If you are currently potty training a toddler or preschooler, then you’ve probably looked over the dizzying array of potty training aids available to you on the market today.

Whether it’s dolls, stickers, books, videos, targets, watches, seats or chairs – and have you seen how many different types of potty chairs there are?

The real question is, of course, which of these toilet training aids do you really need to train your child?

Here is an explanation of some of the different potty aids available today and what they are helpful for.

– Potty chairs.

Let’s start with the big one. Potty chairs. You’ll want something safe and easy to clean. A splash guard is nice if you’re training a boy. Beyond that, it’s really up to your personal preferences and which one your child is attracted to.

You can take your child shopping with you for his new potty chair, if you want, or you can think about his personality and purchase what you know will work for him. There are character chairs, musical chairs, rocking (!) potty chairs, and multi-use chairs.

One kind of chair you’ll want to consider is the portable or travel potty. Trust me, there will be times when this will be indispensable, such as in the park with no toilet, the dirty public restroom or simply when driving down the highway and your toddler cannot wait anymore.

Potty seats are different from potty chairs. They are child sized seats that fit on top of adult sized toilets. While they are convenient to use, some toddlers are uncomfortable climbing up a step stool to get on top and do their business. Personally, my kids used this particular potty training aid once they were more advanced in their toilet training.

– Potty Dolls.

Training dolls can be very useful IF used properly. An actual potty training doll takes in water and then “pees” on demand, showing your toddler exactly what’s expected of her. That clarity is often enough to train some children.

You can opt for using a favorite doll or stuffed animal from home and “pretending” potty use. That, too, helps a lot of kids, especially ones who already understand the potty process. Think about your own child and his learning style to determine if a potty doll would be useful in your home.

– Books and videos.

You’ll probably get a selection of these. Start at your local library to learn what’s available. Read and watch first by yourself, without your child, so that you can make sure the message presented aligns with what you want for your toddler.

Books and videos are potty training aids that children often use over and over – it’s the repetition that makes them powerful. So choose ones that you can stand to read/view again and again! All the better if there is a silly potty song or dance involved; those are excellent tools to keep your young potty trainee in the game.

– Targets and watches.

Potty targets are flushable items you place in the toilet and then let your child aim and shoot. As you can imagine, these are a lot of fun and highly motivating, at least at first. They tend to lose their luster quickly, so I recommend holding them back for special treats or when a child needs help getting over a resistant moment.

Potty watches are a tool you can use to help your preschooler take responsibility for getting themselves to the potty. You decide when you want your child to use the potty, say, in 60 or 90 minutes, and you set that time on the watch. The watch will vibrate or play music when it’s time to go to the potty. This can be an effective tool to help you stop nagging and encourage your child to pay closer attention.

– Stickers, candy, prizes.

Use these potty aids in conjunction with a potty rewards chart to help your child visualize their potty training progress. Generally it’s a good idea to switch around charts and prizes (keep the prizes small, by the way) to ward off boredom.

In summary, these are some of the most popular and useful potty training aids available. Give some thought as to the personality of your child as well as your own personal preferences and you’ll make good choices to get your child started with the potty training process.

You may even have some fun along the way!

Author Bio: Colleen Langenfeld has potty trained four kids and helps other moms get more out of their mothering at http://www.paintedgold.com . Toilet train faster using her potty reward charts and creative ideas plus uncover more about potty training aids by visiting her website today.

Category: Parenting
Keywords: potty training aids,potty training,toilet training,potty aids,training aids