Choosing Your Potty Seat

Between the ages of about two to two and a half, your baby will begin to wet fewer

diapers. This indicates their bladder is maturing, and they will soon have the physical

control necessary to potty train. The signs of physical readiness include the ability to

walk steadily, pull pants up and down on their own, and the ability to go two to three

hours without wetting a diaper. Signs of behavioral readiness include the ability to sit still

for at least five minutes, a dislike or discomfort with diapers, an interest in grown-up

bathroom habits, and a desire for more independence. When these signs show up, you'll

need to choose the right potty seat for you, your baby, and your lifestyle.

Four Potty Seat Design Options to Choose From

There are four basic styles of potty seats available, each one with handy features.

Stand-alone potty chairs

Potty rings

Combination adult/child toilet seats

Stand up trainers (for boys)

Stand-alone potty chairs have several advantages. First, they are quite smaller than an

ordinary toilet, and many children find them less intimidating to use. Also, you can place

the seat anywhere in the home so potty access is always convenient -- because two and

three-year-olds might make it across the room, but not necessarily down the hall. Potty

chairs are portable, so you can take it to grandma's or on a weekend trip and continue

your potty training efforts on the go.

Potty rings are even more portable than seats, and can easily be stowed in the luggage for

traveling on airplanes or public transport. Using a ring over the big toilet is also more like

what the child sees mom and dad do, so if being like the parents has a "cool" factor for

your child, this is a plus. Rings don't require you to empty and clean out the potty seat,

and are easier to deal with in smaller homes and apartments where there isn't much spare

room for an entire seat.

Combination adult/child toilet seats are even more convenient than rings, because mom,

dad, and older siblings don't have to remove the ring entirely to use the bathroom.

Combination seats also resemble what the grown-ups do, so there is less transition when

the child outgrows the seat and is ready to potty without a special seat.

Stand up trainers help little boys learn to use a potty standing up, which is often

challenging. The unique design helps eliminate splashing, and the design is much like

what your son will encounter in restaurants and malls, so it's easy for him to transition.

Most trainers are designed with a "target," which is some sort of design inside the bowl

for boys to aim at, which helps them learn to potty cleanly.

Special Features to Consider

Many parents invest in both stand-alone potty seats and potty rings, the seat for home and

the ring for travel. However, in the first few weeks of training, when kids are still getting

the hang of going, it's best to stick with one or the other to avoid confusion. The most

important feature of any potty training device is finding one your child enjoys using.

Look for loveable character seats like Sesame Street to get them excited about using the

potty.

Next, look for a durable seat, such as the quality builds available at Kolcraft. Like most

things possessed by your toddler, potty seats see serious action. If you choose a seat or

trainer, look for one that's easy to clean, with a high back so it's supportive and

comfortable when things take awhile.

The right potty training device can make life lots easier for parents during this time, but

whatever you choose and no matter what your experience, just remember that no child

graduates high school without being potty trained. It's only a matter of time until your

little one is going without any assistance at all.