My son is now 20 months old & just starting to show some signs that he may be ready for an introduction to potty training. My husband & I have looked around for a good potty, but OMG, there are so many to chose from. Do you get the individual one, or the kind that sits on top of the regular toilet?

We actually used the Baby Bjorn Potty Trainer -- this is the insert thingy. Our kids were on the bigger and older side when we started potty training, so the thing fit them. I didn't want to have to train twice.

I'm debating if we should just get the potty to get him used to looking at it, but I highly doubt he'll be ready for quite a while. How old were the kids when you started?

We're starting now at 19 months. I was told by a friend (with 6 boys, all potty trained) that the transition from little potty to big potty is hard. She said to start with a potty trainer seat insert into a bigger toilet. That way if you have to go somewhere and its their need to go to the bathroom all you have to do is bring a portable (and foldable so you dont lug around a seat) travel training seat, which we bough for $9 at WalMart and they arent scared and know what to expect. Otherwise you will be staying home for a long time until they are comfortable using a big potty while out in public.

That's good advice. I had been debating that. Maybe we'll try that first & see how he does. Let me know how it works with your 19 month old. Thanks!

Thanks for the tips! I know potty training is right around the corner for us too. x2! Yikes!

Since we are producing a series of videos on this subject, I thought I would revisit this thread. Any new techniques or stories to share? Potty talk, people!

Neither of my kids were interested in traditional potties. We just used the ones (cars and thomas) that go on top of the regular toilet. If your boy is anything like mine, he'll want to go like daddy. A step stool is helpful if that's the case.

Here's our recent video on the Azrin-Foxx method. Anybody try potty training in a day?

We're trying VERY hard to be the hippy lovey parents and let him figure it out on his own, with LOTS of encouragement (and even started with rewards too- M&Ms)... but the frustration level is high at this point, for us much more than him.

I've thrown in a few days of "scheduled" potty trips and fought through the 'drama' of "I don't wanna!" and various kickin' & screamin' fits... Those days were VERY hard.

I absolutely do NOT want him to relate negative feelings towards the potty, but he's not even getting the negative feelings about walkin' around with a smelly diaper... The "No, I don't have to go potty. But don't check, Daddy," situations are often amusing, but still frustrating.

I KNOW it'll click one day, and it'll be done. But I am wondering if a 'potty camp' hardnose Daddy weekend is what it's gonna take... I hate the thought, but it's going to come to a point where he's gonna be the only one... We've had many successes, and several one diaper days, but nothing consistent. We've been at it since November of last year.

One parent at his daycare said their son was poopin' in the potty right away when they started training. And hasn't soiled a diaper in over a year! But peeing was a completely different story and they were still struggling with that... how bizarre! Just goes to show ya, every kid is different.

My oldest will be two in a few days, and I don't think he's quite ready yet. But, I know it's not far off, and I have been researching a bit on the subject.

One of the things I've thought about doing is installing a children's toilet in the bathroom that's near their bedroom. It's just like an adult toilet, only smaller.

I didn't even know they existed until a little while ago. It doesn't require any plumbing modifications other than removing your existing toilet. The downside is that the bathroom in question is also used by anyone staying in the guestroom, so if people visit while this is installed, they'd probably want to use the downstairs half-bath to do their business.

Here are a few examples:
These are available on amazon

Here's another-different brand and style...