The essential items for potty training

Prepare for potty training by stocking up on these must-have items. Having the right supplies on hand may help you guide your child as they advance through different stages to toilet independence.

Potty training can be successful without lots of gear, but you’ll need some items to help the process along the way. For parents, the decision for which products to choose comes down to personal preference, space, and budget.

MUST-HAVES FOR POTTY TRAINING

1. Potty chair

Potty chairs come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some flush and some require emptying. Some have lids, while others are open. The list of options goes on. The main requirement of a good chair is that it allows your child’s feet to be flat on the floor for sitting down and standing back up..

Two downsides of potty chairs? They take up space and require you to clean them out..

2. Toilet seats

Also called a seat reducer, a toilet seat nests into your regular toilet seat. Smaller and less expensive than a potty chair,some come complete with steps to help toddlers reach the seat and give them a place to put their feet while sitting. Others are incorporated into the adult toilet seat itself.

Seat reducers are a good option if you’re tight on space. Another benefit is that there’s no cleaning of urine or feces, because you can flush waste directly down your toilet.

3. Stool

A small plastic or wooden stool can come in handy for both reaching a toilet seat and for washing hands after using the potty. Some potty chairs convert into or can be used as a stool to cut down on clutter in the bathroom. You may only need one if you don’t mind pushing it around. But if you have bathrooms on more than one level, consider getting a couple so you have one on both floors.

4. Underwear Potty training pants and big-kid underwear can be a key motivator in helping your child move beyond diapers. You may find it helpful to choose underwear with favorite characters or colors. There are a variety of options to suit most preferences and budgets. The key is to pick loose-fitting underwear that’s easy to take off and pull back up. The downside of underwear is that accidents will likely get messy. 5. Training pants Training underpants may be helpful with catching small accidents on the way to the potty. They’re underwear with light padding sewn in to the center to help soak up small leaks while giving your child the sensation of being wet to help with training. They’re also reusable, so they’re a relatively economical choice while making the transition from diapers to underwear. 6. Easy-to-remove clothing Loose clothing that can be easily removed is another must-have. More restrictive clothing makes pulling pants down and back up difficult, possibly wasting precious time and causing accidents.Consider potential accidents when choosing clothing as well. Avoid pants with drawstrings or zippers because they will need to be untied and unzipped. FOR PARENTS There are a few things you may want to consider purchasing for yourself, too. Potty training is as much about training the parents as it is about training your child. Toilet Paper/Flushable Wipes Toilet paper is already standard in your toilet, but pick up a pack of flushable wipes. These wipes are very similar to the wipes you’ve been using since the diapering days but softer than toilet tissue and more familiar to your child, and they make cleanup faster. Cleaning supplies Accidents happen! Keep a few supplies in easy reach to make cleanup less of a hassle. Prepare for accidents by making sure you have a well-stocked supply of paper towels or rags and disinfecting spray for the inevitable cleanups. or rags and disinfecting spray for the inevitable cleanups. Bedding Along with an extra set (or two) of sheets for quick changing, you may want to keep a waterproof mattress pad under the sheets to protect the mattress from nap or nighttime accidents. You can also find disposable mattress pads if you don’t want to deal with washing for reuse. This is a more expensive option.