Nothing makes parents of the early toddler set more fearful than the words: “potty training”. What once was a thing that happened without a ton of discussion, has become a thing that happens on a schedule, often a 3-day one, with a hard deadline enforced by many preschools, which won’t take a kid who’s still in diapers. There are even professional potty trainers out there.
But, potty training doesn’t have to be so horrible. Or at least, it could feel a smidge less painful, with a few items that will ensure your toddler is pretty excited to use the toilet, which frankly, is half the battle won!
We rounded up a few of the gadgets out there that will have your toddler asking to use the potty — and thinking she’s pretty much the coolest potty trained kid on the block.
For the car-loving kid in your life…
You definitely need The First Years Training Wheels Racer Potty System ($17.49 on Amazon). Not only is this a potty in the shape of a car, which, mind blown, right, it also has what they call a “pee shield” to ensure that for boys learning to pee while standing the pee goes (and stays) in the potty. Like any floor potty, it has an easy-to-remove pot for cleaning, which frankly, is probably the worst thing about using these. But we like that the seat detaches and can be used on the regular toilet as your child progresses.
For boys learning-to-pee while standing:
If you want to save your floors and walls, you’ll want to check out the Foryee Cute Frog Potty Training Urinal for Boys ($8.99 on Amazon). It’s advertised for boys up to 6 years of age — the potty can be raised as your child grows, which makes it a useful item for those needing some ongoing target practice. Plus, it’s cute and the target in the center makes it a fun little game to get your aim right.
For kids who like a more realistic potty …
Sometimes, nothing’s quite as good as the real thing, but we think the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Puppy Potty ($32.44 on Amazon) comes pretty close. First, it has a faux flush complete with sound effects, which toddlers are guaranteed to find fun, especially if they want to mimic mom or dad. Second, it comes with a fun book that stores in the back that walks kids through the potty training process with 6 songs and 8 encouraging catch phrases.
For ensuring good hygiene practices early on …
Encouraging good hygiene from the get go is important, particularly with girls. That’s where the Summer Step by Step Potty ($24.99 on Amazon) comes in handy. It’s maybe not the most exciting of the gadgets featured here, but we like that it has both its own toilet paper holder — some kids find changing it out really fun — and a built-in space for flushable wipes. Plus the lid adds a bit of realism.
For those who need friendly reminders to go …
When your child is first learning to use the potty, one of the biggest keys to success is getting them to use it consistently and before they have an accident. Either mom or dad has to be the annoying reminder or you can let a neutral third party do the work — enter Potty Time: The Original Potty Watch ($11.99 on Amazon). It’s basically a fancy timer that alerts your child, via colors and music, when it’s time to try the potty again. You can set the reminders for 30, 60 or 90-minute intervals.