I love this potty seat! It is EASY to clean

My 2 year old son and I love this potty seat! It is EASY to clean, fits securely on all toilets, even elongated, and my son can put it on and take it off by himself. We use it in conjunction with the Baby Bjorn step stool, which I also love. We have had other potties and this is the best, except for the Baby Bjorn Little Potty. The potty trainer plastic is hard but contoured to fit a small or large person - my 15 month old daughter fits on it, and so do I!! Hard plastic is more sanitary because it won't crack and gather germs like the padded kind. The urine splash guard does the trick with little boys until they learn to aim, but is not cumbersome for females, either. It actually helps provide some stability to the child. It is very nice not having to empty and clean a separate potty for him. The design is clean and nice, which is important to us because my kids' bathroom is also the guest bathroom, decorated to look like a spa in cool blues and white. The white seat doesn't stick out like a sore thumb or look overly cutesy or childish in a nice bathroom. We take the trainer seat on vacation with us and visiting relatives. A word of caution - be sure to use with a sturdy stepstool, because for most kids, getting off and on the adult toilet without assistance is hard without a stool and can be dangerous. However, if your child is scared of sitting up so high, go with the Little Potty.





My daughter is scared of the adult toilet and likes the Little Potty, but my son wants to be "BIG" like us and use the adult one. If you end up needing a floor potty, go with either a one piece design or a design in which the 'collection bowl' can't be removed by the child while sitting on the potty. We had a 'royal' potty -TRASH! My son was scared of the red light that sensed urination or bowel movement, and freaked out when it made noise. The splash guard was bothersome to him, causing him to hurt himself more than once, and he frequently pulled it off in midstream, making a mess. He also pulled the collection bowl out from the front in midstream, and ended up peeing directly on the floor. Love the Baby Bjorn toilet trainer, stepstool combination!

potty trainning resistance

While most children show signs of physical readiness to begin using the toilet as toddlers, usually between 18 months and 3 years of age, not all children have the intellectual and/or psychological readiness to be potty trained at this age.


Signs of physical readiness can include your being able to tell when your child is about to urinate or have a bowel movement by his facial expressions, posture or by what he says, staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time, and having regular bowel movements.



Signs of intellectual and psychological readiness include being able to follow simple instructions and being cooperative, being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and wanting them to be changed, recognizing when he has a full bladder or needs to have a bowel movement, being able to tell you when he needs to urinate or have a bowel movement, asking to use the potty chair, or asking to wear regular underwear.



Things to avoid when toilet training your child, and help prevent resistance, are beginning during a stressful time or period of change in the family (moving, new baby, etc.), pushing your child too fast, and punishing mistakes (treat accidents and mistakes lightly). Be sure to go at your child's pace and show strong encouragement and praise when he is successful.




Even after he begins to use the potty, it is normal to have accidents and for him to regress or relapse at times and refuse to use the potty. The process of being fully potty trained, with your child recognizing when he has to go to the potty, physically goes to the bathroom and pulls down his pants, urinates or has a bowel movement in the potty, and dresses himself, can take time, often up to three to six months for most children. Having accidents or occasionally refusing to use the potty is normal and not considered resistance.



While it is recommended that you don't insist that he sits on the potty and you should be prepared to delay training if he shows resistance, at some point if his resistance to using the potty persists, especially after he is 3 -3 1/2 years old, then you should consider him resistant to potty training and you will need to change your methods.



Early on in the training, especially if your child is less than 3 - 3 1/2 years old, resistance should be treated by just discontinuing training for a few weeks or a month and then trying again. At this age (18 months to 3 years), resistance is usually because your child just isn't ready to begin training.



Potty training resistance usually occurs because your child has had a bad experience at some point during potty training, especially if he was started before he was intellectually or psycholgoically ready. Other times, especially with strong willed or stubborn children, it may have nothing to do with your technique or timing, and you may have done nothing wrong.



Reasons for developing a resistance to potty training can include:



being scared to sit on the potty chair

flushing the toilet may have scared him from wanting to sit on the toilet

being pushed too early or fast before he was ready

severe punishment for not using the potty or being forced to sit on the potty

inconsistant training, especially among different caregivers

he may have had a painful bowel movement from being constipated. If this is the case, treat his constipation and wait until he is having regular, soft bowel movements before you begin training again.

or he may just be stubborn and is involved in a power struggle with his parents and is using his control over where he has a bowel movement

he may enjoy the negative attention he gets from not using the potty or from having accidents

although rare, there are medical conditions that can make it difficult for your child to hold in or delay urinating or having a bowel movement. Discuss with your Pediatrician if there are any medical reasons why you may be having a hard time teaching your child to use potty, especially if he seems to have other delays in his development.

At this point, if your child is totally resistant to being potty trained, then it is best to just make him responsible for when he wants to use the toilet. This includes not punishing him for mistakes and not reminding him to use the potty. If he seems fearful, you can try and discuss calmly what it is about using the potty that scares him.



While you may get a lot of negative feedback from friends or family members about not being more aggressive with getting your child potty trained, you should be firm and let them know that you are working on it and remind them that not all children potty train at the same time.



In addition, it can be helpful if you:



establish a reward or incentive for using the potty. This should include lots of praise and attention when he uses the potty. It can also include a star or reward chart on which you child can place stickers whenever he uses the potty. After a certain number of days that he has stickers, then he can get a reward, such as toy, etc.

have your child be involved in changing himself when he wets or soils himself. This can include getting a new diaper, taking the dirty diaper off, cleaning himself (although he will probably need help after bowel movements), and throwing the dirty diaper away.

