Kathmandu If you have young children at home, a 'potty' is an necessary item for your child. As there are no toilets specifically designed for children, it becomes uncomfortable for them to use ones designed for adults. Also good potty training is a must for every child — to teach them basic toilet etiquette. And you can do it easily with the durable and attractive portable potties available in the market. Variety in designs Replacing bowl-shaped potties, attractive designs are available in the market. These plastic potties are available in varieties of shapes like Angry Bird, frog, doll, duck, swan, et cetera. “As children are always attracted towards cartoon characters, such designs encourage them to use the potties,” informed Deependra Shrestha, Proprietor at Collection Zone, Mahabouddha. Comfort has been paid attention to while making sofa-like-potties. 'The children need not bend their body while doing the act. The support at the back (backrest) of the potties helps them to rest their back,' added Shrestha. A child can move while using the potty as some come with wheels. “As it is fun to move around while sitting on the potty, there is less chance that a child pees or poos in his/her clothes or in some other places,” added Shrestha. And there are potties which play music too. Once you insert a pair of batteries in it, music is played. The child doesn’t have to step on the ground while using the potty as some have foot plates too. Availability of such foot plates keeps the child from dirtying their feet. Some of the potties have handles too. Along with the bowl design, there are commode shaped as well as car shaped potties available. In some designs the bowls can be taken out and cleaned making it easier for you to clean the potty. And there are potties with lids too. Colour and size Bright colours are loved by children and potties are usually brightly coloured. However, there is colour preference based on the sex of the children as well. “Parents usually select blue coloured potty for a male child and pink for the females,” informed Shekhar Amatya, a staffer at Peanuts, Sundhara. And the potties also come in a range of sizes — small, medium and large according the age and height of the child. Some potties can even be adjusted in adults’ toilet. Portable potties Many mothers find it difficult to carry her child while travelling as the child needs to pee and poo often. To address this problem, portable potties are available in the market. These emergency potties are usually in round shape and can be carried anywhere as it fits in one’s bag. “You have to put plastic in such portable potty. Once the child defecates/urinates there, you can throw the plastic away,” informed Anju Lama, a staffer at The Toy Store, Sundhara. These potties are made of plastic and are unbreakable, easy to wash and are convenient to carry. PRICE Collection Zone Mahabouddha Ph: 9841310068 Price range: Rs 375 to Rs 1,700 The Toy Store Shop No: 510 Civil Mall, Sundhara Ph: 4216259 Price range: Rs 799 to Rs 4,250 Peanuts Shop No 101 Kathmandu Mall, Sundhara Ph: 4150132 Price range: Rs 600 to Rs 1,300