I know what you’re thinking…What the heck, DaNelle?
But, just listen to me for a second.
It’s called the Squatty Potty. And this thing is AH-MAH-ZING!
I have known about this concept for about a year now. Let’s remember that our ancestors squatted for hundreds of years. To them it wasn’t a concept. It was just how they pooped. What changes happen when we squat? Well, it just so happens that I have a diagram for you.
There are many health benefits to squatting when you poop. Many people notice improvement with hemorrhoids & constipation. Others claim it reduces your chances of colon cancer. And we can all agree that pooping is good for us, right?
I was going to wait a month before I gave my review on The Squatty Potty, but I just can’t wait. When it came in the mail, I announced enthusiastically to the whole family that we all will be using this stool when we poop! YAY! It seemed nobody matched my excitement. Lydia asked what if her friends all find out? I told her good, then she can tell them all how they’ve been pooping wrong their whole lives! (She wasn’t too thrilled about that.) They finally agreed to give it a try for a week then we’ll all decide on how we like it.
I noticed a change immediately. It was simply easier to go. And it felt more complete, like more came out. And (bonus!) my stomach felt flatter. Kevin noticed the exact same thing! And the kids said it was much much easier to poop. Ethan said he didn’t have to push at all. Now I don’t think they are ready to tell all their friends yet, but I’m just glad we all are pooping better as a family. Ah, it’s the little things that bring us closer 😉 Our family just keeps getting weirder and weirder, huh?
Have you ever heard of this concept before? Are you ready to squat when you poop?
Couldn’t you achieve the same alignment by leaning forward?
No, I still think squatting is the best way to go 😉
This reminds me of why people used chamber pots for years and years before the conventional “John-Crapper.” Oh modernity, trying to go make everything so complicated (and often messing it up in the process).
As I have spent several summers in the mountains, living in canvas tents, and with toilets often being a distant thing, I can say that squatting in the woods to poo can really suck. Bark is not a good substitute for tp!!! Once, I got an unseen stick almost UP my butt- scraped me in a terrible spot!!!
…butt… all joking aside, as a tall long legged person, I naturally sit on a toilet like this, and yes, a proper poo can change your day!! ;D
When they were 3ish, my grrls found they could squat/stand on the toilet and watch their poo come out!! That was an interesting several months while we navigated thru that phase!!! I could go on, butt, I think you will appreciate me more if I stop now!!! ;P
That totally makes sense. My 2 and half year old is totally potty trained with pee but he has to squat to poop!!! I keep joking that if we lived in Japan, where they squat over a hole in the ground, he would be totally potty trained!! Maybe this is what our family needs. Thanks!
I just stumbled across this post and love it! I have been thinking about getting one of these for a while! I know there are different heights you can get. For the adults in the home I was just going to get the middle range, but was wondering if for children it is better to get the tallest one? I’m just thinking the middle range one won’t get my 3 year old into much of a squatting position.
HAHAHHA! You’re not weird or crazy. This makes me laugh though, only cause it’s true. We found this out by accident. The people who lived here before us were giants and we are hobbits. The toilet in the master bath was tall and huge! So i was always “perched” and my feet would dangle a little. So I put a little Ikea stool (no pun intended) in front of the potty to put my feet on and SHA-ZAYAM!!! Like lightning.
I thought I was losing it and just brushed off the idea that it was the magic stool that caused this uber efficient evacuation.
Then one day my husband came strolling out of the bathroom in record time! just 10 min! He informed me he was done in 5 but was reading. He’s normally a 20 minute dude! Anyway he says to me ” Hey, this may sound crazy, but whenever I put my feet up on your little step stool, it seems to make everything move much faster and more completely.” I was so glad to hear that because I thought I was crazy too. Then a few weeks later I saw this add on the NaturalNews website and said EUREKA! not really, but I felt like it. We’re both NOT crazy! YAY!
So my mom always kept a stool in the bathroom for this reason and we always laughed at her. Of course she was using probiotics, extra virgin coconut oil, and everything else before it was ever popular. I’ve been using a stool and I do see a difference. I might have to tell her she was right…dang it!
Haha, your Mom’s awesome!
Very interesting – I am going to tell my daughter and daughter-in-law about it! I would love to have you share this on Thursday at Tasty Traditions https://myculturedpalate.com/
Cool, I’d love to!
Just about ordered one just now, but I am going to try and have my family try a stool first. Is there a difference between the actual squatty potty and a stool? Seems if you get your knees above your hips your golden.
The Squatty Potty fits around the toilet so you can put your feet on the sides. Two small stools or paint cans might work. What I like about the Squatty Potty is that it is out of the way when you go Numero Uno.
For me, número uno is quicker and more complete, too! I love my squatty potty!
Have to laugh, because if you have ever traveled to a 3rd world country or somewhere undeveloped or somewhere in Asia – like India,Hong Kong, China – they have squatty potties. It can be anything from a hole in the ground to a sofisicated tiled stall with a place to put your feet while you squat and running water to clean the potty area. Major problem when squatting for real (no seat, stool) on the ground – is what to do to keep your clothes clean.
SO TRUE!!
Great article, I actually just heard about this thing for the first time a month or two ago and thought, no way, too bizarre! But every single person who has tried it seems to have the same opionion as you have expressed here–that it’s good. I have gone from “no way” to “am I seriously thinking of buying this”? 🙂 Anyway, I really enjoyed your article. Funny and informational.
Things that make you go hmmm….
Thanks for giving me something to think about!
Does this have specific dimentions, or could you use a simple stool as well? It looks like the only difference is the hole cut out to store under the toilet.
I meant to say dimensions 🙂
I thought I was the only one that had a poop conversation on a daily basis – I have a 4 year-old! But… who the heck thought up stirrups for giving birth??? Isn’t squatting the most logical way to do this thing? In which case… poop should also be done the same way.
That’s exactly my thinking! It should feel normal to us!
I laughed at your post at first, because you know it is kind of taboo to talk about poop. hehehe, but I can totally see the value in this. I may just look into it.
Thank you for this post. I’m going to check this out for my son who has severe constipation issues.
Great! I think it will really help!