My question is: Would you use them even if it’s not the summer?

Here is what Charlie Banana says about them, “As many parents have experienced, using disposable baby swim diapers are a waste. They do not retain anything, are bulky and very difficult to remove at all! Using a reusable waterproof swim suit is the perfect solution. Charlie Banana® offers multiple prints to make your little one a fashion sensation at the pool or the beach. Charlie Banana® 2-in-1 Swim Diaper & Training pants have a waterproof, outer layer and a soft organic cotton interior lining, which is gentle against your baby’s skin. They make an ideal training pant when potty training a child because of the trim fit, easy removal and they are truly absorbent!”

Even the stars are trying to be more eco-friendly. Celebrity new moms January Jones, Jenna Fischer, Denise Richards, Victoria Beckham, Paul and Erin Stanley, Evangeline Lilly, Emily Deschanel, Selma Blair, Kimberly Stewart, Alicia Silverstone, Ali Landry, Tori Spelling, Tia Mowry and Mary McCormack are among the first to receive and test the Charlie Banana(R) Fashion Collection.

Please check out New Potty Training Products for Boys or New Potty Training Products for Girls for more purchasing details.

Which one you choose will depend on your and what their needs are, as well as their size too. There are pros and cons to both and ultimately it will become your decision in the end, since neither is better than the other really.

Potty chairs are good to have because they are so low to the ground. They are the perfect height for children to get on and off, as well as they feel very safe on them. Their feet can touch the ground and they do not need to struggle to get on the toilet. However, potty chairs are larger and do take up more space, which can be difficult in smaller bathrooms.

They are also slightly more expensive than a potty seat too. So if you have multiple bathrooms in your home, than you will need multiple potty chairs for your child to use so they can always use the bathroom no matter where they are at or what they are doing.

However, there are potty chairs that are convertible though too, which is very convenient. They are called multi-functional potty chairs, and they can be a thrifty parent’s best friend! There are some available that work as a potty chair with a back on them, than they can be converted to a step stool, using the bottom of the chair and the top of the chair becomes a potty seat to place on the toilet, once your child has outgrown the potty chair.

This can be a good in between option to choose since the potty chair grows with your child and eliminates the need to buy a potty seat later on to place on the toilet. As well as the fact too that you have a step stool for them to use to get on the toilet or to use at the sink as well.

However, potty chairs do not always work if your child is already taller or bigger for their age. They will than outgrow the potty chair very quickly. The convertible potty chairs can still work, since they may be too big for a potty chair, but still need a potty seat on the toilet and a step stool to get up there. Potty seats come in a variety of choices, colors, patterns and characters just like the potty chairs do.

They do have handles on them so your child still feels secure when sitting on the toilet. Plus, some of these are portable which is great when you are leaving the house and you can take the seat with you everywhere.

If you buy a potty seat, you will most likely still need to get a potty step stool too so that your child can reach the toilet and the sink. However, there are sets available that come in matching patterns or characters and there are also very traditional potty seats and step stools to use that will work everywhere.

Every year you will spend roughly $1400 on diapers! By the time your child is 4 years old, you will spend (approx) $5600.

When it comes to potty training many parents and even children want to keep using the diapers. Parents sometimes allow their child to wear a diaper at night, since they have not been nighttime potty trained yet and they do not want any accidents. Or on long car rides or trips to do errands the child is in a diaper so that there will be less chance of an accident happening.

This is especially true when children are first being potty trained and accidents at home are still happening occasionally. They have not fully learned how to potty on the toilet yet and accidents still occur. However, switching between diapers and training pants will only confuse your child.

This is teaching them to do one thing at home and do something else when they are away from. They will get into the habit of believing they only potty at home and should be wearing a diaper everywhere else. The accidents will than not stop when they are out and about for this reason.

Instead you do need to completely ditch the diapers, as well as any Pull Ups. The diapers have to be gone completely when you begin potty training.

• Have your child in waterproof cloth training pants or place a waterproof cover over the cloth training pants. This is even at night as well. They can not learn to wake up to go potty at night if they never feel that they are wet or soiled. If there is nothing to wake them up, they will continue to go in the diaper instead. Most children will need a few months after mastering day potty training to be able to complete night time potty training. This is for many reasons, mainly because their bodies are not fully use to holding urine. For more information, please check out Night Time Potty Training.

Not to mention the fact too that keeping diapers around will mean your child will want to use those instead. It is what they are use to and they are easy as well.

They do not have to put any effort into it or stop what they are doing. People will naturally pick the easier route and going in a diaper is the same for your child.

Instead let your child know that you will be potty training with them and that the diapers will be gone. Let them know what the start date will be for potty training so that they are prepared and make sure they understand that there will be no diapers at all any more.

For more information, please check out this great article: How to Potty Train a Toddler. This article has great potty training tips and advice on how to begin. Potty Training will be successful if you are determined to ditch the diapers and teach your child the right way (not always the easy way).

