Modern society likes its gadgets and conveniences, and EC and potty training is no different. There is almost an infinite array of potties, training pants, books, clothing, etc. all marketed as being what you NEED to get your kid to toilet independence. But do you? Well, no. You don’t actually need a thing except a kid, the clothes you want them to wear, and the place you want them to eliminate. However, as with everything, sometimes the right tool DOES make a job easier. Thus, I will occasionally be posting about navigating gear, to help you understand what’s out there, what it’s used for, and most importantly, to help you decide what might be right for your family. If you want to see a list of tools and resources that I have experienced having success, have a look at our Resources page. Topic #1 is one of the most important to both EC and potty training – the potties themselves!
First and foremost, do you NEED a potty? Well, no. But I do recommend them, and this is why: Potties are the easiest way for your child to do their potty routine on their own. For me, any inconvenience a potty might bring into your life is made up for 1000x by your child’s ability to be completely independent on a potty from a very young age. If you have to help lift your child onto a toilet, or help them feel secure by helping to hold them on top of the toilet. Or if you have to go with your child and let them into a child-proof locked bathroom every time they have to pee, then they don’t get to achieve the same level of independence they could have with a potty they can freely access. And ultimately, potty training is about empowering our kids to take control of their own hygiene needs. To be independent.
Potties come in many shapes and sizes, with many different features and intended uses. I will break this down into simple potties, potties with inserts, travel potties, and top hat potties. There are other specialty potties out there which I will touch on briefly, but we’ll stick mostly to the primary types here so you can get to know them. We will cover toilet seat adapters in another post.
Simple Potties
Simple potties are just that – they are very simple. They are all in one piece, making them easy to clean well because they have no seams or extra pieces. However, you must take the whole unit to the toilet to dump it every time your child eliminates, which some find cumbersome. For stable toddlers who are fairly easy going, these are a fine (and economical) choice. You can generally get one for under $10. However, if you are practicing EC with baby, you have a child who is particular about what they sit on, or you prefer to cart a smaller vessel of pee and poo to the toilet, a potty with insert may serve you better.
Simple Potties with Inserts
The low-profile, basic layout of a simple potty, but with a removable insert that you dump in the toilet. For my family, the inserts make them easier to use, because dumping a whole potty can be awkward (especially in a small bathroom). As an added bonus, if you’re practicing EC with a newborn or young baby, the insert can come out and [with most models] sit between your legs while you potty your infant on your lap. If you want to be able to sit up a young baby and give them a little more support (or you have a toddler who wants to feel secure), a potty chair may be a better fit for you.
Potty Chairs with Inserts
Potty Chairs always come with inserts, so you have built-in convenient dumping. As with the simple potties with inserts, you can use the insert to practice EC with a baby on your lap. Where potty chairs have the advantage is with the added security of a full back support. This is very useful if you are sitting a young baby without full control on the potty independently, or if you have a toddler who prefers the look or feel of a full-back potty for their own security.
Travel Potties
Travel potties are compact, so they are usually shorter (lower) than regular potties and while great for travel, aren’t usually preferred by kids for everyday. Travel potties usually fold up. Some have covers so you can take the contents with you to dump later; some have disposable liner options, so you can bag the contents and throw them in the trash. Some clever designs can double as a toilet seat adapter, which can be really handy if you want to flip flop between public washrooms and no washrooms at all, or even if you want to use them as adapters at home. Because of their small size, they typically accommodate tiny bums easily, so can be great for EC and early potty trainers. Older toddlers may find them awkward to use because of their size, especially if they haven’t grown up accustomed to them.
Top Hat Potties
These potties are great for EC from birth to 6mth. Small and simple, they fit perfectly between your legs for convenient pottying in a classic EC position with you as a support. You can get or make fleece cuffs that keep the tiniest of bottoms from feeling chilly, too.
Specialty Potties and Potties with Bells and Whistles
While I ultimately support any potty that gets your child out of diapers and onto potties and toilets, I will be honest and say that I am not the biggest fan of the flashy, musical, ready-to-drive, “fun” potties with lights, music, screens and who knows what else. We are teaching our children to pee and poop in an appropriate receptacle that will ultimately evolve into only a toilet because it’s a matter of course. We have to pee and poop… we have to put that pee and poop somewhere… our society has deemed toilets as that place. Flashy potties with buttons, steering wheels, etc., that are partly used as toys, seem to defeat the matter of fact attitude we are adopting about this process while learning to deal hygienically with our bodily functions. But some families may find that they work for them, and that’s just fine.
There are also some specialty potties out there with disposable liners so you theoretically never have to wash them but can either flush or dispose of single use potty bags. While I understand that we are all searching for a little more convenience, this just seems excessive, both in terms of cost, and environmental impact.
I hope you find what you are looking for, and your family ends up with the potty of your dreams! For particular products that I have witnessed working for families, please visit our Resources page. And always feel free to Contact Us, if you need any further guidance!
Go Diaper Free with Ruthann Drummond, Certified Consultant & Coach 