How to Choose a Toilet Seat For Potty Training

Potty training is one of the biggest milestones in a toddlers life. Choosing the right toilet seat for potty training can make it much easier for the parent and child. There are so many choices, so follow these steps to picking out the right seat for the potty training process.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 

   The first step in choosing the right potty seat is to really evaluate your child. Is she really interested in being just like Mommy or Daddy? Is he independent and wanting to do things his way? There are so many different types of potty seats that having an idea of your child's personality type is key to beginning your search.

2. 

   Second, ask your child what type of seat they want. Some may be interested in a character based potty seat like the one shown above. Other children may want their own individual seat like the others shown in this article.

3. 

   The next step is to take your child shopping and show him or her the different types of seats available. The best places to go are the major retail stores such as Wal-Mart or Target or stores similar to these. These stores tend to carry many different types of seats and will offer you a wider range of choices.

4. 

   Next, when you and your child are looking at the seats, again evaluate his/her personality. Since there are many different types of seats, it is important at this step to look at the different seats and think about which seat your child may use best. Is your child independent and someone who cherishes his or her own space? Then a freestanding potty seat may work best for potty training. Has your child climbed on the big potty before wanting to be just like his parents? Then definitely go with the potty seat that fits right over your toilet seat.

5. 

   Finally, know that the right potty seat truly depends on the method that you choose to train your child. No one potty seat will work for every child so taking your child along for the shopping trip may lead you to the quickest course of potty training. Children involved in the process tend to have more buy in because it is "their" seat and they picked it out. Potty training is a very detailed process and picking out the right seat will definitely get you started.

Tips & Warnings

• The freestanding potty seats are wonderfully portable. You can buy a couple of seats and put them in different rooms of the house for whenever the urge strikes. This also helps children from becoming bored by sitting on a potty in the bathroom while waiting for something to happen.
• The small potty seats are great too because they fit right over your regular toilet seat and take up no room at all.
• If you don't mind a used potty seat, consignment sales are a great place to pick up seats for less than half of the cost. This is especially economical if you want to try out several different types of seats.
• The big potty may be intimidating to a child and they may not like their feet dangling. In this case, it is always best to choose a potty closest to the floor.
• The floor potty seats can be much messier and require clean up after each visit by the child.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Potty Training Basics