| If you are preparing to toilet train your child in the near | | | | However, lots of parents, myself included, prefer a |
| future, you've probably been looking at potty training | | | | removable potty bowl. That means there's a little more |
| chairs. | | | | to the potty chair to clean but it's well worth it when |
| You have a lot of choices, don't you? | | | | you're dumping out the potty several times a day for |
| Fancy, plain, one piece, handpainted, multi-use, gender | | | | months. |
| specific, and portable just for starters. | | | | Look for a bowl that's easy to remove, too. If you can |
| Since you've probably ruled out buying one of each, | | | | do it one-handed, all the better. Eventually you're going |
| how do you decide on the one or two that will work | | | | to want your child to do this task for himself, so you |
| best for your child. | | | | don't want anything complicated or easy to spill. |
| That's a great question. Let's take a look at several | | | | - Travel and portable potties. |
| types of potty chairs and see what are the main | | | | After potty training four children of my own, I can tell |
| benefits of using each. | | | | you, you'll want to at least consider getting a travel or |
| - Potty training chair or potty seat. | | | | portable potty training chair to go in your car. |
| First things first; you'll need to decide if you want to go | | | | Then no matter how grungy the public restroom is (or |
| with a potty chair (a child-sized toilet that sits firmly on | | | | if it's not available at all), potty training keeps moving |
| the floor) or a potty seat (a child sized toilet seat which | | | | forward. You can get potty chairs that fold up, have |
| fits on top of an adult-sized toilet). | | | | disposable liners or even the entire potty chair is |
| A potty seat means never having to clean out the | | | | disposable. |
| bowl from the potty chair (that sounds good), but you | | | | You can also get foldable potty seats to fit on top of |
| need to know that lots of toddlers are not comfortable | | | | public adult toilets to help your toddler feel safe and |
| climbing up on the adult sized toilet from the get-go. | | | | comfy. |
| Multi-use potties refer to potty chairs that can come | | | | - Specialty potties. |
| apart and be potty seats, too. Pretty clever, huh? | | | | These are the fun potty chairs. You can get musical |
| Some of these also can be flipped over for a step | | | | potties (some make music when a sensor detects |
| stool. Just be sure and look for a tight fit for the potty | | | | wetness, others simply have a button your child can |
| seat when it's on the adult toilet and no sharp edges | | | | push to play a song), character potties and |
| when the potty chair comes apart. | | | | handpainted potty chairs that become beautiful rocking |
| - Gender specific - or not. | | | | chairs when your preschooler is done potty training. |
| Most potty chairs will work just fine for either boys or | | | | - Summing up. |
| girls but a few are designed specifically to be used by | | | | When shopping for potty training chairs, keep in mind |
| only one gender. | | | | how you want to train plus your child's own personality. |
| Frankly, while these potties work okay, if you plan on | | | | Remember you're going to clean this thing A LOT and |
| having more than one child you run the risk of needing | | | | your child needs to feel comfortable and motivated |
| a different potty the next time around. Things to watch | | | | while using it. |
| for are splash guards that are high enough to do their | | | | There are no wrong or right choices between these |
| job for little boys but easy to straddle for both boys | | | | potty chairs. You may find you need one in each of |
| and girls. Some splash guards are removable for girls, | | | | your home bathrooms and one in your car. Or you |
| but watch for sharp edges when the guard comes | | | | may decide that a simple potty seat that can tag along |
| off. | | | | everywhere you go is the best choice for your family. |
| - One piece or removable bowl. | | | | That's all good. The main point is to keep potty training |
| The simplest potty chairs are one piece, easy-to-clean | | | | positive and upbeat as you and your child navigate this |
| marvels. They are sleek and rounded - no edges to | | | | important growing up milestone together. |
| pinch little thighs. | | | | |