So, you’ve noticed some signs that your baby is ready to potty train? If your little one is hiding to go to the bathroom, taking off their diapers, and are generally just curious about potties, then it’s time for you to buy a potty chair.
But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is best for your little one? And why should you use a potty chair as opposed to just an insert on the adult toilet? Don’t worry — we’re here to help with that.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
Children need to feel in control, and choosing a potty chair that’s designed just for them can make the whole thing easier, more engaging, and more comfortable. I spoke with child psychologist and former director of an Early Childhood Education program for 2-year-olds, Nancy Zweibach, for some potty training tips and for some shopping pointers. Zwiebach tells Best Products that a potty chair is a much better first potty choice than the regular toilet because “Putting a young child on a regular toilet can feel frightening since there’s no security from any dimension.”
Think about it: A toilet tank is too far away to support your little one’s back, it has no sides, and there’s no floor support — which makes the experience pretty threatening. But how do you choose? Well, that’s up to you. There are fancy potties that some kids adore with bells and whistles like sounds and lights like the Skip Hop. There are also super basic plastic potties that are the easiest to clean like Fisher-Price and really convenient travel potties like the folding potty on our list.
There are a few things you need to think about before your purchase. First, how easy it is to remove the waste receptacle to clean — because, trust me, you’ll be doing that multiple times per day. Second, if you’re having a boy, we suggest getting a potty that can be wiped down easily because they will try to stand to pee, and it will go everywhere — and I mean everywhere.
We found a range of potties for parents to lure their children away from diapers and messy changes. From silly characters to super basic potty chairs, we have you covered.
