Potty training for young children can be intimidating to everyone involved, so having the proper tools on hand is necessary. Toddlers can easily get crushed by the size of a regular toilet, so using a potty chair or training seat (or a combination of both) is the best way to start getting them out of their diapers.
The best potty training seat is one that is sturdy, comfortable, and easy to use, allowing your child to adapt to using it on their own. It should also be easy for you to clean, as you may spend a lot of time doing so, for a more hesitant potty trainer, consider a tool with interesting features such as music or flush sounds to make the process more engaging.
Depending on the type you choose, potty training seats can cost anywhere from $20 to $70. Our top picks include a variety of styles and features, so you’re sure to find one that really makes your kids want to go.
Best Overall Performance: Munchkin Arm & Hammer Multi-Stage 3-in-1 Bedpan
This best-selling Munchkin Arm & Hammer potty seat tops our list for its versatility. It is a potty chair, toilet seat and step stool, all integrated in a relatively compact package, so it can accompany you through all stages of potty training. Originally a potty chair for toddlers who are just learning Xi, it comes with a built-in splashback to keep chaos to a minimum. This seat has a lid that can be opened and closed, just like a real toilet.
Once your child is ready to enter the step, the removable seat can be placed on top of the toilet. We appreciate that both sides are lifted a little so they can be used like handles for extra stability. When closed, this potty can be used as a step stool for going to the toilet or with your feet propped up for better positioning when using the bathroom. It’s stable and easy to use, and the collection bowl is removable for easy cleaning.
The deodorant deodorizer disc sticks to the inside of the lid and helps eliminate odors. While this sounds like a great feature, we feel like it’s a bit unnecessary, especially if you clean your toilet after every use. On top of that, replacing the disc means that a new one needs to be purchased separately, although you can buy a set with a bedpan and six refills for $38, which is only $7 more expensive than buying the toilet itself. But overall, this multi-purpose chair is a great value and can help you through the training process and beyond.
Detail:
- Type: Potty chair
- Dimensions: 15.55 x 13.58 inches
- Weight: 3.5 lbs
- Features: 3-in-1 design, deodorant and deodorant plate
Best for Children’s Bathrooms: Skyroku Potty Training Seats
Potty training toilet seats usually come with only one seat on top of the toilet, which means you’ll still need to help your child go to the toilet or buy a separate step stool so they can stand up on their own. However, the function of this chair makes it stable enough for the children to use on their own, giving them a sense of independence (and also giving you a little rest). It comes with a built-in step that children can use to climb to the toilet on their own and put their feet on it while going to the toilet. The built-in handles allow them to grip at any time, and the high backrest provides extra stability and comfort.
Other kid-friendly features include cute bear ears on the back, as well as a high splashback to minimize cleanup. Since it goes directly to the toilet, you don’t have to clean the urinal every time you go to the toilet, which is a plus for busy parents. We also love the soft cushions on the seats, which eliminate the cold feeling in the toilet and make your kids happier to use it. All in all, this is a very comfortable option for young children.
One thing to note is that the seats are not very portable. Parents may have to adjust the height slightly to fit their own toilet and therefore it is inconvenient to move it to another toilet in the home, as it would mean readjusting it. Every time an adult needs to use the bathroom, it must be removed from the toilet and put back in its place. For these reasons, we think it’s perfect for a children’s bathroom. It was a bit inconvenient for a family bathroom, but we still felt that the included step stool was worth it. (If you’re looking for a super-portable option, the Baby Björn toilet trainer weighs less than 1 pound.)
Detail:
- Type: Toilet seat
- Dimensions: 25.59 x 14.57 inches
- Weight: 3.2 lbs
- Features: There are steps and handles to keep the child stable
Easiest to Use: BabyBjörn Smart Bedpan
It’s a great option to get your child started on their potty training journey. It’s a low-profile potty chair that, while without exciting features or fun add-ons, gets the job done and is easy to use. Despite its light and small size, we found it to be very stable, thanks to the non-slip material at the bottom. Even when we actively tried to push it with our feet, it didn’t move, which gave us a good feeling for the kids writhing on it.
The tall splashback keeps everything inside the potty, and since the bedpan is low above the ground, it’s easy for small people to squat on it. It’s also small and lightweight enough to be a portable option – it weighs only 1 pound and is very easy to move.
To clean this potty, simply take out the collection bowl and wash it, it’s very simple. As an added bonus, it’s aesthetically pleasing, available in neutral colors, and compact enough to be hidden when necessary. We don’t like that it doesn’t have a handle for kids to hold when they sit, though. It’s also worth noting that this is a very small potty, so if your child is older, they will grow up quickly.