The top 10 potty training products to have and that you need are:

1. Potties: Toddler need to be able to easily reach the toilet and be comfortable too when going. Potty chairs are low to the ground and the perfect height for children when they are learning to potty train. If your child is taller and can reach the big toilet, but is still too small to really sit on it, than there are also potty seats that are placed on the toilet. These make the opening the right size for children and usually handles on them too so that they feel secure when going.
2. Step Stool: This can be used with the potty seat that is on the toilet to make sure that your child can easily get on and off the toilet, as well as the step stool is needed so that they can reach the sink as well. Part of potty training is developing good hygiene in the bathroom also and they need to be able to wash their hands each time they have gone.
3. Potty training pants: These can be waterproof or have a waterproof cover to put over them, but either way you have to switch to these completely and get rid of the diapers all together. You do not want any diapers in the house or your child wearing them, since this can be confusing and they will want to wear the diapers instead, since it is what they are used to and already know too.
4. Travel Potty: Since taking the full size one with is not convenient or easy and you cannot stay at home all the time while potty training, having a travel potty seat or travel potty chair to use is the perfect option. You can continue to potty train your child no matter where you are at or what you are doing. Most travel seats are very compact and can be folded up and put in a purse or diaper bag. These are used at public restrooms as a toilet reducer, helping make toddler feel more comfortable and relaxed. After using it, they can be wiped down with anti-bacterial wipes and put  back in a bag. Most travel potty chairs also fold up, and have their own liners. So your child can go, and you can just throw the mess away. Make sure you back extra wipes/toilet paper and anti-bacterial wipes to wash hands. These are small enough that you can set these up to use inside vans or SUVs.
5. Potty books: to help teach your child about potty training. These are perfect to use so that your child can see other children their age using the potty. It is a great way for them to not be fearful of the toilet and see how fun it can be to use the potty too.
6. Potty rewards: This can be stickers, trinkets,  potty charts, toilet targets or anything else that makes potty training fun and motivates your child to keep using the toilet too.
7. Potty Doll: Your child can use it to practice with on the toilet, as well as play with it and take it with them when they go to the bathroom too.
8. Mattress Pads: A waterproof bed cover so that when nighttime accidents happen, there is not as much of a mess to clean up, as well as it is protecting the mattress too.
9. A potty watch to help remind them and teach them when to go to the bathroom. These are great as a teaching tool so that your child remembers to go and it is fun for them to wear and hear go off when it is time to use the bathroom.
10. Wall/Toilet Stickers: Bathroom decals to make the bathroom a fun place to be. These easily go on and off the walls and come in a variety of characters, pictures, colors and patterns to choose from so your child can pick their favorites.

Well the answer is totally up to you. Do what your budget allows you to, but keep in mind that a potty chair is going to be a short term solution to potty training. They can be a great tool, but don’t bust your wallet at the same time.

Too many distractions?

I have seen some crazy potty chair with toys and lots of noisy distractions. This type of potty chair doesn’t help your child stay focused or comfortable. Would you like to pee on a slot machine? With all the noisy distractions we already do and see today, does your child really need that in the bathroom.

This slot machine potty chair lights up, makes noise, pull the handle and it actually spins the icons and if you win the light sounds off on the top. Talk about crazy!!!

Some themed potty chairs are great, they have your child’s favorite character(s) with  multi-functional accessories and helpful charts with stickers.

Do I have $40 to spend on a potty chair?

These type of potty chairs can be great and helpful to potty train your toddler
but they can be expensive. (You are paying for the licensed character(s).) Still, having Buzz and Woody there just might be the motivator your little man needs to jump on the potty training track.

I found sometimes less is more. I think the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair and the Potty Scotty Potty Chair to be some of the best, simple designed potty chairs on the current market.

Baby Bjorn Potty Chairs are a great investment, with it’s simple and sturdy design it is well known for its longevity and versatility. If you are looking for a potty chair that is ergonomically designed, simple to use and easy to clean. It also is one of the largest potty chairs on the market.

The Potty Scotty Potty Chair is a great one piece design, with no frills. This chair has a smooth, simple, light weight and portable potty that has no edges that will pinch your toddlers tights. It is easy to clean and has a low splash guard.

I have to say, what a great idea! I haven’t seen anyone use the potty watches and add disney characters to them.

They were giving them in every box of pull-ups, now you can purchase them by themselves ONLY at their exclusive store.

1. If you are using 100% (no waterproofing) you and your child can see and feel the wetness
2. Cloth training pants are washable and reusable. (In comparison, disposable “training pants” cost $15.99 for 40. Your child will use approximately 10-12 a day, this will give you approximately 3 1/2 weeks supply. )
3. They are designed to be pulled up and down (like “big kid” underwear)
4. Cloth training pants have extra absorbency in the middle to help contain accidents

Here is a great video from a mom on one of my favorite brands training pants.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Potty Training Charts

being made, and are motivating for both parents and children.

There are several ways to approach potty training with rewards.  The key is to have your child feel a sense of pride and accomplishment for her hard work.  Keep in mind you don’t want her to feel bribed, or left feeling disappointed if she is unable to earn a reward.

You know your child best, so try to design a “reward system” that you think will work for your child.  The “reward system” could be as simple as a sticker for each time your child goes to the potty.  Or you might decide to reward your child each time she attempts to go to the potty.  You choose the “rewardable behavior”.

An increment of time or a certain number of “rewardable behaviors” lead to a “milestone reward”.  For instance, after 10 stickers or a day of trying, you could recognize your child’s effort by reading her an extra story or singing an extra song at bedtime.  To keep your toddler motivated, you can increase the value of the “milestone reward” as she progresses.

For example: at the end of the week, your child may get to select a toy from a “treasure chest” (a bin you have filled with new toys) or you may make a trip to the movies or you take her for a visit to her favorite park.

A caveat in regards to rewards:

If the reward is too big, then you child will be more focused on trying to get the reward and may get frustrated when she is unable to collect the reward as fast as she’d like.

Be flexible, making adjustments when needed.

For example: one mom used M & M’s for urinating in the potty.  This worked well in the beginning, but then her daughter figured out that she could urinate just a bit and still get an M & M.  Next thing she knew, instead of urinating all at one time, her daughter would urinate a bit at a time to get those M & M’s.  She had to change the rules on her daughter.  She drew a line inside the potty and told her daughter that she would now get an M & M only after the urine reached that line.

Remember, the best rewards for children are as simple as extra attention from a parent.  Verbal praise, extra hugs & kisses and extra quality time with a parent may go a much longer way in comparison with material rewards.

Check their site next week for a full list!!!