A few questions about potty training and where to get a big potty!

[popsycal]

DS is 2y 2 months and we are going to give this a go during half term as he seems pretty much ready. A few questions...

1. DS is big for his age and every potty we have tried is uncomfortable for him. We intend to buy a seat that fits over the toilet (any recommendations?) but also want a potty for when the need is urgent! HAs anyone bought one from Bunp to 3? It is the only one I can find which looks wide enough to be comfortable for him. ANy other recommendations?
2. We intend to buy lots of pairs of pants and stay pretty much at home for the first few days at least. But what about when you HAVE to go out - what do you do then?
3. has anyone used the 'training pants' or is it best to go straight to normal underwear? What about when you HAVE to go out?

TIA

I would say go straight for the potty chair (you can get them in mothercare. I'll do a link in a mo). Much more comfortable and they don't have to go down so far to sit down (and they are far wider than normal potties because they are like little chairs).

For the seats, we have a plastic one from Mothercare with a guard but both kids find it a bit hard so they like the squishy ones (like seat that sits on the toilet seat) but if little boys are weeing whilst sitting on them you just have to make sure they point their penis down otherwise you'll get treated to a spray!

p.s. we never used training pants. I think the kids found them cofusing (i.e. confused them with nappies and didn't know whether they could or couldn't wee in them)

potty chair

thanks for that! the chair looks good and much more confortable!

I too have a little boy with a big bottom

1. Popsy we had a potty/chair thing, which was a good size, and it had little handles at the sides, which seemed to help with stability and also for bms for some reason! I've had a quick look, but can't find a link to one. We got it in ToysRUs, I'm sure you must still be able to get them.

I don't know how big your house is, but I found it was worthwhile having a couple of cheap spare potties - one in the car, one upstairs, one downstairs, etc.

Initially it can be a bit 'hit and miss' with boys, but have a potty in the lounge (or wherever you are) as a visual reminder, as well as being close to the action to encourage success! To prevent mess, sit the potty on an old piece of carpet, or one of the small pampers care mats.

2. When you have to go out, just try before you go out, take a potty with you and a change of clothes, and just deal with any accidents.

3. Nope to training pants - they really don't help. (Unless you are going for afternoon tea with Auntie Janice who has a brand new cream carpet and a sooper new 3-pce suite, and zero tolerance for children!)

Stay calm and relaxed, clear up accidents very matter-of-factly, and shower him with praise for every success. DON'T count the accidents (certainly not at first); but DO count the successes.

Finally - Good Luck!
I remember dreading toilet training with ds1, and in the event it was much easier than I expected - all well and truly over and done with within a week. Hope it goes well for you.

If you want a potty rather than a potty chair, Argos do a big one that's more like a low seat but doesn't take up the room of a potty chair. It comes apart to make a step and a trainer seat for later on.

For a toilet seat we have a squishy padded one for travelling, about £7 from Woolies although Boots do one too. For home we bought a new loo seat with an integral toddler seat that pulls down. We got it from Great Little Trading Company (John Lewis do them too) and it was one of the best buys we've ever made.

1. We have a potty chair from Mothercare. Our friend's 3yo DS has sat on it okay. Much better than a normal potty IMO.

We tried DD with a seat for the toilet and she wasn't impressed at all. She'd rather just use the big toilet without. Although she is still too short for actually getting onto a big toilet herself, even with a stool (from Mothercare also). I have to lift her own. At nursery she uses the child size toilets happily, without any need tfor a special seat.

2. We just went out in pants. In the pushchair and car seat , to start with, I lined them with a folded Pampers bedsheet thing. We just took out spare outfit with us. But TBH we didn't have any accidents out of the hosue at all. And we went out on Day 4 (maybe 3?) no worries. Oh, and always get him to have a wee (or at least try) before leaving.

3. I had training pants but only used them once. They are pretty bulky, not that easy to pull up and down (normal pants way easier) either. And they don't hold a proper wee at all, only a slight accident at the most. And they are very expensive at over £4 a pair!!!

HTH

pottychair from mothercare excellent, dd1 still uses it, dd2 practises on it

potty chair it is then

popsy it's good for cleaning - just whip out the bottom bit, swoosh with some milton, wipe if necessary (!) and off you go again..on outings, just take the small bit out say in the bottom of a buggy