To help motivate your child to use the potty, let them participate in the selection of their potty seat. “This is a nice and easy way to engage your child in the process of taking over care of their own poop and pee to achieve ‘toilet mastery,’” explains Arthur Lavin, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio. In addition to your child’s readiness, consider your family’s lifestyle when looking for a potty chair or seat. If your family spends much time traveling, you’ll want a portable option to take with you. Also, consider extra features like flushing sounds, music, and lights to encourage kids to use the potty seat. When testing potty chairs, we evaluated their stability, design, ease of cleaning, and overall value, while also weighing the pros and cons to narrow down the list to the best options for families. Based on our testing, these are the best potty chairs and seats for your little one. The smart potty earned another high score for its functional design. The modern-looking potty is available in many neutral color options to fit your home decor. According to our tester, the potty sits low to the ground and fits tiny tushies well—all thanks to smooth, rounded edges on the potty and removable inner potty to prevent pinching and provide a comfortable potty experience. A splash guard helps avoid splash-black or accidents during potty training. While our tester appreciated its small size for saving space, it’s not a potty they would take with them for an afternoon. Whether you take the potty on the go or not, there’s a handle on the back for easy portability from room to room. Cleaning the potty chair was a breeze (5 out of 5 stars) thanks to the removable inner potty. Simply lift it out, empty it, and wipe or rinse clean. The overall value of the BabyBjörn Smart Potty earned another ideal score because it isn’t too costly for families on a budget, and you don’t have to sacrifice its small size, sturdy stability, and adorable bear design. Price at time of publication: $25 The potty chair’s versatile design earned another perfect score. Its seat cover made our little tester feel like a grown-up. Plus, the textured seat cover provides security when it doubles as the step stool’s surface. Built-in splash guards help prevent splatter, while the freshener disc neutralizes unwanted odors. According to our tester, the freshener disc was a nice touch, but “it’s not entirely necessary, as we always clean the potty out straight away, so the scent never lingers.” Our tester loved the removable bowl for easy cleaning, scoring the potty chair 5 out of 5 stars. The contoured design of the bowl prevents any dirt or other germs from hiding in unwanted places, and once you’ve washed it with soap and water, liquid simply pours out of the side spout for mess-free cleaning. Our tester scored the potty chair’s overall value another 5 out of 5 stars because of its useful design that works for both potty training beginners and advanced kiddos. Price at time of publication: $36 Aside from that detail, the potty’s design, ease of cleaning, and overall value were home runs. Our tester loved how the potty folded down for easy portability and the included storage pouch. “We keep ours in our car trunk, and it takes up very little room,” our tester noted. The legs of the potty chair securely lock when extended, while soft, flexible tabs keep leak-proof disposable bags (12 bags included) in place for kiddos to do their business. Phe bags make cleanup a breeze, and integrated handles provide extra stability. “The bag extends over the top of the toilet seat, so when you remove the bag, it captures everything, and there’s little need to clean anything else,” said our tester. If you find yourself potty training on the go, this affordable potty adapts to your growing child’s needs and your family’s lifestyle. Price at time of publication: $23 The unique, versatile design of the potty easily earned it 5 out of 5 stars. Disposable bags with absorbent pads are included, but regular plastic bags (like the dozens of grocery store bags under your kitchen sink) also fit. “Nothing to really clean, because they either go in the toilet or they go in a disposable bag,” our tester said. Plus, it folds easily and comes with an included storage bag for convenient portability. “It is a well-thought-out piece of gear,” according to our tester. You technically get two potties for the price of one, thanks to the 2-in-1 design, and it’s super portable for families who are always on the go. Price at time of publication: $21 Because the children’s potty seat is attached to a regular adult toilet seat, there’s no extra work when it comes to cleaning, which is why it scored 5 out of 5 stars for its ease of cleaning. Simply flush like usual, and freshen up the seat on your family’s cleaning day (or when necessary). The compact design of the potty seat earned it another perfect score in our design category. “It saves space in your bathroom,” said our tester, adding you don’t have to store it when guests come over. Plus, the toilet lid doesn’t slam loudly, thanks to a unique feature that closes it slowly. The overall value of the NextStep2 toilet seat earned 4 out of 5 stars from our tester, because it isn’t beginner-friendly. “Adults would need to be there to assist littles at all times—getting up and down from the potty, offering support to make sure they do not fall off the toilet, and help setting down the smaller seat,” our tester said. The seat is ideal for advanced potty users and may require a step stool to help the kiddos reach the toilet seat and provide support under their feet. Price at time of publication: $67 According to our tester, the potty chair is small enough to stow away in the corner of the bathroom and works well in small spaces. While the design is pleasing to the eye, it earned 4 out of 5 stars from our tester, because it may confuse children who already use a traditional potty or potty train at daycare. “The potty that my son’s daycare uses looks more like an adult potty, so he was confused at first with this one, because it does not look like a traditional toilet. That is something to keep in mind if you are trying to create consistency in training between home and school,” noted our tester. The potty chair doesn’t have a lid or flush handle like an adult toilet, which can be a con for families in the advanced stages of potty training. However, it does feature a carrying handle on the back of the seat for easy portability. This potty chair comes in at $25, so it’s a good value if you’re looking for a small, beginner potty that isn’t an eyesore. Price at time of publication: $25 The toilet insert is lightweight, so children can put it on or take it off the toilet without