Tammy Said,
I am getting close to begining potty training and I don't know whether I should encourage using the potty chair or the big potty.
I think maybe the potty chair would be easier, but then when we are out shopping or somewhere else all that will be available is a big potty so I am wondering if that would make it harder in the long run.
Any parents out there with some experience on this that would like to share?
momma5 Said,
I guess it depends on how the potty training starts out. We always had a potty chair sitting in the bathroom that the kids could sit on, examine, and get comfortable with before we made a serious effort at potty training.
At first they will still be in diapers anyway and it will be hit and miss (mostly miss), when they get better at knowing when they have to go then you could introduce the big potty.
JanetC Said,
Well I think it kind of depends on which potty your child responds to. I have one child that did nothing but the big potty chair and 2 others that took a liking to the little potty chair.
We most generally started potty train early. Nothing pushy but we would help our childred take notice when they were wet or had a poo poo. We did this until they shown signs of understanding by verbally expressing that they did or being shy and hiding.
When they shown understanding we made sure we had potty chair in the bathroom so they would get comfortable with it. It sat in the bathroom where baths were taken and they frequently seen it. Slowly right before the bath while the water was running we would invite the child to have a seat. Sometimes they did sit and sometimes they didn't sit. For the boys we would see a "fountain" in the bath and try to help catch them as they see what was happening and invite them to put the potty in the chair.
This really worked for us as days went by they would sit on the chair by themselves right before a bath. They would sometimes actually do something and sometimes they wouldn't. We praised them for doing it and they got to come out and show everyone their good work. They were so proud of themselves they would keep doing it over and over. After that we would let them wear pullups and for an hour or two each day where we would observe them frequently asking if they have to potty. When they did make any attempt we would praise them. Every week we would extend the time a little more. Until they were wearing pullups all day and making frequent trips to the bathroom.
Again this worked real well for us but some kids just may have some problems. All I can say is never force your child and alway try to make it something pleasurable to do so they can always feel comfortable.
