We never used a little potty seat. Like a wooden or plastic one that sits on the floor.
In my life long ago I dated a guy who's Mom was a Daycare provider. I helped out in the daycare when I was there. She had the kids trained early, in teams and on an actual toilet. I asked her, "Why don't you train them on a potty seat?" She said, "Because they are then used to the potty seat and won't go anywhere else." It made since.
As soon as my boys were a year old, I started working with them. In my mind, I wasn't training them. I was just getting them used to sitting on the potty. That way they wouldn't be scared of it. They would go. I kept sitting them on the potty certain times a day I knew they would go.
As soon as they would stand to pee, we did that. No aiming, just hold, lean over and pee. I kept telling them, "WOW you made bubbles! Look at how well you did!" in an over exaggerated way. They knew I was happy with them. No stickers, no candy, just old fashioned praise.
Mica was easier to train then Isaak. Isaak went, but sometimes he didn't want to stop what he was doing to go. He was and always has been more on the lazy side with things like that. Isaak sits on the ground, while Mica runs.
The only potty seat we ever used was this one:
Thinking back on the whole potty training experience, I wouldn't have used this seat. Like the daycare lady said, "They will depend on it." and they did.
Mica had such a little butt, when he was training I thought he would fall in the toilet. The smallest size of underwear wouldn't fit him. My sister noticed that they can in fact sit sideways on the actual toilet, to avoid feeling like they would fall in.
I should have done that.
Mica got addicted to sitting on his throne and reading his potty books. His favorite books were:
Everyone Poops and
The Potty Train. He was like a little old man that had to do his reading to go! He was mad at us when we made him sit on the toilet without the seat!
Isaak to got addicted to the luxury of the padded seat. He went in the mornings when it was time to go.
IT TOOK FOREVER AWHILE! I would get so frustrated because we were running late! Isaak kept saying in his sweet little voice, "I'm not done yet!" Kids have no concept of time.
When we went on our trip to Chicago I said, "We're not bringing this thing!" -the potty seat. He never asked for it because he knew we were not at home.
We got home and he goes to reach for his padded throne. I let him use it one last time. Then I threw the thing away. He said, "Mom I liked that seat!" I said, "Isaak you are four now. That seat is for babies." Now he doesn't take his sweet time going potty. It's do it, balance with his hands, get done with his business and poof he's done!
No more throne!