any help, thanks to the seat’s built-in handle that doubles as a storage hook. One of our testers appreciated the potty’s sleek, white design that blends well with bathroom decor. According to a tester, the toilet insert needed removal for an adult to use the toilet, which can be a bit of an inconvenience. Otherwise, the toilet trainer felt comfortable for our tiny testers to sit on. The inward-facing splash guard prevents spills outside the toilet, which is handy for potty-training boys. “The lip [splash guard] also isn’t as invasive as other potty seats we’ve tried, which either get in the way or cause my son to have to spread his legs too far apart to sit comfortably,” said one tester. The overall design of the BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer earned 4 out of 5 stars. Our testers said the toilet trainer lost one point for its ease of cleaning. It’s easy to clean (just wipe it down), but there are some narrow spots to reach, and you also have to clean the adult toilet seat separately. “I was able to confidently clean it without issues or worrying about mold growing,” said one tester. The BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer is one of the more costly potty seats on our list, which is why it earned 4 out of 5 stars in the value category. However, it’s well-made, durable, stable, and easy to store in a pinch. Price at time of publication: $35 The design of this potty chair had our tiny tester excited from the moment she saw it. “I want to use the pink potty!” our small tester exclaimed. Aside from its kid-friendly theme, the potty chair featured a built-in splash guard to prevent messes and came with a reward system our tester loved. When littles go potty, add Disney character stickers to the included chart, or scan with the free ‘Share the Smiles’ app to get a congratulatory message from a Disney friend. You can even add a large (included) Disney sticker to the potty’s tank for encouragement and fun. Buttons on the potty congratulate children when finished and provide a realistic flushing sound. “The biggest win is the reward buttons. You can hit a button that says, ‘Yay!’ when you’re done, and it has a flush button. She loves that feature. She’ll clap with it when it says ‘Yay!’ It’s super-sweet,” our tester said. The adorable potty chair would have earned 5 out of 5 stars for its design, but the lack of handles on the side for extra stability was a downside for our tester. Despite a tiny hiccup in design, our tester loved this potty chair so much for their little girl they bought several to keep in bathrooms around their home. While this is the second-highest-priced potty chair on our list, it’s an incredible value for the fun and sturdy design. Price at time of publication: $37 While the potty seat was easy to clean, it required additional steps, like cleaning the bowl. According to our tester, cleaning both pieces was difficult with a potty full of pee, and the button to release the seat wasn’t easy to press. The Skip Hop potty hit a few bumps in the road, but its overall price is worth it. Between its versatile and travel-friendly design, the convenience of the potty makes it an excellent option for busy families. Price at time of publication: $20 The bowl is easy to remove for cleaning but may be too big to wash in traditional bathroom sinks, which is why it lost a point in the cleaning category. Three AA batteries (included) are required. However, our tester said that the potty chair likely isn’t ideal for long-term use and scored its overall value 3 out 5 stars. Price at time of publication: $35 According to our tester, the potty’s design was a hit with their child. The potty chair is also available in a variety of neutral colors and features the beloved BabyBjörn bear logo. “Having a nice color (the pink is a dusty blush, so it’s also ‘chic’ when displayed in our home or bathroom) and an animal detail was enough to make it stand out in her [child’s] mind,” said the tester. It has a high backrest for additional security, armrests for comfort, and a splash guard to protect from messes. This potty isn’t the most expensive option on our list, but because BabyBjörn is a luxury brand, it will cost a bit more upfront. Price at time of publication: $30 One of the best things about this potty seat’s design is the resemblance to BabyBjörn. It’s available in vibrant or neutral colors and features an adorable bear on the backrest (ears included). “My toddler just loves animals, and this makes the potty more appealing for her to use,” our tester said. We also love the potty’s cushioned seat for additional comfort during potty training, which is one of the many reasons it earned 5 out of 5 stars for its design. It was easy to clean, too, because the seat goes directly on the full-sized toilet. The Skyroku training seat didn’t earn a perfect score due to the lack of portability and because it needs to be taken off each time an adult needs to use the bathroom. According to our tester, they would stand the seat against the wall for the time being but didn’t mind sacrificing that small detail for the ease of cleaning. The Skyroku Potty Training Seat is the highest-priced potty seat on our list and even requires some additional setup. However, having your child go directly into the toilet makes cleanup easy and teaches littles how to go in the “big” potty, which is priceless). Price at time of publication: $40 Testers took time setting up the potty chairs following the manufacturer’s directions. We asked them to be aware of the potty chair/seat size, describing whether it took up too much space or was small enough to fit in a corner. While some potty chairs and seats didn’t take up much space, others had to be placed against a wall when not in use, like the Skyroku Potty Training Seat. For stability and design testing, our testers introduced their littles to the potty chairs and seats to determine their initial reactions. We wanted to know if the product was immediately appealing and if the chair or seat provided a comfortable fit for kiddos. We asked testers to be aware of the stability of the chair/seat and if the material slid around on specific flooring. Testers also noted any “bells and whistles” and whether they were appealing to the child or functional for potty training and future use. Testers cleaned the potty chair/seat once their child used it. They also made notes on the effectiveness of the splash guards and whether the potty/seat was easy to empty and clean. For potty chairs and seats that required disposable bags, we asked testers to see if the bag was easy to remove without making a mess. Lastly, we wanted to know if the potty seat or chair could be easily wiped down or washed without being damaged.
