Are expensive potties really any better than cheapo ones? What do I need to get to start training DD?

[pixiestix]

Any advice gratefully received! I haven't really got a clue. What do I need to start us off? Any book recommendations? Do I go for the really pricey potties that are out there or just get a cheap one for every room? Help please!

I bought 4 Ikea pottys, they were pretty cheap and nice and high. We also had a mothercare one but it was too low for DS.

I liked having more than one, if I didn't have time to clean one out properly then I could rinse it and leave it in the bath and deal with it later.

I had a basic one from Boots, DS hated it. Bought a BabyBjorn potty chair and sat him on it and he was trained that afternoon.

Now he'll use either though...

Use a toddler seat on the toilet. Saves cleaning 100x a day!

How old is your little one? DD1 started training at 2.5 and quite quickly went on the loo, so if we would have bought an expensive one, it would have been a waste of money. We bought some cheap ones and were also given some and they were fine. I never bothered taking one out and about. Just used public loos or verges or any available grass! I would start with a cheap one and see how you go. Problem with having a special one is either having to take it with you everywhere, or dealing with tantrums due to it not being there!

Thanks for all the advice. Seems pretty split! DD is two next week and I wasn't really planning on training her until the spring but we were at the doctors today and the GP was really surprised we weren't doing anything about it yet It got me a bit panicked.

I had a chair-based one for DD and it was much more effective than the little one i had for DS. But then, she is a girl...

I think it's down to personal preference, or your child's. But definitely get one with a high front if you have a boy. We have a boots one and a training seat from Argos, both have fronts that are too low and often result in spraying!

Don't start trying to potty train because of of the GP. Wait till your dd is ready, otherwise you are just condemning yourself to extra months of extra washing/accidents etc.

We had one cheap potty, the cheapest I could find, it was fine.

Ignore the GP and just use the toilet if you want to.

Ds was 2.8 when we started,

I would put him on the potty at nappy change time.

If he did a wee, that's fabulous ! If not, no big deal.

Then I went out and bought 2 boxes of nappies (on special offer) and some more underpants In preparation for.potty training .

When I got home ds went though the bag, found undies and demanded to wear them, stripped off his trousers and nappy and declared that he was a big boy.

We have not looked back, I think I just got lucky with timing
I bought a chair type potty from eBay, it's fab.

Cost £10, well worth it

Get a padded insert seat with handles to go on the loo and a step up to the loo. Don't bother messing around with potties!

And as others have said, worth having the high front to reduce any splashing.

And then you can get little portable inserts that fold up if you want to take one out and about with you or you can just hold them on a big toilet seat if you don't want to take one with you.

and 2 definitely sounds early these easy washing machine or disposable nappy days - how old is the doctor and has s/he ever toilet trained toddlers themselves?

ds1 wasn't ready until he was gone 3, ds2 it was more like 4 (and even then it is still a nightmare, he just isn't bothered) but neither of them liked using the potty particularly, much preferred to be big boys on the proper toilet!