In most homes with young children the very thought of potty training can bring on a cold sweat. It brings up images of poop smeared bathrooms and pee soaked couches, but like it or not it has to be done and everyone will be happier when it has been completed successfully. There are many products on the market to help children as they go through the potty training process but which ones really make the job easier? Potty training is a learning experience and if it is made too easy for the child to fail then the process will be drawn out for longer than it needs to be. A helpful potty training aid will encourage the child to use the potty and develop the skills they need to be successful on their own.

Pull Ups: I have mixed feelings on these. They do keep accidents contained which I will not ignore the fact that this can be a very positive thing, but there will be a lot more accidents. The problem with these depends on the child they are used on. It is very tempting for kids to view these as big boy/girl diapers. They want to grow up. They want to feel big and important. Switching to pull ups can make kids feel more grown up. Some children will be satisfied at this point and not progress much further in their quest to use the petrifying potty. When they know that any accidents will not be followed by wet pants they are not as motivated to use the potty. I find that these work best for children that are just learning to control their bodily functions and use the bathroom on command rather than children who are practicing staying dry for extended periods of time. I prefer to use padded training pants with a plastic cover so that children can feel the true consequences of their actions and be motivated to succeed. I do, however, like these for the first few trips away from home without a diaper. If these are called underwear and treated as though they were underwear then they can be used to make trips outside the home easier and to prevent accidents caused by distractions or fear of public restrooms.

Potty Chairs: These pint sized potties are great for kids who are physically and emotionally ready to toilet train but not quite tall enough to climb onto a full sized potty. I like the Potty N Step by Safety 1st. It looks like a traditional potty seat but has the ability to change into a seat that fits over the toilet in order to make the adjustment easier. The base of the seat flips over to reveal a step that children can use to climb onto the full sized potty when they are ready. The downside to potty chairs is that you must clean them after every use and boys especially tend to "miss" and leak into the cracks of the potty chair if you buy one that is poorly designed.

Potty Seats: My favorite potty training tool is the padded seats that fit onto the full sized toilet seat. They allow kids to get used to the idea of being on the regular potty but confront the fear of falling in that many kids have. Cleanup is much easier on these. They can be wiped with disinfectant quickly and tend to avoid contact with most of the mess. I find that these can make the adjustment to using a full sized potty easier. They get kids used to the idea of going on the regular potty which can come in handy when you are in a public place with a newly potty trained child.

Sticker Charts: They sell these in stores but you can easily make your own and customize it for your needs. If your child is a very visual learner charts can be a wonderful thing. They allow the child to see the progress they are making in a straightforward way and let them show off their new found talent to everyone in the home if it is placed in a prominent place.

Treats/Rewards: Rewarding a child for using the potty can work in the beginning but it will not lead to successful potty training until the child wants to use the potty regardless of the reward they will receive. They can, however, serve as a reminder for the child and a motivation to take the time needed to use the potty while they are still establishing the habit of using the potty consistently. It can help to slowly phase out rewards. In the beginning some children are helped by receiving a reward each time they use the potty. This can be slowly extended to receiving a reward for using the potty all day and then all week.

Every child is different and what works for one child may or may not work for the next. It is important to follow the child's cues. They know when they are ready to take the next step and they can show you by their behavior what techniques will work for them.