What to Look for When Buying a Potty Chair
Readiness
Determining when your child is ready to start potty training can be tricky. At 18 months, children are usually physiologically ready, because their bladders and digestive systems have matured. However, they are typically not cognitively ready at this age, meaning their minds aren’t quite mature enough to remember to use the potty and ignore any distractions to finish their business. Dr. Lavin tells Verywell Family that we’re giving our kids a big job when we ask them to stop using diapers. “In nations such as [the United States], where children are asked to become continent (use a toilet instead of a diaper after age 18 months), parents should know that their healthy children are aware of what a toilet is and their bodies are already fully able to be continent,” Dr. Lavin says. “As a result, when it comes to asking our two-, three- and four-year-olds to use a toilet without a diaper during the day, we are really talking about turning over responsibility from parents to the child. It is far more accurate to call this process ‘toilet mastery’ rather than ‘toilet training.’” As for cognitive readiness, that typically happens around age 2. Parents and caregivers should also keep in mind the motor skills needed for potty training, like children knowing how to pull their pants up and down. Moreover, there are emotional and social readiness cues to be on the lookout for, such as gaining more independence and the awareness of others using a toilet. It always helps to explain out loud how the toilet works to your toddler to help them with any uneasiness they may have.
Lifestyle
Before potty training begins, think about how much space you have for an extra toilet. While not very large, potty training toilets (chair or seat) take up some space, but there are also other space-saving options on the market, like toilet training seats that go over a standard toilet, such as the BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer. Or, if your family travels often, it may be best to purchase a travel-friendly seat for full-time use, like the Summer Infant My Travel Potty Deluxe or OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty.
Extra Features
When you decide it’s time to purchase a potty, have your child help you decide which one to buy. Some training toilets, like the Fisher-Price Learn-to-Flush Potty, have extra features, like flushing sounds and music or lights. These extra features give children a sense of ownership of their potty, since it looks and sounds like the toilet their older sibling or caregiver uses. If your child has an older sibling, they may do well with a potty with an extra feature like a step stool, because they want to behave just like their big brother or sister.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer for Verywell Family with nearly eight years of experience. Katrina’s background in journalism began at an Emmy Award-winning news station in Oklahoma before she obtained her B.A. in professional media. Her love for service journalism, helping others, and becoming a parent led to her commerce writing role, which allows her to research and recommend the best products for families, pregnant women, and kids of all ages. She potty trained her toddler son using a combination of a potty chair at the beginning and a toilet trainer as he became more advanced. Dr. Lavin also suggests simply telling your child what is happening. “When you as a parent feel ready to turn over the care of your child’s poop and pee to your child, you simply have a chat with them and let them know they are now old enough to take care of themselves,” he explains. “Let them know you will help them do that by getting some training pants. Tell them they will no longer be put in diapers, and that they are expected to put their poop and pee in the toilet and then clean themselves.” To ease your child from the potty chair to the toilet, use a toddler-size ring that fits on top of the full-sized toilet seat. That will help make your child feel more secure and eliminates the risk of falling into the toilet. To help your kiddo comfortably reach the seat, you may need to add a step stool (or use a potty seat that converts to a step stool, like the Munchkin Arm & Hammer Multi-Stage 3-in-1 Potty). Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an eleven-year-old son, a seven-year-old son, and a three-year old daughter. After successfully potty training three kids, Maya much prefers potty rings that go on the toilet seat over potty chairs. She found that once her kids got used to sitting on the full-sized toilet, was much cleaner, easier, and faster for them to go there than on a potty chair.
