Potty Chair Help!! Specific Questions

[preschoolteacher]

It's time... the first of my parents want to start potty training their 26 month old. They asked me to have their child try to go before nap time. I think that is a reasonable request.

However, I have NEVER done any sort of potty training before.

They would like to bring a potty chair here and have the child try before nap. The idea is she would sit there for 5 minutes and try. A small reward would be given for trying and a big reward for success.

1. Is that a good idea? I personally think potty chairs are kind of gross.
2. Where am I going to store it? Our bathroom is way too small. Plus, I can't really sit in there with the child and supervise when I have other little ones. Putting it in the main playroom seems gross because it's carpeted. Where do you keep them?
3. Do you let kids share potty chairs? The thought of that seems weird...
4. Thoughts on rewards? Good idea or bad?

Maybe I just have some weird hang-ups about potty chairs because I have never done this before. Tell me if I'm crazy!

[melilley]

Here, I have a 26 and 28 mo boys who are in the beginning stages of potty training. I don't use potty chairs, just the toilet and the kids do surprisingly well using (well trying) a regular potty!

The only reward that I will give here is a sticker. I make a potty chart and every time they go, they get a sticker. I don't do food or anything because I did that once and when the child would go potty, he would get a treat then everyone wanted that treat.

I don't like potty chairs, unless maybe it was for my own child. They make those potty chairs that you can put on a regular toilet and there is also a toilet seat that you can buy that has a little one attached to it. I don't use any of those, but the seat that has one attached sounds neat!

[melilley]

Plus with a potty chair, every time they go to the potty you would have to sanitize it and that seems like it would take up too much time.

[Blackcat31]

I tossed my potty chair a while back too. Now I use the regular toilet with a small ring seat that snaps in and use a stool to climb onto if necessary.

I would hate to have a parent bring a potty chair back and forth every day.....what if they don't clean it well? I don't know, I just think that is kind of Ewww!

If they really want her to begin toilet training on a potty chair I would buy one myself but I wouldn't allow it to be brought back and forth.

I would give them Nan's potty training letter so that BOTH you and the parents are on the same page as far as definitions and expectations about toilet training.

You don't have to do things just like Nan, but you should definitely discuss with the parents the expectations of each of you as well as what process you both are going to use (rewards/no rewards) and how you are going to handle delays, set backs and mishaps...since it is your house and your flooring...

Here is the link to Nan's toilet training letter to parents:

https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/potty-training-letter-to-parents.htm#comment-11736

[preschoolteacher]

Thank you BC! What a great letter. I printed it out and gave credit to Nan.