The Best Potty Training Seats for Quick, Mess-Free Potty Training

Our Testing Process 

To find the best potty training seats, we looked at 20 popular products on the market, including potty chairs, toilet seats, and on-the-go options. We sent them home with our parenting editors to use the seats with their toddlers, who are either currently potty training or recently potty-trained, to test the stability, ease of cleaning, design, and overall value. For stability, we noted whether the seat moves around when a child sits on top of it or if it stays put, and we also observed whether each seat has handles for kids to hold onto or if it comes with a step stool to help toddlers get onto the toilet. To check how easy it is to clean, we paid attention to how effectively the splash guards work, when applicable, noting if there’s easy access to clean each nook and cranny or if it’s inconvenient. For potties that use disposable bags, we looked at how easy the bags are to remove (and if they leaked). In terms of design, we checked out any bells and whistles that the potty might have, such as a flushing sound, music, or handles. Finally, we considered all of these factors and weighed them against the potty’s price to determine whether the seat is truly a worthwhile purchase. 

We also spoke to experts to get their input on what to consider when buying a potty training seat and to hear some of their best potty training tips. We consulted Mona Amin, DO, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician, developmental expert, and founder of Peds Doc Talk; Christine Brown, a child behavior coach, sleep consultant, and founder of Bella Luna Family; and Michelle Swaney, a potty training consultant, speaker, teacher, and CEO of The Potty School.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Potty Training Seat

Type of Seat

There are three basic types of potty training seats to choose from. Both Dr. Amin and Brown recommend having one potty chair and one toilet seat to give your child options on which to use, along with some sense of control about the entire process. 

• Potty chair: A potty chair is a small chair that‘s designed to look like a mini toilet bowl. It’s low to the ground and less intimidating for small children to use, and it’s also portable, so it can be moved around as needed. As Dr. Amin notes, transitioning to a full-size toilet will be required at some point—if your child grows too accustomed to using a potty chair, that transition can be difficult. However, Swaney points out that a potty chair being that close to the floor can also make it easier for toddlers to pass bowel movements. 
• Toilet seat (AKA seat reducer): A training toilet seat is basically a child-sized toilet seat that sits on top of your toilet bowl. Some are adjustable, some are removable, and some come as an integrated seat, where you can just lift the training seat up to reveal the adult seat. While these can be intimidating for some children, they also allow toddlers to adjust to a regular-sized toilet immediately. 
• Portable seat: An on-the-go portable seat is a great option to have in your car or even in your diaper bag, especially for toddlers who are just starting to potty train. These are usually very small seats that fold up into a compact size with disposable bags that go over the seat for waste collection. 

Ease of Use and Cleaning 

Potty training can be a messy experience for everyone involved, and the type of training seat you choose can sometimes add to that mess. Look for a potty training seat that’s easy to clean, since you’ll be doing that a lot. For parents who want a low-maintenance option, potty chairs aren’t as ideal: The bowl will need to be emptied into the toilet after each use, which can get messy (especially if your little one wants to help). As Brown notes, cleaning these after each use can get messy and tiring, especially when you’re in the throes of potty training. In comparison, a toilet seat requires very little cleaning, since everything already goes into the bowl and can be flushed. 

You also want the potty training seat to be easy to use—so easy, in fact, that your toddler can use it on their own eventually. Make sure they can sit on it without it falling over, and if using a toilet seat, make sure they’re able to get onto it on their own, whether it’s with an attached step stool or one you purchase separately. 

Stability and Design

Stability and comfort are key when it comes to a potty training seat or chair. Kids are naturally squirmy, and you don’t want to risk a wiggly seat sending your toddler slip-sliding into the toilet bowl. “A seat reducer shouldn’t be able to slide at all,” Swaney says. “If you’re really looking for quality and longevity, I’d suggest investing in a built-in seat reducer to put as part of your actual toilet.” You want to make sure the toilet seat doesn’t wiggle, which can be scary for little ones, so Swaney recommends finding a model with an anti-slip grip to steadies the potty chair on the floor, or one that keeps the seat reducer stable on the toilet bowl.

Adjustable seats, like the Baby Björn Toilet Trainer, are a good way to prevent slips and falls, and seats that come with a step stool, such as the Skyroku Potty Training Seat, are ideal. “It’s important to use a stool or steps for them to climb up,” Dr. Amin says. “The steps allow them to stabilize their feet and bring their knees up to a more natural position (compared to dangling).”

Splash guards are a great feature as well. “For boys, who are learning to point their penis down, it can be helpful to have a raised front so that if they forget, the mess may be minimized,” Brown says. It’s also useful if a potty training seat has handles, which provide safety and comfort. Dr. Amin suggests looking for an option with a backrest, like the Baby Björn Potty Chair, or armrests—after all, a comfortable toilet can help your kiddo stay on the potty longer. 

