Potty-Training Equipment Reviews

Since Jessie didn't potty-train until 3yrs 8mos old, we accumulated a bunch of different potty-training related stuff in ours (and well-meaning grandparents) attempt to get her go potty. Here's a review of what we've got:

Potty Chairs (separate potty that sits on floor):

--generic wooden potty chair w/ a toilet paper holder on one side, a magazine rack on the other, and a small saucepan as the toilet bowl. It was hand-made and my mom bought this at a crafts fair b/c it "looked cute". It looks similar to this one: http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Potty-Chair-Totco-z.html, but made out of oak. It's not practical at all as the seat is the hole is too small and the wood is hard to get clean. We never really used it, so it was a waste of my mom's money. She keeps trying to tell me I could use it as a plant potter. Yea, right!

--Totco potty chairs (http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Potty-Chair-Totco-z.html). We have one for upstairs and one for downstairs. The chair is quite expensive compared to other potty chairs. I like the fact that the color, shape of the potty is the same as the big toilet. The flushing-sound mechanism is fun when they're little to play w/, but is not practical in real life (batteries run out quickly & it obviously can't really flush, so it disappointed Jessie as she got bigger). Also, we have 2 of these (one for upstairs and one for downstairs), and the lid on one of them came completely off. Doesn't matter, as it's an unnecessary piece to the whole thing, but still. Also, the seat part is supposed to double as a potty seat as they get older and transition to sitting on the big potty. This was one of it's selling points. However, we tried this several times and it just seemd so unstable...slipped several times down into the toilet some while Jessie peed and it scared her. Finally, I think the seat size is fine for a smaller child (like our Dec '04 chidren), but kids will outgrow it. Jessie had to adjust how she sat on the toilet so her pee didn't splash out; the pee guard for boys just sprayed it back on her legs.

Potty Seats (fits on top of big potty):

--So Soft Potty Seat (http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Soft-Potty-Seat-JM-z.html), MIL got this one at Walmart for her house. It's stable, it's easy to take on and off the toilet, is cushiony, and has handles which is nice for kids to hold on to. I especially like that it's cheap. No fancy characters, but that's probably not needed. If you need something cheap, widely available, and easy to put on/off, this is a good bet. Just add a good step stool and you're ready to go.

--Contoured Cushie Step-Up: http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/MH-Cushie-Step-Up-z.html. This is basically a really cushy potty seat w/ a step ladder and handles built-in. We just got ours today. Jessie saw it in the One Step Ahead catalog and asked for it. I gave in, hoping it would make it easier for her. She seems to like it. One of the issues we had w/ using the big potty is that she would use a step stool to get on the big potty and a step stool for washing her hands. However, Emily likes to play in the water at the sink while Jessie's going potty. So, she was using the step stool already and would throw a fit when we needed to move it. This potty seat is nice b/c it's both in one!

--Cushie Traveler (foldable potty seat): http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Cushie-Traveler-z.html. This potty seat folds into itself and has a storage bag that fits in a diaper bag. It's for when you're out and about and your little one needs to use the potty. It's a lot cleaner than the regular potty and easier than the paper toppers. It's also more comfortable b/c it's cushioned (other foldable ones aren't cushioned). My only complaints: 1. it seems a little small for our regular potty (it slides a little, so not quite as stable as a regular potty seat)...but we haven't tried it out on other potties yet and 2. it doesn't have handles; he handles would be nice so that they can steady themselves w/o touching the yucky bowl. But, overall, it's a pretty good seat.

Training Pants:

--Disposable training pants. We've tried both Huggies and Pampers brands. I probably like the Huggies a little better of the two b/c they're a bit roomier and aren't perfumed. Both have cute characters. Both allow for pull-on & off, or take off by side seams. The problem is that they cost more than regular diapers for the same size/amount and they don't head you any closer to potty training as they feel just like diapers. Babies just don't know the difference at all and preschoolers will still be enticed to wet their pants b/c there's no mess. Jessie has worn pull-ups for 2yrs and I won't be putting them on Emily at all.