At some point you can change him into regular underware. You can talk about it beforehand and maybe have a ceremony where he throws away the left over diapers or you may just decide not to buy any new ones. Now, when he does wet or soil himself, you can have him help to clean out his underware in the sink or bathtub. You may even have him put them in the washing machine and wait with you while they are getting washed and dried. He should then dress himself. This method is not for everyone, but is usually very effective. You can also have him clean up after himself if he wet or soiled the floor.

Limit him to having BMs in the bathroom. This isn't always possible, but is easy if he always asks for a diaper just to have a bowel movement. Next, have him sit on the potty to have a bowel movement, even if he continues to wear his diaper. Then work on getting his diaper off by opening it and eventually taking it off. During this process, you should give lots of praise and rewards during each step.

If he is having a hard time learning to use the potty, but isn't necessarily resistant to the idea, then developing a regular daily routine of sitting on the potty for five or ten minutes every few hours may be helpful.

Most importantly, avoid physical punishment for not using the potty, even in an older child. It can be appropriate to verbally let him know that you disapprove of his not using the potty, but this should not get to the point of yelling, shaming or nagging.

Toilet trainning

When is the right time to start toilet training?


There is no set age at which toilet training should begin. Before children are 12 months of age, they have no control over bladder or bowel movements. While many children start to show signs of being ready between 18 and 24 months of age, some children may not be ready until 30 months or older. This is normal.


Most children achieve bowel control and daytime urine control by 3 to 4 years of age. However, even after your child is able to stay dry during the day, it may take months or years before he achieves the same success at night. Most children are able to stay dry at night after 5 years of age.


Signs that your child may be ready include the following:


Your child stays dry at least 2 hours at a time during the day or is dry after naps.


Bowel movements become regular and predictable.


You can tell when your child is about to urinate or have a bowel movement.


Your child can follow simple instructions.


Your child can walk to and from the bathroom and help undress.


Your child seems uncomfortable with soiled diapers and wants to be changed.


Your child asks to use the toilet or potty chair.


Your child asks to wear "big-kid" underwear.

Note: Some child care programs require children to be toilet trained as a requirement for enrollment. Don't let this be a threat to your child; it may be an incentive for her to cooperate in the toilet training process.


Major changes in the home may make toilet training more difficult. Sometimes it is a good idea to delay toilet training if


Your family has just moved or will move in the near future.


You are expecting a baby or you have recently had a new baby.


There is a major illness, a recent death, or some other family crisis.


However, if your child is learning how to use the toilet without problems, there is no need to stop because of these situations.


Toilet Training Tips


Decide which words to use. Choose the words your family will use to describe body parts, urine, and bowel movements. Remember that other people will hear these words too, so pick words that will not offend, confuse, or embarrass anyone. Avoid negative words like "dirty," "naughty," or "stinky." They can make your child feel ashamed and embarrassed. Talk about bowel movements and urination in a simple, matter-of-fact manner.

Pick a potty chair. A potty chair is easier for a small child to use because there is no problem getting onto it and a child's feet can reach the floor. Special books or toys for "potty time" may help make this more enjoyable for your child.

Know the signs. Before having a bowel movement, your child may grunt or make other straining noises, squat, or stop playing for a moment. When pushing, his face may turn red. Explain to your child that these signs mean that a bowel movement is about to come. Your child may wait until after the fact to tell you about a wet diaper or a bowel movement. This is actually a good sign that your child is starting to recognize these body functions. Praise your child for telling you, and suggest that "next time" he let you know in advance. Keep in mind that it often takes longer for a child to recognize the need to urinate than the need to move bowels.

Make trips to the potty routine. When your child seems ready to urinate or have a bowel movement, go to the potty. It may also be helpful to make trips to the potty a regular part of your child's daily routine, such as first thing in the morning, after meals, or before naps.

Try training pants. Once your child starts using the potty with some success, training pants can be used. This moment will be special. Your child will feel proud of this sign of growing up. However, be prepared for "accidents."

If any concerns come up before, during, or after toilet training, talk with your pediatrician. Often the problem is minor and can be resolved quickly, but sometimes physical or emotional causes will require treatment. Your pediatrician's help, advice, and encouragement can help make toilet training easier. Also, your pediatrician is trained to identify and manage problems that are more serious.



Published online: 9/09

Source: Toilet Training (Copyright © 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics)



Healthcare professionals may order this publication in multi-copy packs.

Parents can find more information on this topic in Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5. To order a copy of this book visit the AAP Bookstore.


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The information contained in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Potty trainning

Most children show signs of readiness to begin using the toilet as toddlers, usually between 18 months and 3 years of age.


These signs include staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time, having regular bowel movements, being able to follow simple instructions, being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and wanting them to be changed, asking to use the potty chair, or asking to wear regular underwear. You should also be able to tell when your child is about to urinate or have a bowel movement by his facial expressions, posture or by what he says. If your child has begun to tell you about having a dirty diaper you should praise him for telling you and encourage him to tell you in advance next time.

You should choose a potty chair once your child has shown that he is ready to begin toilet training. You can have him decorate it with stickers and sit on it with his clothes on to watch TV, etc. to help him get used to it. Whenever your child shows signs of needing to urinate or have a bowel movement you should ask him if he wants to use the potty or take him to the chair and explain to him what you want him to do.

Only keep him seated for a few minutes at a time, don't insist and prepared to delay training if he shows resistance. Until he is going in the potty, you can try to empty his dirty diapers into his potty chair to help demonstrate what you want him to do.



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