Potty Chairs for Kids

• Long periods of dryness.
• Interest in the potty and toilet behavior in general.
• Awareness of his need to pee or poop.
• Asking to have his diaper changed.
• The coordination to pull pants on and off easily.

Do You Need a Potty Chair?

Once you have determined that this is the right time to start toilet training, the next step is to decide if potty chairs for kids are the best choice for your child. Keep these pluses and minuses in mind while formulating your decision:

Pros

• Potty chairs provide a low pressure opportunity for kids to attempt potty training at their own pace. By simply putting out a potty chair in your bathroom you enable your child to gradually make independent attempts at experimenting. This will allow him some control in the process.
• Smaller potty chairs will help with kids who are afraid of the big toilet.
• Potty chairs for kids can be moved around. For example, some parents place the chair closer to where a child plays to help prevent accidents.

Cons

• Children can become so attached to their potty chair that they are unable to practice using different toilets, such as the one at grandma’s house or the mall.
• Special potty seats are not the real thing and some kids, especially younger siblings, want to be like older kids and adults.
• Potty chairs tend to more difficult for boys learning to urinate while standing.

Types of Potty Chairs for Kids

Potty Chair Style

This type of children’s potty training aid is essentially a small child-sized potty, where the toddler will pee and poop into a bowl that is then emptied into the real toilet. They are available in a variety of styles including:

• Moisture-activated – These potty chairs for kids include a sensor that detects moisture. Once a child urinates into the potty, it will begin to play a song, therefore providing instantaneous feedback on potty successes. In some cases, this type of potty chair can motivate kids to want to use the potty, but it can actually scare some children.
• Decorative and Whimsical – Fancy potty chairs are available in styles to either match your décor or add to the fun of using the potty. Some of the most recent releases are seats that look like royal thrones.
• Convertible – No the top doesn’t come off, but these seats convert to a stool. This is especially nice for smaller bathrooms with less floor space and to help encourage kids to wash their hands after using the toilet. Just make sure that, when used as a stool, the potty chair is sturdy and stable.
• One Solid Bowl – With an old-fashioned look, these simple potty chairs are basically a bowl with extra plastic for sitting. With this simplicity comes the ease of use and cleaning, along with no extra parts to distract, pinch or irritate kids. They also tend to be the least expensive.
• Realistic Versions – This type of potty seat looks like a miniature version of the real thing. This is an advantage for a smaller child who really wants to use the big toilet.
• Urinals – One of the newest updates in the potty chair market is not actually a seat at all, but a miniature urinal for boys. If your son wants to use the toilet just like Dad, but doesn’t quite have the coordination, this could be a playful option.

Potty Seats

A potty seat is essentially a tool that will help convert the adult toilet into a potty chair for kids. The main advantage for parents is cleanup. With a potty seat, children are actually using the toilet, so the fruits of their efforts can simply be flushed away. For the children, they enjoy the seat-style as it allows them the opportunity to use the toilet, just like a grown up. There are a variety of styles, but they all attach to the top of the adult toilet enabling a smaller opening and more comfort for young children. Kids will need a step stool to help them climb up and to give their feet a place to rest while using the potty.

Common Types are:

• Seats that attach to the adult potty, which can be lifted up when not in use.
• Insert style seats that can be removed and set aside when not in use.
• Specialty seats that have a built in stool and ladder contraption.

Travel Potty Seats and Chairs

Any style of potty chair and seats can be used for travel. Simply throw them in the back of your car and go. For the seat types, just bring a plastic bag and place it in the bowl. When your child is done, you can toss the bag in the nearest garbage. Having an extra potty chair in your car is particularly important during the early days of potty training, when young children are not able to "hold it" that long. Travel potty seats can also be helpful when children are feeling anxious about using a strange big potty at the grocery store.

Portable folding potty seats are another option and they are small enough to fit in a diaper bag. Before using, test them at home to make sure they are sturdy enough to hold your child. It is also helpful to use them at home occasionally so they become familiar to your child.

Shopping Tips

You can spend anywhere from $10 to $80 on a new potty chair or seat for your growing toddler. While shopping, keep these tips in mind:

• Never push a certain type of potty chair on your child. Instead, let him have some control.
• Bring your child shopping and test out the chairs together.
• For larger and older children, potty chairs and seats are not as necessary.
• Always check for stability. A potty chair should have a large base to avoid tipping over.
• Be careful with arm rests –- both in seats and chairs -– as they are not necessary and in some cases cause children to lean and fall.
• Avoid splash guards as many injuries have been tied to them.
• Make sure that your child’s feet can comfortably rest on the ground or on a stool while using the potty chair or seat.
• Make sure it is easy to clean.