Detail:
- Type: Potty chair
- Dimensions: 12.64 x 10.04 x 6.81 inches
- Weight: 1 lb
- Feature: Detachable bowl for easy cleaning
Best Characters：The First Years Minnie Mouse ImaginAction Potty and Trainer Seat
If your child is reluctant to train to go to the toilet, options with interesting characters can make the use of toilet chairs more appealing. This bright pink product features pictures of Minnie Mouse’s ears and several favorite Disney characters, making it instantly appealing to kids. We love the other kid-friendly features of this chair, such as the realistic flush sound that makes a realistic flush sound when you push a chair button. We especially like the bonus button, which emits a warm “Yay! “Every time I get pushed.”
The versatility of this design is also a big plus. It has a removable bowl that can be easily cleaned while being used as a chair, and once you are done with the stage, you can remove the seat and place it on top of the toilet. It’s stable both as a chair and as a toilet seat, and although we did find that it moves slightly when the child sits on it, it’s not a big problem. While it does have a splash guard, it doesn’t have a handle to hold onto, and it doesn’t have a step stool to use with the toilet, so you’ll need to buy one separately.
All of these fun features make kids want to use the potty chair, but keep in mind that these features are located on the chair, so they disappear when you remove the seat and use it directly on the toilet. Overall, we think this is valuable because it can help you through several different stages of toddler training and it can be a useful tool for children who are hesitant about potty training. (It also has a Mickey Mouse design, if that’s better suited to your child’s speed.)
Detail:
- Type: Potty chair
- Size: 13.5×9.5×
- Weight: 3.3 lbs
- Features: Turns into a toilet seat with realistic flushing sounds
Best Support: Baby Björn Potty Chair
Toddlers love to move around, even when using the bathroom, so it’s important to have a potty chair that is stable and supportive enough to keep them in place as much as possible. This Baby Björn potty chair has a high backrest that makes the seat more comfortable while providing plenty of support. We love the wrap-around design on both sides of the back, which helps prevent our child from falling to the side. What’s more, the high splash guard helps prevent clutter and can even be used as a handle for kids to hold while sitting.
While this one doesn’t have a lot of extras, many kids love the bear sign on the front of the potty. This simple design choice is eye-catching for kids and makes the potty feel more fun, which is always a plus. We also appreciate that it has an aesthetically pleasing pastel color that even makes things like potty chairs look more stylish.
Weighing only 2 pounds, this bedpan is light enough to be easily carried around the house as needed, and it’s also stable enough that it won’t slip when kids sit on it. Plus, the bowl is removable, so you can easily pour it out and clean it after each use. That being said, the price is a bit high for a more basic option, and it lacks some of the convenient features that other options have for as much or even less money.
Detail:
- Type: Potty chair
- Dimensions: 14.21 x 14.13 x 12.4 inches
- Weight: 2 lb
- Features: High backrest support
Best Tucked Away in the Car: Summer Infant Travel Potty Deluxe
If you’re planning to leave home with your toddler for potty training, a travel potty is a necessity. While some lightweight potty chairs can double as travel potty, it may be more convenient to use something like the summer baby option. This is more like a flat seat than a real chair where the calves can fold over the seat when not in use. When folded (or even opened), it’s compact enough to hide in your car or even carry around in your bag. When young children use it, we are impressed with its stability. The leg folds up and snaps into place so you know it’s ready and we didn’t have a problem with it shaking at all.
To use this potty, you can fold the disposable bag over the entire seat, and they can use the bag to go to the bathroom. This makes cleaning quick and easy: you just carefully lift the bag and throw it away, so there is little need to clean the seat. We found it very easy and quick to lift the bag. What we also like is that you don’t have to use the bag that comes with it – you can use any suitable single-use plastic bag.
One versatile feature worth noting is that you can also use the seat on the actual toilet. Simply fold the legs so that they are flat and place the seat above the toilet. The legs become handles that the child can hold, and then they can sit on the toddler-sized seat and use the bathroom without having to clean it up. While we appreciate this option, we do find that the seat feels less stable or sturdy when used in this position. We felt like we couldn’t use it without an adult holding it.
Detail:
- Type: Travel potty chair
- Dimensions: 11.93 x 9.84 inches
- Weight: 1.48 lbs
- Features: Equipped with a disposable pouch that folds up more compactly