First skills

Potties

The new Baby Bug from Great Little Trading (right) has an integral toilet roll dispenser to keep the paper within easy reach. The 'bug' is made from moulded heavy duty plastic and is ergonomically shaped for toddlers, measuring 23(h) x 26(w) x 32(l)cm, priced 12.99.

Telephone 0870 850 6000 www.gltc.co.uk

Babybjorn describes its Potty Chair (below) as 'the child's own little toilet' because it has been specifically designed to be comfortable for as long as the child wishes to sit on it. The Potty Chair has a high back support, an arm support and a splashguard to prevent mess. The 'chair' also has a removable inner potty for emptying and cleaning and comes in Precious Pink; Ocean Blue; Sunflower; Bright Red; Snow White and Pitch Black, priced 13.50.

Telephone 0870 1200 543www.babybjorn.com

The Spotty Potty (right), stocked exclusively by Urchin, is described by the company as something of an 'icon' in the world of potties. Made from a tough, washable plastic and embossed with the Urchin logo, the pots are transparent with large spots in either red or black. Priced 16.95.

Telephone 0870 720 0709. www.urchin.co.uk

The Extra Comfortable Potty by Tigex has a contoured seat with a high, curved back to provide support, plus integral footplates to provide stability and prevent the pot from overturning when the child gets up. This pot also has a raised front, an extra wide, deep bowl and a moulded 'carry handle'. Available in lilac or yellow, priced 7 from Cheeky Rascals.

Telephone 0870 8732 600 www.cheekyrascals.co.uk

Seats

The Babybjorn Toilet Trainer is the first seat that can be adjusted to fit any size of toilet. Underneath the front of the seat there is a plastic dial that can be altered to ensure the seat fits the toilet it is being used with. The seat also has a built-in handle at the back for carrying and/or hanging on a hook when it is not in use, and a curved, slanted splashguard at the front. The seat comes in white with a soft rubber edge trim to prevent sliding. The trim is available in red, blue, black or green with a yellow seat, priced 15. Telephone as above.

Urchin's new Padded Reducer Seat is designed to fit on any standard toilet seat and has thick padding and a wipe-clean surface. The seat comes in a white cloud or orange goldfish design on a sky-blue background and is priced Pounds 10.95.

Telephone as above

The Toilet Trainer Seat (above) has been designed to minimise the child's transition from the potty to toilet. This seat has been manufactured by Tigex with identical moulding to its Extra Comfortable Potty. It has a raised potty shape with a wide edge so that it fits underneath standard toilet seats, over the toilet rim. The seat has an integral slot at the back for easy carrying and comes in blue, translucent lilac or yellow, priced 5. Available from Cheeky Rascals.Telephone as before

Pot seat combos

If you have a child in your care who is finding it difficult to grasp the toilet concept you may want to try a fresh approach. The Potty Throne, from Fisher Price, provides a 'two stage musical reward system' for reluctant users. When the child sits down upon the 'throne' a royal fanfare is emitted and this is repeated when they 'perform'. The Potty throne has removable legs to enable it to be placed on a standard toilet seat and the royal theme is continued as the throne comes with a storybook, entitled A Throne of Their Own. Available in white with blue legs, the throne requires three AA batteries, is suitable for 18 months plus and is priced around 25. Telephone 01628 500 303 www.fisherprice.com/uk/

Still on the musical encouragement theme, Perfectly Happy People stocks a Musical Potty that is activated by a sensor when the child 'performs'. This potty plays a waterfall sound when the child urinates and when the child stands up there is laughter, followed by one of ten random tunes. The potty itself has rounded edges, easy-grip handles and a flip-up lid that doubles up as a backrest. The potty and splashguard can be removed for cleaning and the base can be turned upside down to function as a stool. The Musical Potty comes in blue with a yellow seat and red lid and is priced 19.95 from PHP.

Telephone 0870 120 2018. www.thebabycatalogue.com

Reluctant users may also warm to the reward system offered with the Easy Learn Potty by Bruin at Babies 'R' Us. This comes with stickers and a calendar to help monitor progress, as well as, in the company's words, 'a fun set of tinkle targets'. There is also a certificate, to be awarded once training is complete and a 'tips for potty training guide' for the supervising adult. The pot itself has easy-to-grip handles at the sides; a rear access bowl and flip lid; a soft deflector shield and a removable toilet trainer seat that fits into standard toilets. A voucher for a free pack of toddler wipes is also included. The Easy Learn comes in bright green with a purple seat and yellow handles and is priced 14.99.

Telephone 0845 786 9778. www.babiesrus.co.uk

Great Little Trading's Step-by-Step Toilet Trainer converts from a potty to a toilet seat, plus a stepping stool. This toilet trainer has a high backrest and side handles which can be lifted away from the pot base to fit on to a standard toilet. The pot base can be turned upside down and used as a stool to help the child reach the adult toilet. The Toilet Trainer comes in bright yellow with a blue base and red handles and is priced 19.99.

Telephone as above

Hygiene is obviously of primary importance in the potty training area and you might want to consider the Airsan germicidal air sanitiser in this context. Airsan comes in the form of a brushed steel unit that draws contaminated air through a pre-filter and then into a disinfection chamber where it is irradiated with UVC. As the air travels along the length of the UVC lamp viruses and other harmful micro-organisms are killed or rendered harmless before the air is expelled from the unit. Airsan has twin locks for security protection, is mains interlocked for user safety and the makers claim it is effective against a whole list of micro-organisms, including Influenza Virus; Legionella Pneumophilia and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis. The unit measures 23(h) x 724(l) x 135(d)cm and can be fixed on the wall or kept portable. Available from Helo Health Engineering, priced 386.57. Telephone 01284 772400. www.hel-o.co.uk

WARM AND DRY

Children who prefer the warmth and security of a nappy may not appreciate the chill factor of a wet wipe as part of their toilet training. If you find this is the case you can alleviate the problem with a low voltage Wipes Warmer from Babies 'R' Us (left). The Wipes Warmer can hold both pop-up and regular style wipes, has a pop-up lid that can be operated with one hand, and it warms the wipes inside to a safe, 'soothing' temperature that users report makes wipes easier to use and clean with. The warmer comes in ivory with a lilac trim and measures 24(w) x 18(l) x 10(d)cm, priced 19.99. Telephone and website as above.