Dr. Gary Kirkilas, a pediatrician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson, recommends looking for potty seats that include features that limit slipping and increase stability, such as rubber stoppers on the underside and side handles for gripping. In addition to making your child feel more secure, a toddler-proportioned potty can help with the ergonomics of “the go.” Having their legs at a 90-degree angle (or even slightly squatted), with feet flat on the floor or a footstool, and sitting securely will help your child move their bowels more easily.

Some parents like to wait for the warm weather and just take away the diaper for 3 days straight and keep running to the toilet with their kids to train them, while others train their kids gradually,” she says. As a general rule of thumb, toddlers under the age of 2 or 2 1/2 often seem to prefer potty chairs, while toddlers who are 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 seem to prefer using the grown-up potty. Children typically show signs of readiness, including dry diapers, an interest in the potty itself, running to a private area to poop, and predictable bowel movements, between the ages of 18 months to 36 months, according to Dr. Dylan Hes, medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics.Plus, sitting way up high with legs dangling and hanging on for dear life just isn’t comfortable, especially for a newbie. It’s a daunting task. Pee and poop end up in places they shouldn’t (like, really shouldn’t ), the laundry is endless, the carpet will never be the same, and everyone’s patience will be pushed to the limit.

A potty chair, on the other hand, resembles a bowl or an actual tiny toilet. This option may feel much less intimidating for your child than climbing a step stool to sit on a full-size toilet. While children don’t have bowel and bladder control until after 18 months, you can begin exposing them to their potty at any age. Depending on your potty training approach, it may help some children get familiar with their own potty seat or chair. The chair allows their feet to touch the ground, which may make them feel more secure and can also be placed in convenient locations outside of the bathroom, such as play areas, as easy access is critical to success when they are getting started,” he says. Practice makes perfect when it comes to toilet training (trust us we've been there) so what better way to do it than with this realistic training toilet that looks & feels just like an adult version. Who knew an adult-looking toilet on a mini scale could be such a must-have! This kind of seat is much easier when it comes to clean-up. As opposed to potty chairs, which have a bowl that needs to be dumped and wiped out, you can flush away waste.For boys, Kirkilas finds that a splash guard is helpful for preventing messes. “Some potty seats include a step stool, which can be helpful for parents who are physically unable to lift the toddler onto the seat as well as providing support to the child’s feet as they bear down for a bowel movement,” he adds.

While many of us would prefer to minimize our baby gear, a toddler potty seat or chair is a very worthwhile investment. One accidental tumble into the toilet may be all it takes to scare your toddler away from the porcelain throne for a while. (And who can blame them?!) However, toilet training is a big milestone in any toddler’s life, and it’s well worth the effort you are putting in. As one mom told me when I was despairing of potty training my very stubborn son, “He won’t go to college in diapers!” Then there are the loud flushing noises, and the sight of things just being whisked away to who-knows-where. (Does that thing swallow kids or just toilet paper? They’re not so sure yet).Practice makes perfect when it comes to toilet training, so what better way to do it than with this realistic training toilet that looks & feels just like an adult version. Who knew an adult-looking toilet on a mini scale could be such a must-have! The Mayfair NextStep2 is a unique product that combines an adult-sized toilet with a tot-sized seat. They share a hinge, so switching between the two is as simple as lifting the lid. The smaller layer attaches to the cover with a magnet, and you must pull them apart to use it. We love that this offers a one-and-done take on a toddler potty; there is no need to remove or store it when not in use. In our experience, this seat is an ideal long-term solution for older kids who are still a bit nervous about the gaping hole of an adult-sized toilet. Your child will likely be using this up to 7 or 8 years of age. The slow-close lid is a nice touch that prevents the loud slam that may annoy parents and startle young children, and the smaller seat is removable when your child outgrows it. Having the right equipment can make a big difference in how the potty training process goes. Just imagine approaching a toilet that is higher than your belly button, and you may be able to sympathize with how your toddler feels about grown-up toilets. According to Kirkilas, both seats and chairs are useful in facilitating the potty training process. In his experience, however, he has found that potty chairs may be easier for a child to get used to at first.

When your child starts showing signs of toilet training readiness, you can start incorporating “sitting on the potty” into their daily routine. Equipped with lots of patience, some books, and cups of their favorite beverage, you’ll see them start to understand the sensation of going in the potty. Portable and convenient for travel making it perfect for travel. Your little one will train and feel like a big kid wherever you go! Once your child has gotten used to using the separate potty chair, over-the-toilet potty seats work well in helping them transition to the toilet. As an added plus, potty seats tend to be easier to clean that potty chairs. How do you start potty training? Lastly, Kirkilas recommends looking for potty seats that have roughly the same oval or circular shape as your toilet. Is it better to potty train on a potty seat or separate potty chair?She recommends beginning potty training by letting your child sit on the potty seat or chair with the diaper on initially, so as not to be scared. When shopping for a potty seat, one of the first things you’ll notice is products differentiated by seats versus chairs. There are a few important differences to keep in mind. BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer is a minimalistic potty chair alternative that fits on top of your regular toilet. This means no dumping or cleaning anything extra with each flush! Two adjustable flaps help secure this smaller seat on any size toilet, and the included tall splash guard ensures that waste goes where it should. Although it is a more rigid plastic, the contoured shape is pretty comfortable. This seat addition lets toddlers feel secure and grown up on an adult toilet and removes extra cleanup steps for parents, making it a win-win for everyone. A rubber carry handle allows for easy transportation and hanging for storage. The slim profile allows it to slip under the bathroom sink if you want it out of sight when guests stop by. With so many awesome features including a real life-like toilet flushing sound when you press the flush button, a lid that opens & closes and an integrated splash guard design that actually stays in place (hurrah) you'd be potty not to get your little one practicing using this.