Portable Potty for Children
After successfully teaching twin boys to use the potty and then the toilet, it was now time to take the next step and take them out and about without the need for a pull up. This seemed like a daunting task as with twins I can’t just take a couple of changes of clothes – I have to take double of everything! As I don’t drive we walk everywhere or get the bus so isn’t just a case of throwing stuff in the back of the car. So while one, or both, of the boys having an accident doesn’t bother me too much, leaving a wet seat on the bus does.
Someone suggested when we go to the park to take their potty with me. This sounded like a great idea as the toilets are nearly always closed. In reality it wasn’t really practical, trying to walk down the road with a bulky potty while trying to hold on to 2 boys doesn’t work, so I had to look at other ideas.
So I decided to look to see if there was such a thing as a portable potty and if so how do they work. I soon found out that they are plenty on the market in various designs, some more truly portable than others.
So after looking around I decided on trying the Potette Plus and the OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty. The Potette because it was the one that seemed to appear most on searches and seemed to have good things said about it and the OXO Tot because we already have an OXO Tot toilet seat so I knew the quality of OXO Tot items.
So after using each for about a week, I found one to be better than the other, but which one? Both are a portable potty, both can be used as a child’s toilet seat, so what is the difference?
Potette Plus Portable Potty
The Potette Plus, which retails at around £15 and comes in a variety of colours, is a lightweight portable potty that is used with disposable potty bags that have an absorbent pad inside. It comes supplied with 3 bags and a thick plastic drawstring bag to store the potty in when not in use. It is small enough to fit into a backpack or changing bag but not so small that the children have trouble using it.
To use as a potty the legs fold outwards and then push down until they click into place. Add the potty bag and fold the handles under the legs to keep in place. Once used, the bag can be removed and disposed of in the same way that you would a normal nappy bag. The legs have non-slips grips so doesn’t move when sat on.
To put it away push gently on each side of the leg with your thumb until it releases and then fold the legs inwards.
To use as a toilet seat, again fold the legs outwards until flat and then place on the toilet.
The Potette Potty is fairly easy to use but the locking mechanism for the legs I feel isn’t the greatest and I feel would wear out with repeated use (although hopefully by that time it would no longer be needed anyway).
OXO TOT 2-in-1 Go Potty
The OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty, which retails at £20 and is available in Aqua, Green or Raspberry, it is also a lightweight portable potty that is used with disposable potty bags that have an absorbent pad inside. It comes supplied with 3 bags and a thick plastic drawstring bag to store the potty in when not in use. It is small enough to fit into a backpack or changing bag but not so small that the children have trouble using it.
Using it as a potty is similar to the Potette except that when you fold the legs outwards the legs with lock into the correct position automatically. Place the potty bag over the seat and tuck the excess handles into the holes on the side, where flexible grips will hold it in place. After use, again just remove the bag, tie and dispose of like a nappy bag.
To put it away or to put into toilet seat mode you need to press in the grey buttons to release the locking mechanism and push inwards to close or outwards for the toilet seat. For me this is a much better, sturdier and secure design than the Potette and found this much quicker to open/close than the Potette.
So overall I would have to say that although the OXO Tot 2-in-1 GO Potty is slightly more expensive I found it to have a much better and easier design, was sturdier and more durable and will probably have a longer life with constant use. While both do the job that they are designed to do, for me the quality and design of the OXO Tot potty is far superior.
So it you are potty training and want something for when out and about and the standard toilet seats are too big for the child to sit on or just can’t find a toilet quick enough (there are not many public toilets around any more and if you do find one it’s usually locked) then a portable potty is perfect and something every parent or carer needs for those little emergencies. As we all know, when a young child needs to go, they really need to go! A portable potty saves the stress of trying to find a toilet or having to change wet clothes.
So whether you chose the Potette, the OXO Tot or another brand it’s a great toilet training tool.
For more information or to buy a Potette Plus or OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty visit www.potette.com or www.oxouk.com.