Potty Seat Vs. Potty Chair

Updated on March 30, 2010
J.L. asks from Aubrey, TX
9 answers

My 2.5 year old will sit on the toilet with his potty seat on it and read, occasionally he will pee. He is not afraid to sit on it at all. I have been toying with the idea of getting a potty chair for the floor because he can't get on the big potty without us putting him on it. Even when he tries to use a stool, the potty seat moves around and he just can't get on there. Would I be digressing to go from the big toilet down to a potty chair? How hard would it be to move him back to the toilet when he got ready if he was used to the little potty chair? I just do want him to need to rely on us lifting him up onto the toilet if he needs to go and we can't get to him right away.
On a side note. I am looking at the Fisher Price Froggy potty chair because it got good reviews and it is cheaper than most, as I will need to buy one for upstairs and one for down. Any input on that chair or others?

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C.X.

answers from Dallas on

We used both styles. The toddler potty was mostly used to get used to the idea of going potty. We had it around for months before he actually started potty training. When it came time for training, he preferred the seat on the toilet.

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C.S.

answers from Victoria on

I went with the potty seat, but I bought the toilet seats with the potty chair built in. I got mine at Lowes. Adults can use it like a normal seat, little kids just have to bring their lid down and use stool to climb on. the built in seat doesn't move & allows them to no feel like they are falling in. My son now lifts both seats up to pee standing, but he uses the seat to poo. I installed in both our bathrooms & at my office. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&... here is an example. I did try the chair first with son, but they kept spilling the pee & i got tired of cleaning the poo mess. Hope this helps.

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A.A.

answers from Atlanta on

We have both, a potty chair upstairs and a potty seat downstairs, also a foldable potty seat for on the go. He enjoys all three!

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K.T.

answers from Minneapolis on

We have that froggy potty, and it is great! Perfect design, very simple [similar to the Bjorn potty], cute, cheap [I got it for $13 at Walmart] and my son has never peed out of it because of the big part that comes up in front.
The reason I ended up buying that is because while my son had, and still has, no problem sitting on the big toilet, he would constantly say he needed to go potty just to get in there and play with the sink or try to get me to let him take a bath. So now if I think he is manipulating me and really doesn't have to go potty, I'll say "okay, you can go potty right here". I've also brought it upstairs [his bedroom is upstairs and our 1 bathroom is downstairs] so that we don't have to go all the way downstairs in a rush and risk him having an accident. Since we only have 1 bathroom, it has also helped in case someone is already in there!
But even if you get that froggy potty chair, he will need help wiping if he has a BM, or even getting his pants down...my son still can't do that by himself, and you'll still need to wash it out afterward, so it wont change the fact that you'll need to be there. But it might be more comfortable for him and you could keep it in different rooms of the house.
There's no reason you can't give it a try and see if it works out.

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E.L.

answers from Dallas on

I have personally used both within the last 2 years. I used the chair with my first and just a seat with my second... my opinion is Potty Chair = YUCK!

After you have to clean poop out of that thing you may think twice about the ease of just flushing. Either way, good luck on the trainig, it can be a challenge!

E.

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D.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

I think it depends on how you present it to him. If you tell him that these are his and his only......that might make him feel special. I would buy one and see how that works. He may not like it. But I think he needs to know that you are doing this to make it easier for him, not you. Tell him when he gets a little older and is better at this, he can go back to the big toilet.
Like I said, I would ask him, he might not like the idea at all, then you have spent the money for nothing.
Good luck and take care.

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T.H.

answers from Portland on

we use both. The boon potty chair is around so he can use it if he suddenly needs to go and we just taught him to poop on the big potty vs the little potty chair (so glad this stuck b/c i don't want to clear poop out of the little potty either). We tried 3 other pottys and the boon potty won in the end. I'd suggest something low to the ground without a splash guard (those things get in the way).

Good luck!

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H.J.

answers from Minneapolis on

We actually ditched both with our son and he just spreads his legs and leans forward on the big seat. He can get up with a stool and do it all on his own has been for a while now....although he is not fully trained he will be turning 3 shortly and it works well for him.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

If you think he would have an easier time on a potty chair, get O.. My son had no trouble changing from his chair to the toilet (with a ring on it). As he grows, it will be easier for him to navigate the big potty! Sounds like he's doing great!

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