--Gerber cloth training pants. We've tried both the all-in-ones (vinyl on outside) and all-cloth ones. The all cloth ones are comfortable for Jessie, a little thicker than underwear, but not a lot. Pee accidents still soak right thru. At this point, we just prefer to use regular underwear. The all-in-ones are nice b/c they keep things drier, however we did have issues w/ leaks at the legs. Also, Jessie didn't seem to find them very comfortable b/c they were a bit tight at the legs (she's got bigger thighs than avg and was at the top end of the weight range). Finally, these would be fine w/ pee accidents, but poo accidents are tough to deal w/ on training pants that don't open on the sides (I know b/c Jessie has had a few poo accidents today in regular underwear. uggh). So, it would be nice to find cloth training pants that can do either like disposable training pants do.

--Character underwear. Jessie values these the most. They're comfortable and cute. She has a definite opinion on what she wants to wear. So, if you have an older child, these might be a motivator. We have: Dora, Barbie, and Disney princess ones.

Step Stools:
--We've got a "baby connection" step stool in two of our bathrooms for the sinks; I think these are the Walmart brand. They work great b/c they are non-skid, lightweight, yet hold a lot of weight. My one big gripe is that I wish they were about 2-3 inches taller to give Emily a better chance of reaching the sink (ours seem a bit high)r. On the other hand, the height is perfect for Jessie.

Potty Videos/DVDs -- for kids
--"Potty Power" is the one potty-training dvd we have. Both our kids LOVE this video. It's got lots of cute songs. It's instructive to the kids and has some tips for parents in a different part of the menu. It's also interactive, asking kids questions...not just telling them. One of the things I like is that it actually shows kids sitting on the potty, instead of just teddy bears. It discusses step by step what to do, including wiping (that part is on a teddy bear) and washing hands. It has a little story, the Princess and the Potty, at the end. We love the video, and I'm sure Jessie took some of it in, but I didn't see any specific correlation between it and her potty-training. It's probably been a month or more between the last time she watched it and her want to go potty. On the other hand, she did say the quote "No more diapers for me" from the video right after she first went potty. So, maybe it had some effect.

Potty Books -- for kids

--"My Big Girl Potty" by Joanna Cole and Maxie Chambliss. A very cute book. I love Joanna Cole's books. Talks right at the level of the kids and deals w/ things like wearing diapers at night until all dry, buying underwear, and having accidents. A nice book I'd recommend. There's an equivalent one for boys. This is the one book I'd choose, if I was buying just one for my child.

--"The Princess and the Potty" by Wendy Lewison and Rick Brown. This is a cute story, especially for girls (I think there's an equivalent prince and the potty for boys). However, it has a tendency to use obscure language like pantelettes, etc that most kids can't relate to. I found myself replacing several words w/ more common ones when reading this to Jessie. It's a nice addition, and pretty much the same as what's on the video above, but not what I'd pick if I only had one book to choose.

Potty Training Dolls

--Potty Elmo. A cute doll that says he has to go potty. Includes a little potty for him to sit on and a fake sippy cup. But, I think this was a waste of money for the grandparent who gave this to Jessie, as it had nothing to do w/ her potty-training. She definitely preferred the more realistic dolls that you feed real water and that actually "pee"out the water.

--Little Mommy Potty Training Baby Doll. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DJX4F/104-0973120-7719161?v=glance. This doll actually wets when you "fed" her water and then sit her on the play potty. It has a magnet-based lever on the inside that stays closed when off the potty that came w/ it...but pulls open when on the potty (the potty obviously has the opposite charge). It's cute, but I don't see that it helped potty training any. Also, you're not supposed to submerge the doll. Well, of course, Jessie wanted to take her into the bath w/ her. From then on, when she fed her water, it poured thru all different places and not just when on the potty. On the other hand, Jessie played w/ this doll a lot and still does occasionally. So, this would still be my pick if I was picking a doll to "demonstrate" how to go potty, etc.

--Generic potty doll. MIL bought this one at walmart. If you feed the doll, water pours straight thru, whether she is sitting on the potty or not. Not very fun as it makes a mess. I think Jessie played w/ it twice and then went back to the little mommy one.

Miscellaneous:

--Foamy kids soap is fun and easy way to get them to wash their hands after going potty. We've got a couple brands and they all seem to be about the same.

--Flushable wet wipes make it easier to clean up messes on the potty and to wipe poopy butts (hmm...I'm guessing Megs will have something environmental to say about that) . We've tried several brands, they all seem to be about the same. We use regular TP for pees, but use the wipes for cleaning up poops as Jessie needs me to help wipe her. It's not easy to do w/ straight TP when she's standing up.