Potty: ranking. Which one to choose?
Human physiological needs are one of the most natural things that accompany our everyday life. They also include the topic of expulsion. A little man, on his way to independently perform the basic activities in life, comes across a moment when it is high time to start waving goodbye to ... diapers.
The moment of transition between the proud use of the "adult" toilet by the child and walking with the bottom "decorated" with a diaper, is for the toddler to start using the potty. And here a lot of questions may arise that neither parent has asked themselves before. Questions like: which potty should I choose for my child? Which potty model is suitable for a 3-year-old? Is a girl's potty a good idea? What potty can be the best for a boy? Have any of them crossed your mind at least once? If so, this article is for you - you ... and your toddler.
When it comes time to baby potty?
Before we start looking for the best potty and start browsing the rankings and offers of stores, let's consider when it is worth starting to think about the potty for a child?
It is very individual to start the deodorizing process. After a certain number of months, your baby cannot be considered ready to potty train and say goodbye to diapers.
Certainly, this process should not be rushed. Careful observation of the toddler by parents and understanding how the child shows his needs will play a significant role here. This skill will definitely come in handy during later cleanliness training. After all, in every major project, cooperation is the key to success.
Potty and age child
However, if we want to outline the age at which the child should start potty training, it should be indicated - that for a child it is usually the period between 18 and 30 months of age. So you can safely think about buying a potty for a 2-year-old, but buying the first potty for a 3-year-old is also not a cause for concern. It all depends on the pace of development of our boy or girl.
Expert advises
During the first 2-3 years of life, the child's development is extremely dynamic. In a short time, a child learns many things - from crawling, to walking, to trying to communicate and find yourself in social relationships. Controlling physiological needs sometimes requires a bit more time, and most importantly - a properly developed nervous system and sphincter muscles. It is assumed that the ability to control bowel movements should be achieved by a toddler at the age of 4-5. Of course, this is an average and this moment may come faster. However, we must remember that certain events in a child's life should not be rushed. If we have doubts about the toddler's pace of development, it is best to consult your concerns with an appropriate specialist.
Which baby potty should you choose?
Buying a potty may seem trivial - in stores there are models that cost less than PLN 10, or even less. However, this topic should not be completely underestimated when choosing the first better product from the store shelf.
After all, learning how to defecate on your own is a milestone in the development of our child. A potty is an integral part of this process. So it should not be completely accidental. It is worth taking a look at the individual types to choose the best potty for us and the most comfortable for our child. But let's not get started with online potty rankings. To know what to look for, let's take a moment to look at the features of a good product.
The best potty: what features should I pay attention to?
In stores, you will find many potty offers for children - to choose from, to suit the color. It is true that the colors may be important, in the context of the preferences of our child, we should not only be influenced by the external appearance of the product. So what should we pay attention to?
Material made
Let's start with the basics - that is material from which the potty was made. First of all, the material must not be toxic to the baby. For this purpose, it is worth looking for the following markings on the product or its packaging: BPA Free, Bisphenol A Free, be free of bisphenol A.. Such a record guarantees that the plastic from which the potty is made does not contain any toxic substances. In addition, the material of the product should also be sufficiently durable and resistant to cracks or damage. After all, we should not be afraid that the potty will break or break while the child sits down on it.
Maintenance of cleanliness
This is one of the most important issues. Due to its intended use and the frequency with which it will be used, the potty should be easy and convenient to clean. Therefore, its design is to be as simple as possible, streamlined, without hard-to-reach places and gaps. When maintaining cleanliness, it is also important to buy a potty suited to the child's gender, which we will talk about later in this article.
Removable insert
Every parent who has had contact with a removable potty at least once will probably not exchange it for any other. The cartridge itself is much smaller than the entire potty - making it much easier to empty and wash it. When buying, make sure that the insert fits well with the potty.
The shape of the seat
The child should feel comfortable on the potty - not only because of the comfort, but also because of the safe handling of their needs. The shape of the seat may also depend on whether the potty is intended for a boy or a girl.
Potty height
A good potty should help your child too Adopting an appropriate position for defecation (so-called crouch). So it cannot be too high. In the squatting position, the knees are above the hips, which makes it easier to maintain the right angle between the anus and rectum (it should be about 150 °). Properly relaxed, thanks to this body position, the pubo-rectal muscle will make it easier for the child to make a poop.
