her also pick big girl training pants. This will help with the potty training. She will feel more involved with the process and it will make the process go much easier. As far as reading goes. I can't really suggest anything. I never read anything. I just acted on instinct.

Good luck.

S.
36 y/o SAHM of 3 boys
14, 6 and 3, going on 4

I liked the smaller of the baby bjorn ones. Very low to the ground, easy to get on, good ergonomically for easy BM.

First and formost...GOOD LUCK! With my 2 older kids I have never purchased a potty seat and to be honest I am glad I did not. I bought a step stool and put it right next to the toilet and bought just the seat for the kids to put on the toilet. It worked out perfectly because not only did i not have to clean a potty seat BUT they were comfortable going to the bathroom in public places or other peoples houses because all they new was a regular toilet. they sell portable toilet seats for when you are on the go which worked great.

again...GOOD LUCK this is a fun and sometimes stressful time BUT dont forget the outcome...no more diapers!!! I will be going through this all over again in about 6-8 months...yay!

Karine,

Find yourself one of the those potty seats that fits onto your toilet seat. It's cheaper and easier to use. I bought mine at Babies R Us...it has Sesame Street characters on it.

Hi, Maybe you could try letting her pick one herself. Also there is an Elmo and Potty Time training video. I found them at Toys R Us. Most of all get ready to be very patient. All My best to you :)

I highly recommend just getting the smaller seat that goes onto the regular toilet seat. We bought that and the actual little toilet and he NEVER liked using the little toilet... He know uses the little toilet as a step stool to get onto the big toilet.. Good luck!

I've potty trained 2 boys on the regular toilet. At first we bought a smaller seat to go on the regular seat, but after a few weeks they stopped using that and just strattled the toilet. Also when I REALLY started potty training I let my boys run around the house in underwear and set a timer eveery 15 minutes so they would remember to go. I would gradually increase the time as they got the hang of it. I also used the underwear that had more material in the front. Good luck!

My kids learned on the real one. I would start by sitting them first thing in the morning, right after waking up, then again about every hour. Hold her while she learns to balance herself so she doen't slip and become scared of falling. Girls catch up so fast you'll be surprised. Good luck.