Potty Chair or Toilet Seat

my daughter was never interested in having her own potty, she wanted to use the big one like we do. I think she liked her princess potty seat too!

I have two daughters who are both well past toddlerhood, but I have also taught preschool for 19 years, with the majority of that time teaching two-year-olds. Potty training, (or "toilet learning,") is one of those things that you can plan for, but toddlers do have minds of their own and very quickly figure out what you can and cannot make them do, (such as sleeping, eating, and eliminating.) I have found that most toddlers do well with the little potty seats when there is also a little step stool that can sit beneath their feet. I also have them scoot the step stool up to the sink afterwards to wash their hands. Many children are really bothered by the sensation of their feet hanging down without touching anything. There are those instances where a child is fearful that they will fall in and need the assurance of a little potty chair that is low to the ground. After a time, they typically feel comfortable enough to use a little potty seat that is much more space-friendly in a small bathroom. (Been there!):) By the way, 17 months is the age where children are developmentally able to begin to control their eliminating, although not all children are ready then. Don't worry, Mama. Some children train quickly while others take their sweet time about it, but I have yet to see a typically-developed teen in a pull-up. :) Your child is blessed to have such a thoughtful Mama.

I much preferred the small seat on the big potty - there is much mess to clean up after, and my kid didn't have any confusion about what was really a toilet. It is also something that you can take on vacations with you much more readily than a potty chair.

i liked the potty chair better.

As the mother of a boy who potty trained at 3 1/2- it doesn't matter which you do. My son just finally decided to use the toilet and it had nothing to do with method. And we've had virtually no accidents-- I don't even have to remind him. I think the best is to make the options available. We had room enough for the small potty and the small potty seat for a big toilet in the bathroom. During the 'training' period, when forced to sit on the toilet, he went back and forth in preference. Ultimately, he figured it out when he wanted to and he ended up deciding to prop himself up on the big toilet seat!

Hey G.-Congratulations to you! My son just went potty for the first time on his little pottychair this morning so I love the idea of "not missing an opportunity". I can't wait to get rid of the pooey diapers but know it'll take time....anyway I am going to get the smaller seat that fits on the toilet also in addition to our little potty. His pottychair is made by Firststep and can be used as a stepping stool also. Anyway I want to use both because I'd like to have the flip one to take w/ to public places, to again not miss an opportunity and they fit so nicely in your diaperbag. I remember that fear of falling in when you were little, gosh I was terrified ;)....I hope the smaller seat option on the big potty can help w/ his feeling of "help I've fallen IN and I can't get up"....okay I'm rambling...just my 2 cents worth. Best of luck!

Hi! With my first, I started with a small potty chair and then quickly moved her to the real toilet with a smaller seat on the top. It was a hard adjustment for her because it felt more insecure for her. My next two kiddos started directly on the toilet and it worked great. Someone told me once to "Start where you plan to finish" and it has proved true in many areas of my parenting. Good luch and enjoy the process! P.s. Please don't worry about what age they get potty trained. My kids ranged from 4 - 2 and the more you stress out because they are slower than your friends' kids the harder it will be. Let them go at their own pace. :)

Hi there G.,

We started with a potty seat. They are gross! Luckily my daughter never really took to it. I am a firm believer in the small seat that sits on top of your own toilet. I suppose all kids are different though. Whatever works for your little one, go with it! :)

Good luck to you!

C.
www.EnhanceYourWayOfLife.com

I'm for the toilet seat. It goes straight in the toilet and requires no clean up, unless accidents, or regular cleaning.

we had the potty chair first and she liked it in the beginning but mostly because it was a toy but when it came to actually potty training the hard plastic of the potty chair hurt her and she hated it it set us back to the beginning so we bought a cushy toilet seat and in a matter of a month she was totally potty trained also the chair we had rewarded her by singing and it was so sensitive that it rewarded her for nothing telling her she did it when she had barely sat on the seat so she would just get up and think she accomplished something when she hadn't.

It all depends on the child. My oldest son loved his potty seat. My now 2 year old doesn't like his potty seat and wouldn't sit on it, he wants to sit on the big potty like a big guy, so we use smaller seat for him and just put a step stool in the bathroom for him to use.

I think it's really up to your child to direct that decision. We had a potty chair and we tried to get my son to use it but he was not interest. He wanted to use the same potty that we use. Makes sense. So we bought him a one of those seats that fits on the big potty and a step stool so he could climb up. And that's how he learned. Follow your child's cues. :)

I prefered (and my 2 girls preferred) the seat that fits on the toilet. I liked it because I didn't have a big bathroom either and it takes up little to no space. I bought a plastic hook from the hardware store (the kind you'd hang on a closet door) and put it inside the top part of the toilet and hung the seat right on it. Then they would come whenever they wanted to practice and could get it themselves. I think most kids want to be doing what their parents are doing. But listen to the other ladies and take cues from your daughter.

My daughter uses a stand-alone potty, and really doesn't like to sit on the seat we also got for her. She likes having her feet on the ground, and it helps her with the pushing as well. Being up on the big potty is too overwelming for her, and she won't "perform," instead just asks to get off right away.
17months isn't too early to start potty training, just don't have too high of expectations. I take my daughter to the potty in the morning and after naps, and try to get the timing down during the day. If she goes in her diaper, then oh well, but if she goes in the potty, we celebrate.
We started using the potty with her when she was about 15months.

We used a potty chair. I think it's easier for them to sit on it (leg circulation), plus they can sit on it while you're using the potty.