Potty Training and Which Potty Chair?

Updated on June 12, 2011
S.B. asks from Chicago, IL
11 answers

My son is 19 months old. We've been thinking about getting a potty chair and just seeing what he does with it. I'm not really sure if it's time to start trying to potty train or not, but regardless, we'll need one eventually. I'm curious to hear what potty chair you've used, what you liked about it, what was unnecessary, etc. I saw a really cute little fisher price one that had a smiley face and a little flusher, and it played music and said "good job!" and all that. I'm pretty sure my son would get a kick out of that, but I don't want him to think the potty is a toy. Also, any tips on how to start would be really appreciated. Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks ladies! We just got the froggy potty chair that a few of you mentioned. I'm not expecting too much right away, but I figure he should at least have the chance to check it out and try to sit on it, even if he's not ready to use it yet.

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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

For my son it was the froggy potty (see link below). We are still training but have moved to the big potty, however this chair was one that he picked out and was great to get him started. We are now using it for my daughter and she is enjoying it to.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Precious-Planet-Fr...

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I used the Baby Bjorn potty chair with both my kids.
They liked it. As did I.
Easy to clean.
For poop, you just put a piece of toilet paper in the bowl first to line it, so that the poop does not stick to the bowl.
Then you just dump the pee or poop into the toilet to flush it. Rinse/wipe with disinfectant wipe and that's it.

My kids, would not sit on a regular toilet even with a padded seat.
They learned with the potty chair. Then once that was mastered, in time, then they NATURALLY went on the toilet.

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K.W.

answers from Youngstown on

I trained both my kids on the regular toilet. I just bought an insert to sit on the seat so they would not fall in.

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N.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

We have tried all kinds of 'potty seats'--the all in one type my son wouldn't sit on whatsoever! We had to go with the seats that just go on top of the adult toilet. In reality, it is so much easier that way.

I did have to buy two the 1st one I got at Walmart for like 10 bucks. It worked fine and the kid loved it. But oh my, the urine smell was ridiculous and no matter how I had him 'point' it the urine got trapped in between the two seat parts, so I was cleaning just as if it was an all in one toilet.

So I bit the bullet and paid the enormous price for the Bjorn toilet trainer. In my opinion, it was sooo worth it. Its adjustable so it fits our oblong toilet seats in the other bathrooms. He can remove it and put back on his own without feeling like its moving! Wonderful, and its all one piece so there is no way for the urine to collect= no nasty urine smell! Can't say enough good things about it. Should have bought it the first time around could have saved myself some serious cash!

GL and I hope you find something that works for your lil guy!

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A.H.

answers from Tulsa on

I had two. An Elmo potty and a basic Saftey 1st potty. Both could be used as step stools and both could be placed on the regular toilet. The Elmo potty had a button he could press after he was done and Elmo would say good job or something to that effect, either in English or Spanish. My son loved the Elmo potty!

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M.I.

answers from Albuquerque on

We've always just used one of those pottys that go over the toilet. Then you don't have to deal with cleaning up after. You can just start putting him on there and see what happens, you can get an idea if he's ready. When we started full blown training we just got those training undies with the waterproof covers (target's the best place for these) and told them if they need to go potty they need to go on the toilet.

I saw this little 3 in 1 potty at Walmart the other day, didn't check the price but it's a little potty and you can also put the potty on top of the regular toilet and it's also a step stool. I think the boys versions was cars.
Good luck!

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R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I took my guy with me to see which ones appealed to him since he has to feel comfortable with it to use it : ) We strolled down the isle and he fell in love with the Fisher-Price Precious Planet Froggy Friend Potty:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Precious-Planet-Fr...

It cost under $13 so is easily affordable to buy one for each bathroom and grandma's if need be, the pot is easy to remove, dump and clean, the colors are fun and great for a boy (my guy loves lime green so I'm sure this is what first attracted him to it.) I tried to interest him in the one you mentioned and he didn't want anything to do with it, nor any in the Bjorn line, which had been my 1st choice. He would only look and touch this one. We did some shopping to clear his mind and when we came back his eyes lit up, he grabbed for one, so we made our purchase and are both very happy with it.

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B.P.

answers from New York on

We had a Baby Bjorn and we liked it. As long as the receptacle comes out I think any potty is fine. I think the best way to know to start is to see if your son is showing signs of "readiness". A few of these are telling you after he has gone, hiding while going to the bathroom, staying dry at night or at naps,. interest in bodily functions, able to pull up and down pants, and staying dry for longer periods of time. I started with at 2 1/2 with just getting my son to sit on the potty and didn't start really being serious until right after he turned 3. He trained extremely quickly. The way I started was putting the potty in our bedroom and letting him eat potato chips and watch tv while on the potty. Then if something happened, great! But I only put him on there when I was reasonably sure pee or poop would happen soon so he wasn't on there for an hour. Just waking up from a nap is a good time to do it. Sometimes I would even give him lots to drink about 1/2 hour- hour before. When he went, even if he didn't really realize it, I would give him a special gummy treat reserved only for going on the potty. That would be a good place to start.

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R.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi S.,

We use the Baby Bjorn potty seat (insert for the toilet) and find it works well. I would recommend a step stool, too. (The Baby Bjorn stool is a little too short for the sink, too. A regular kitchen stool is great.) It makes clean up much easier and while we had some potty chairs, we didn't find them all that useful. We like the Baby Bjorn seat because it adjusts to fit different toilets. We have an elongated seat in one bathroom, and a smaller seat in the other, and it fits both very well.

19 mos. is early to start, especially w/ a boy, but I found it best to just let the kids go commando around the house (or wear real underpants). There will be accidents, and you'll know your child is ready when, despite the accidents, he doesn't ask to go back to diapers.

Best,
R.

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A.C.

answers from Wichita on

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R.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

My son trained himself in ONE day (No accidents) at age 3 and has always used the regular toilet. SO nice because I never had to worry about hauling a little potty around in the car or anything. He could always use the toilets in stores and at people's houses.

My advice is to always wait until the child is ready....not the parent. BUT that said, some parents have success when they put some extra work into it at an earlier age. I just didn't want to deal with the frustration of accidents and worrying, so I waited until my son was completely ready, and potty training became the LEAST stressful aspect of parenting so far! :)

Good luck!

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