apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Oh wait, I didn't know potty benches would be part of the deal for kids month...

OK, I may be a childless fool, but it seems kinda germy to let your kid stand on the same potty into which they just went to the bathroom. Hands get germy, closes bench with germy hands, stands on germy bench, feet get germy, feet run around house...you get the picture.

Re: the potty/stepping stool. I have to agree with nola, I think it's fine to use it as a potty stool while toilet training, and then, once the kid has graduated to using a regular toilet, using the potty with the lid down as a stepping stool. It does seem kind of yucky to use it for both purposes at the same time though.

(Pixie, just 10 more days).

If the urchin has to touch a bench to get up to the sink to wash, germy hands get on germy bench get on germy feet anyway, regardless of what bench you use.

Toddlers are a mass of germs. The idea is to keep them clean enough that they don't get dysentery or whatever, but not so sterile that they fail to develop a strong immune system.

OK, forget the nurseryworks bookcase and dresser...where can I find the chair sandwiched between that and the crib?

wende, thank you!! i could not agree more with your comment above about germs.

my personal pet peave is that purex/liquid anti-bacertial crap that many parents lather on their kids each time their hand touches a pole or any public space. (or worse, right before they eat, yuck!! i know it's convenient and a necessity at times when soap and water is not available, but i really fear for what whacked out diseases they will acquire as a result of having zero tolerance for germs. a little bit of bacteria is good.

wow! you all here are pretty uptight!

When Tots are training, they hardly do anything but find the concept of sitting on a hole interesting. Once they figure it out they are quickly motivated to do 'it' like grown ups on the regular toilet.

I just ordered this bench the other day, I can;t wait to start potty training in a modern way. Seriously though, I like this because it is not just a potty, which is such a waste, especially when your space is tight.

Wende and Chrisitina you're right about the germ obsession, but sometimes one must purify, like today for instance, as I joyfully pushed my daughter on a swing, three pigeons attacked my waiting stroller because I was foolish enough to leave food in it and turn my back. Trust me, Purell was the minimum requirement after that. ;-)

colleen, now that sounds like a perfect use of purell! i guess i just get upset when i see people slathering it on their child's hands and then handing them an apple when their hands are still wet and stinky from the disinfectant.

I use those antibacterial wipes on park swings and grocery cart trolleys before I put my 11 month old in the seat. He licks everything and I'm fairly sure no one is going around cleaning the shopping cart or swing. I don't disinfect his toys since he also licks our hardwood floors! As a parent, there's only so much you can do, and all we do is try our best.