Is It Really Necessary (Potty Training)

We never, ever used one and I have 5 kids. I always used the little seat that fits on the seat of the toilet and a step stool. It was a lot easier for my boys than my girls because they are standers and not sitters, but it all worked just the same. I think potty seats are gross, so I could never make myself use one.

I have 3 boys and I never used the little potty seat. I bought the smaller ring for the toilet just so they wouldn't fall in and a step stool and they all did just fine.

I potty trained my two older boys (now 6 & 3) when they were 2.5. We used the toilet ring for the top of the big potty. I think using a little potty creates an unnecessary step, because then you have to train them to use the big potty. Also, what do you do when you are out in public? Public restrooms don't have a little potty. Start with the big one!

We had one and my daughter used it once. I say use the toilet, it will help teach your child to go into the bathroom. I ended up buying a toilet seat from Home Depot (on-line) that had the childs seat built in and for us it was worth the money.

I never had a potty, just the seat on the toilet and a stool so they could get up.

All I used for 2 boys and 1 girl was a little stool in front of the toilet.

:)

The 'potty' is completely unnecessary (and gross IMO - I really don't get putting a toilet in your living room or kitchen - I wouldn't put a litter box there either). I bought two Bjorn toilet seat covers/inserts (we have oval Toto toilets and they were the only ones that fit) and a foldable travel seat that fit in my diaper bag. We also got two little step stools (which at age 6 he still uses to brush his teeth and wash his hands so definitely worthwhile). My son was 25 months when he trained and would have fallen in without the seat inserts. If you were training an older or larger child, I don't see that you would need any special equipment.

absolutely not necessary. don't even worry about it!

we bought one (thank goodness i got el cheapo because i was of the same mind as you - sooo sick of all the worthless expensive "gadgets" you're "supposed" to have for a baby these days) and he couldn't have cared less. we have used it MUCH more for a step stool (the bottom flipped over to use it that way) and thank goodness we were able to get some use out of it. he's 5 and still uses it as a step stool!

now, i will say my son has always been tall for his age so maybe it would have been more helpful if he'd been smaller. he never had a problem staying on the big potty. and learned pretty quick to spread his legs out so that he didn't fall in. it's not rocket science. also, we waited until he was good and ready so there was no battle, no "coercion" or convincing needed. a big fancy kids potty with flashing lights and music just wasn't necessary. plus, then there's no big drama the first time he has to go at someone else's house or at a restaurant or store that doesn't have a small one!

This depends ENTIRELY on the kid. I'd start out using the regular toilet with a seat cover that makes the hole smaller, because many children are afraid to sit over what to them feels like a huge, open, gaping hole; it makes them tense up and then training turns iinto a huge struggle. If your kid is fine with the regular toilet and seat cover, great. If there is trouble, then switch to the on-the-floor potty. One important thing -- A plus to the floor-level potty seat is that kids can have both feet firmly on the floor, which helps them feel secure and also helps them push a bit when they poop. If you use just the big toilet, be sure to have some kind of sturdy and definitely non-slip stool always there for your child to put his feet on when he uses the toilet. That will help him feel more secure and readier to sit on the toilet -- no one likes to have dangling feet!

Nope. We didn't even use the kid seat. We had one, but he hated it.

You can just use the toilet seat cover. Neither of my boys ever wanted to use the mini-potty for training. It was a total waste! We used the Baby Bjorn seat covers, and they've been fantastic! If you have a boy, make sure you get some with a high "pee guard" in front.

As others have said, depends on the child. My DD was small, and even with a fairly high stool it was hard for her to reach the regular toilet when she first started training. She last used hers a few months ago, when she had to go quickly and didn't have the time to find a stool and climb up. But if your child is big enough to reach the regular toilet easily, then you don't need a special potty. Sad you are so far away, I'd give you mine!

We had two of them and neither one of my kids every showed much interest in it. I wouldn't worry with buying one in retrospect.

