If you’re currently potty training a toddler or preschooler, then you’ve probably checked out the dizzying array of training aids available on the market today.
Whether it’s dolls, stickers, books, videos, goals, watches, seats or chairs, and have you seen how many different types of potties there are?
The real question is, of course, which of these potty control aids do you really need to potty train your child?
Here is an explanation of some of the different potty aids available today and what they are useful for.
– Urinals.
Let’s start with the big one. Chairs to go to the bathroom. You’ll want something safe and easy to clean. A splash guard is good if you are training a child. Beyond that, it really depends on your personal preferences and which one appeals to your child.
If you want, you can take your child shopping for his new potty with you, or you can think about his personality and buy what you know will work for him. There are character chairs, musical chairs, rocking chairs (!), potties, and multipurpose chairs.
One type of chair that you will want to consider is the portable or travel potty chair. Trust me, there will be times when this will be a must, like the park with no toilet, the dirty public toilet, or just when you’re driving down the road and your child can’t wait any longer.
Urinals are different from urinals. They are child-sized seats that fit on top of adult-sized toilets. While they are comfortable to use, some young children are uncomfortable climbing a stool to climb on top to relieve themselves. Personally, my boys used this particular potty training aid once they were more advanced in their potty training.
– Dolls to go to the bathroom.
Training dolls can be very useful if used correctly. A real potty-trained doll drinks water and then “pees” on demand, showing your toddler exactly what is expected of him. That clarity is usually enough to train some kids.
You may choose to use a favorite doll or stuffed animal from around the house and “pretend” to use the bathroom. That helps a lot of kids, too, especially those who already understand the process of going to the bathroom. Think about your own child and her learning style to determine if a potty doll would be useful in your home.
– Books and videos.
You will probably get a selection of these. Start at your local library to find out what’s available. Please read and watch on your own first, without your child, to ensure that the message presented aligns with what you want for your young child.
Books and videos are training aids that children use over and over again; it’s the repetition that makes them powerful. So pick the ones you can bear to read/watch over and over again! So much the better if there is a silly song or dance; Those are great tools to keep your young potty trainee in the game.
– Targets and watches.
Potty targets are disposable items that you place in the toilet and then let your child aim and shoot. As you can imagine, these are a lot of fun and very motivating, at least in the beginning. They tend to lose their shine quickly, so I recommend keeping them for special gifts or when a child needs help overcoming a moment of resistance.
Potty timers are a tool you can use to help your preschooler take responsibility for going to the bathroom. You decide when you want your child to go to the bathroom, say, in 60 or 90 minutes, and set that time on the clock. The watch will vibrate or play music when it’s time to go to the bathroom. This can be an effective tool to help you stop nagging and encourage your child to pay more attention.
– Stickers, candy, prizes.
Use these potty aids along with a potty reward chart to help your child visualize their potty training progress. It’s usually a good idea to change up the graphics and prizes (keep the prizes small by the way) to avoid boredom.
In summary, these are some of the most popular and useful potty training aids available. Give some thought to your child’s personality, as well as your own personal preferences, and you’ll make good decisions for getting your child started on the potty training process.
You can even have a little fun along the way!