To make sure that the potty meets this requirement, it's a good idea to take your child with you shopping and check if the product fits. Involving your child in buying a potty can be the first step in establishing a good relationship with the potty.
No dangerous parts
The product should not contain small elements that a toddler could tear off and put in his mouth, and in the worst case - swallow. The potty should also not have sharp edges and edges, as this may injure the child.
Possibility to fold the potty
Certainly, the folding potty for a child is a bit more expensive than an ordinary one, but also much more universal in use. Due to the possibility of folding it, it can be taken and used, for example, on the road. Thanks to this, we do not have to interrupt our child's potty training when we decide to go on a trip.
The foldable potty can also be used as a toilet seat - what will work when using toilets in public places. There are also silicone overlays for such a potty, which will transform it into a product that will also work well in everyday life, at home.
Potty appearance
When choosing a potty for a child, let's first of all be guided by its main purpose. Let's not ignore the toddler's preferences. However, let us take into account that a potty with the image of our 3-year-old's favorite characters from fairy tales or a shape resembling a car, for example, may interest a child, but not necessarily in accordance with its main purpose.
Additional features
A potty with joyful melodies, or maybe one with lights? We will find models designed typically for a girl or a boy. In stores, we also find potties ... with a dictaphone, allowing the parent to record a few words of praise. Such additional functions are supposed to cheer up a child who has just used the potty properly.
However, before we decide on a more equipped potty, let's think about its actual function. After all, it is not entertaining a child, but its ... emptying it. Maybe a toilet-like potty for adults will work? After all, most children are perfect followers.
Which potty for a boy and which for a girl?
When it comes to choosing the best potty for our child, its gender and the related anatomy differences play a big role. Not every potty that works great for a girl will be suitable for a boy who uses it.
Potty design
Remember that for The boy's potty should be properly built-in at the front, in the place between the child's legs. This will help to keep the child clean, and will also prevent possible splashes of the floor. Due to this, a universal potty will work here, or one that is structurally dedicated to a boy.
Urinal for a boy
It is also worth mentioning the urinals available on the market for boys, which are mounted on the wall. However, they are only meant for peeing, so in addition to buying a urinal, you should invest in a traditional potty version anyway.
Color version
It is true that accessories and the color of the potty play a secondary role here. However, when buying, remember that a toddler may also have his preferences. Let's take this into account and when choosing a product, take into account the child's gender and its preferences.
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Head of the Department of Assessment and Development of Cooperation at the Institute of Mother and Child
Chamber pots glowing and playing: is it worth it?
When considering the purchase of articles for children, we focus on the functions that are intended to serve the children and make our parents' lives easier. Among other things, for this purpose, unusual, but increasingly popular types of interactive potties were created. After urinating, such playing potties make sounds of applause, songs play, sometimes words of praise can be heard. It resembles the commonly known - interactive teddy bears or dolls.
Expert advises
The role of the potty should not be to distract the child from its primary purpose. There are toys for play. A potty that plays for a girl or a boy is a questionable purchase due to several issues. First of all, your toddler will decode the melody function quite quickly and will turn on sounds regardless of his / her needs. Secondly, not all children like such attractions and simply, it may discourage them from training in cleanliness. The third, very important point is that this feeling of relief after having a correct voiding into the potty should be equated by the child with a reward, not the sound of a melody or applause.
Potty a seat cover
Most parents choose a potty for their child to learn how to handle their own needs. It is so convenient to use that you do not need a toilet for your toddler to use it. Additionally, on the potty it is easier for the baby to maintain the correct position during the bowel movement (the so-called crouch position).
However, our offspring sometimes try hard to imitate the parent and there is no way they can sit on a potty when we use a "different toilet". They come to the rescue here toilet seat covers.
Expert advises
If in fact, this is the only option available, remember that the toddler's legs should not hang loose, but be supported - so that the knees are higher than the hips. Steps for children or even a small landing will work great here. This item is not only good for children. It also serves us adults the most.
The best potty and the question of security
The issue of security - something that we sometimes forget in the frenzy of shopping. And yet in this case it is about our child. Before you buy a potty for a child, check carefully whether it meets all safety requirements, is made of good quality plastic and has the appropriate approvals.
If you are not sure about your choice, experts from research and scientific units, or rather their independent opinion, can serve us as an excellent recommendation when buying. Positive Opinion of the Institute of Mother and Child is definitely such a helping hand for the parent, and at the same time the information that the article has undergone appropriate research and can be used safely by the baby.
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