Kid Appeal

Potty training can be stressful for toddlers, so anything that makes them want to use the potty can be used to your advantage. Features like a flushing sound, a cute cartoon design, or other sounds aren’t necessary for the process, but they can be fun for kids and encourage them along. If kiddos love something about their little potty chair or toilet seat, they’ll actually want to use it. So, in some cases, paying extra for these kid-friendly features can be worth it in the end. One editor found that the characters and flushing handle on The First Years Disney Minnie Mouse Potty and Training Set made their tot more excited to go, while another reported that the music and flusher on the Fisher-Price Learn-to-Flush Potty were enticing for their potty-training kiddo.

How to Make Potty Training Seats Work

Potty training seats are extremely useful, but they won’t do all the work for you. Here are some potty training tips to help guide you through the process. 

• Avoid putting pressure on your kid. Before you start the potty training process, make sure your toddler is truly ready for it. “It doesn’t matter which seat you choose or how much gear you buy, if they aren’t ready for potty training, it can result in a true power struggle, drawing the process out,” Brown says. Don’t pressure them into using the potty, because it will backfire. 
• Give them choices. Both Brown and Dr. Amin suggest offering at least two different kinds of potty seats. This gives kids a sense of control, and they may prefer one over the other. 
• Add a stool into the mix. This is especially key if using a toilet seat. “A stool or steps are really important to help with safety, independence, and proper body mechanics,” Dr. Amin says. 
• Use wipes instead of toilet paper. Brown suggests starting with wipes instead of toilet paper since that’s the feeling toddlers are accustomed to. “When big changes are happening, it can be helpful to keep as much the same as you can,” Brown says. “It helps little ones to feel more comfortable.” We recommend using flushable wipes, though you can also toss disposable ones in the garbage.
• Keep the seat comfortable. If your child is uncomfortable, they won’t want to use the potty. Choose an ergonomic model, and inspect the seat you pick before introducing it to your child. “Be mindful of sharp plastic edges,” Swaney warns. “It happens from time to time with manufacturing.” She recommends running your finger over all of the edges and smoothing any rough plastic edges with sandpaper. 

Your Questions, Answered 

Is it better to use a potty or toilet seat for potty training? 

This ultimately comes down to a matter of personal preference. “Some children prefer the potty training chair because it is less intimidating than climbing up on the ‘big’ toilet,” Dr. Amin says. Then again, some kiddos prefer a toilet seat, since it makes them feel like a grown-up, she adds. Providing both options is a helpful way to give your toddler some control over the process and find the solution that works best for them. Keep in mind that using a toilet seat gets kids more accustomed to a toilet bowl than a potty chair does. 

How do you know when your child is ready to start potty training? 

Sometimes the signs that your child is ready for potty training are clear, and sometimes they’re not. According to Brown, the biggest indicator that a kid is ready to potty train is that they’re asking to use the toilet. Keep in mind that all kids hit milestones at different times, and trying to force the potty training process can backfire. “If we try to force children to potty train and they aren’t ready, it can create an all-out refusal to use the potty and it will prolong the process,” says Brown. Additionally, according to Dr. Amin, other signs include: 

• Bladder maturity, meaning they can stay dry for longer periods during the day. 
• More predictable bladder movements and no bowel movements in their diaper in the morning. 
• Walking, pushing, and pulling their clothing down, sitting down and standing up, or climbing onto the stool or stairs to get to the toilet seat. 
• Verbal cues, like telling you they went in their diaper or they have to go. 
• Non-verbal cues, like grunting to poop or pulling at their diaper. 

What’s the average age to potty train your child? 

Generally, potty training tends to begin between 2 and 3 years old, though some may be ready to start as early as 18 months old, while others may prefer to wait until they’re around 3.5 years old, says Dr. Amin. 

However, every kid is ready to start potty training at different ages, Dr. Amin emphasizes. So, it’s key to observe any signs of readiness your kiddo is showing you. “Following your child’s readiness helps to avoid regressions when starting too early and power struggles when starting later,” she explains.

Who We Are

Jessica Booth is a freelance writer who covers parenting, shopping, wellness, entertainment, and wedding content. She has been freelance writing since 2017 and before that worked as an editor at an online publication for seven years. She has written for sites such as Brides, People, Insider, Bustle, Romper, Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Delish, The Daily Beast, Reviewed, She Knows, Scary Mommy, The Knot, and What to Expect. She also has two young daughters and has been through potty training herself.