Basic Guidelines in Selecting the Best Potty Chair

By Zoe Beerstow

A potty chair is designed to help your child to get accustomed to a real toilet seat. A lot of potty chairs on the market look very similar to an actual toilet so that the transition is easier and hassle-free.


However, some parents still prefer using an actual toilet. This is entirely up to you. But keep in mind that more potty accidents occur if you use a real toilet immediately. Your child might not be physically or psychologically ready to use one. As a result, toilet training progress might come to a screeching halt.


If you have decided that a potty chair is the better option for your child, what are the different factors you need to consider in order to choose the best one?


Listed below are some of the important factors in selecting the one that fits your child’s needs best.


1. Style.
Some products are loaded with bells and whistles, but fail to live up to your expectations. Your child might not even want a fancy one to begin with. It is important to know your child’s preference before buying one. Some children easily get preoccupied with fancy designs and unfortunately, this may slow down his toilet progress.


On the other hand, some children prefer a potty chair with elaborate designs such as music, designed like thrones, etc to motivate them. If you think your child needs further motivation, choose a product that incorporates all the features that will encourage him to use the potty.


2. Insert or Standalone.
These are the two types of potty chairs you can choose from. An insert is one which you can fit over a normal toilet seat. A standalone is similar to a real toilet, but is usually made out of plastic.


It is recommendable to use a standalone during the first stages of potty training. Kids are generally afraid of toilets so use a standalone to alleviate your child’s fears. During the latter part of the process, you can use an insert so that he will be more familiar with how an actual toilet works.


NOTE: Fortunately, two-in-one potty chairs are available. They are sold as standalone, but can also be converted into an insert style seat.


3. Durability and Ease of Use.
Since you will be only using it for a few months or even a few weeks, make sure that it will be sturdy enough to last that long. Read reviews and compare the prices. Some sites like GetPottyTrained.com offer detailed reviews on different brands of potty chairs.


Another thing you have to keep in mind is if you can assemble or disassemble the product without a hitch. Do you find it easy to dispose of the waste materials? To avoid unnecessary messes, look for a potty chair that has a removable bowl. It saves you time and effort.


4. Size.
The size of the potty chair depends on your child’s height. Some products are tailored for tall kids while others customized for small ones. Take time to research so you would be able to find the perfect fit.


5. Boy or a Girl.
OK, this is quite an obvious one, but it bears mentioning because it is very important. When you’re researching the type of potty chair you want to buy, make sure you know if it is appropriate for boys – that is if you have a boy. For girls any potty is fine.


If you’re potty training your boys, however, you need to make sure there is a splash guard, or similar – for very obvious reasons. The good news is that when you read reviews of the different products, most mention if this convenience exists.


At the end of the day, it is still important to make your child a part of this process so let him choose his favorite potty seat even if it’s more expensive than what you have originally chosen for him. This would eventually help speed up toilet training process if your child feels more independent to make his own decisions.