Potty vs Toilet?
So, you’re gathering all of your potty-training supplies and you realize you have a decision to make - little potty OR toilet seat topper.
You’ve seen them in Target and while browsing Amazon - cute potties and seats of all shapes and sizes, even ones with steps attached and ones that look like miniature toilets that hold water. There is no “right” or “wrong” choice, but there are things you can consider to help you decide what the best choice is for your family. Here’s what you need to know about both options to help you decide:
Using a Little Potty
Pros of a little potty:
Portable - can be moved around from room to room (and even outside by the pool!) which will help your child be close to the potty as they begin the learning process
Comfortable - they typically allow your child’s feet to be flat on the ground which is ideal for emptying their bladder and bowels
Accessible - easy to use independently; no adult is needed to pick your child up and place them on it, eliminating the need for a stool
Cons of a little potty:
Messy - clean up following a successful pee or poop on the potty can be pretty yucky - and you also have to be careful that your child doesn’t spill its contents!
Bulky - typically takes up extra space which can be difficult if you don’t have a ton of room to work with
Temporary - you’ll need to teach your child to use the toilet as they grow bigger
Using a Regular Toilet:
(with a toilet seat topper + stool)
Pros of a regular toilet:
Flushable - easy clean up: just flush and you’re done - you don’t have to dump out its contents and clean it after every use
Portable - some seats are portable for travel
Generalizable - using a big toilet is the end goal, so it may be easier to start there!
Cons of a regular toilet:
Big/loud - adult sized toilets and their flushing sounds may be frightening or overwhelming for some children
Inconvenient - if your child shares their bathroom, you'll want to consider the ease of removing the toilet seat topper for others using the bathroom (some are easily removable and others are bulky)
Inaccessible - your child may need help climbing up onto the toilet and properly scooting their booty into the perfect spot to avoid tinkles on the floor
If you’d like, you can even choose to use both during the potty training process and give your child the option to choose when it’s time to go tinkle.
At the end of the day, your child can be successful with either one, but this information can help you plan ahead for what might be a better fir for your family and your goals for your child.
