Your toddler is ready to begin potty training, but you arent sure whether to have him use the big ol toilet or to invest in a little potty just for him. There are several benefits to each one and you will ultimately have to make the decision.

The Potty
Lots of parents find that starting to potty train with a little potty that is toddler sized is a great way to get the process moving. Many children enjoy using their personal sized potty and know it is just for them. It makes sitting down to use the potty on their own significantly easier and they can easily push on the floor with their feet during a bowel movement. This creates a bit of independence when your child needs to use the potty because many times they can go alone because the potty is small and they can do it by themselves.

However, once your child is trained on a little potty you will have to make the transition to the big toilet at some point. Also, parents get tired of having to clean a potty when waste could easily be flushed away if the child used the big toilet.

The Toilet
The toilet is big and loud when it flushes and can easily intimidate children. However, there are some little conversion seats you can buy that make the big seat just the right size for toddlers not to mention you can avoid flushing until your child has left the room. It might take more effort to get your child toilet trained using a big toilet because it requires you helping him onto the toilet and making sure he doesnt fall. You might consider investing in a child sized stool to help him to the toilet if he wants to do it all on his own. The great thing is once you have your child trained to use the toilet he/she will be able to do so no matter where you are and you wont have to worry about taking a potty with you much less cleaning it. Not to mention that once your child learns to use the toilet there is no more training involved.

Which to Choose?
More than likely your child will choose for you! It is good to invest in a small potty that sits on the floor and can be moved to any area of the house as well as a small conversion seat for the big toilet. Introduce your child to both options, let him try them out if he likes, and more than likely he will have a preference. You might consider introducing your child to only one or the other and seeing what happens and that is fine to. However, your child might not be responsive and it will leave you wondering if the other option would work. It really is up to you and which option, the potty or the toilet, works best for your child. Just be patient and supportive of whatever method your child chooses. Potty training will be over before too long and you will be home free. That is unless you have more children!

Posted in Potty Training

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