Potty Training

[fctjc1979]

I was wondering how many people still use potty chairs for potty training and how many just use one of those seats that go on the toilet and a step stool. It's a little early for us to be thinking about potty training our daughter, she just turned one a couple of months ago, but my husband will be leaving for Afghanistan in August and he wants to have all this stuff ready for me before he leaves - especially since I'm pregnant. I like the idea of not having to clean out a potty chair but I don't know if it makes it scarier for the child if they sit on the toilet.

[Childminder]

I've potty trained a lot of kids in the over 40 yrs I've been taking care of children and prefer using the toilet with a potty ring. When I'm training a group I use both just because going potty is contagious. The most I've had going at once is 5, two toilets and 3 potty chairs. Oh, and I put the children on facing the back of the toilet. They feel secure and the position puts the peep in the pot.

[misol]

I've done both and I prefer the ring on the toilet seat as well. It's just so much easier not having to dump and sanitize the pot each time.

[Crystal]

ring on the seat with a step stool for resting feet on is the best way to go, BY FAR! I have never used a potty chair......I don't wanna clean it!

[Crystal]

I've potty trained a lot of kids in the over 40 yrs I've been taking care of children and prefer using the toilet with a potty ring. When I'm training a group I use both just because going potty is contagious. The most I've had going at once is 5, two toilets and 3 potty chairs. Oh, and I put the children on facing the back of the toilet. They feel secure and the position puts the peep in the pot.

LOL to bing contagious!

Funny too, the sitting them backwards! I have read that twice this week, and in all of my years, I have never thought to do that! I am getting ready to train two boys, I am going to try this! Thanks for the idea!

[QualiTcare]

i've never heard of sitting them backwards either - that's funny, and i can see how it would work.

i like the seats that go on top of seats, but you stil have to clean them. it's just not as much maintenance as a potty. i've tried everything. i like just sitting them on the toilet and if they cling to it for dear life, i'll hold onto them to help keep them balanced.

[fctjc1979]

Well, my husband came home from the store yesterday with a ring that goes on the toilet. It has built in handles on the side. I liked the idea of sitting the kid on their backwards but I don't know if that would work on one that has handles. I have a while to figure it out though.

[jen]

No potty chairs here either!

[DBug]

I prefer going straight to the toilet for my own kids, but I've got too many dcks at potty training age for that to be practical. I use the Ikea potties. To sit on them, the child has to straddle them, which totally eliminates the problem of misdirected spray. It also works for girls (since I've had kids with the girl-spray effect too -- crazy, but true). I'm not a fan of cleaning them out, but ya do whatchya gotta do!

[grandmom]

I don't use the potty chair or the little seat for the toilet.

My theory is, the parents won't want to carry one around when they go shopping or to the park. So let's just get the kid on the kind they will see in those places....a regular toilet seat.

[melissa ann]

I have both available. I give the child the choice of what he/she prefers. I don't care what they use, as long as they use it.

To Grandmom: have you never had a child fall in the toilet? A normal size toilet can be scary for a young child. I have a seat that goes on the toilet, but it folds nicely into a diaper bag/bagpack that I used for my daughter and now my son. I had a dcg fall in the toilet because she wanted to be a big girl and not use the seat. She was afraid to use the toilet for like aweek . I told her it was okay to use the seat or the little potty. She was only 2 at the time and now she doesn't use the seat on the toliet.

Sometimes I think that we "grown-ups) do things that are easier for us but not necessarly best for the children. JMO.