Both of my daughters hated both. Once they were able, they just wanted the big potty (and a step stool from target).

i only use the inserts

You've already gotten so many answers and I am probably repeating some of them. I had a baby bjorn potty chair, really small and all one peice of molded plastic...it was wonderful to take in the car (cleaner and easier to use at the park, before going into a store) and to have in the living room or play room while doing the really intensive every 20-30 minute potty breaks at the beginning of training. My kids easily used the regular toliet as well, there was no preference or confusion on thier part. But, definatly not necessary, just convienent. It was $9.99 at Babies R Us.

I liked the potty chair, you can place it close to where they are playing (preferably on a floor not carpet) and it serves as a reminder to use it.

Do you have more than one bathroom? You can do without, but if you're a one bathroom household it's kind of nice to have one so you can both pee at the same time. Or maybe I'm the only one whose preschooler has had an accident while I was peeing, or who's done the potty dance while asking her 3 year old to PLEASE HURRY!

I used the little potty because it could be moved between upstairs and downstairs bathroom and even into the family room so it was handy when she was playing. It was handy to allow her to go potty at the same time I did. She was also under 2 years old when were were training, so climbing up on a stool to the big potty was a little hard. I had a child toilet seat for her later, but that didn't get used much. By the time she was big enough to climb up to the big potty, she didn't use the child ring very long.

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I used the little potty for ease and portability.
At first it was in the living room with us or the bedroom, basement, outside.
It could go to Grandma's or in the car, I had a van. It was indispensible on long trips.
YOu can potty train with the potty seat, but with a little pot they can do it all themselves and you don't have to help them every single time.

I got a seat insert and potty for my DD from a friend. I like the potty for portability (long road trips!) and because she can handle it easier than getting up on the big toilet, insert or not. It's not NECESSARY but if you don't have a potty chair, then look at a good stool and insert combo. A kid who can't get up to the toilet will just have accidents trying. Ours is a simple Bjorn. No music. Two parts. Easy to clean. I didn't go for any fancy singing anything and DD never missed it.

To answer your question, it may not be necessary. My kids all used the small potty to start out, my two older ones were afraid of the toilet, I think because of the flushing, and my little guy was terrified of it altogether, didn't even want to see it when he took a bath, lol! But I have seen many children use the small seat on the toilet and a sturdy step stool to climb up and to rest their feet on, my grandson trained this way a couple of years ago, mom said she wanted to train him just once where he'd be going which made sense.

So if your son has no fears the small seat should work fine.

It depends on the child. I would purchase one from a garage sale.

Or even better, borrow one. We were given so much stuff from a mom that was not going to have any more children.. she had both.

FYI, our daughter was not interested in either.. It took till she was almost 4 and then she liked seeing all of the kids at day care with the lined up potties before it clicked with her. At home she would only use the toilet seat cover.. at day care she liked the little chairs.

The elmo potty chair I bought also turns into a stool that he now uses to stand on to wash his hands/brush teeth, so not a waste after using the seat. We did start on the little seat because he was intimidated by the big potty. Once he got the hang of the little one- he asked to use the big one. The seat came off and snaps onto the big potty- which he still uses even though he has been potty trained for 2 years. And he uses the step stool. So I suggest you get one of those- it has all sorts of uses and therefore- not a waste :)

Ok, mine did not get used but twice but that is b/c my son did not potty train successfully until 4 vs 2 (like I planned) so it went to my sister for her son who is a year younger than mine. My son used a cover and a stool to get to the toilet, again he was 4. I did like that I could bring him in to sit on it when I did and hoped that would spark something in him but it did not, again he was not ready. My sister used it wonderfully but her son is also on the shorter side (esp compared to mine 5yo 4ft tall). I think it is a personal choice if it is needed or not but if you want your child to potty with you and not for you then it is needed.

we got a potty seat for my daughter...we bought one of the cheaper ones but she's a tiny 17mo old and her legs are shorter. getting her to be able to use a step on the big toilet would still be difficult for her. For now it works for us while we start introducing potty training. but it all depends on your child I feel and if they are able to use the big toilet with a stool or whatnot.