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No matter how much you adore your kids — and no matter how ready you are to stop forking over the big bucks for diapers — not many parents look forward to the potty training process.

It’s a daunting task. Pee and poop end up in places they shouldn’t (like, really shouldn’t), the laundry is endless, the carpet will never be the same, and everyone’s patience will be pushed to the limit.

However, toilet training is a big milestone in any toddler’s life, and it’s well worth the effort you are putting in. As one mom told me when I was despairing of potty training my very stubborn son, “He won’t go to college in diapers!”

Having the right equipment can make a big difference in how the potty training process goes. Just imagine approaching a toilet that is higher than your belly button, and you may be able to sympathize with how your toddler feels about grown-up toilets.

Then there are the loud flushing noises, and the sight of things just being whisked away to who-knows-where. (Does that thing swallow kids or just toilet paper? They’re not so sure yet).

A potty seat or chair sized just for them can give your toddler a big confidence boost as they tackle the process of ditching diapers for underwear.

You’ve got this, and we’re here to help. So take a deep breath (or grab a big drink), and read on for our top recommendations of toddler potty chairs and seats!

While many of us would prefer to minimize our baby gear, a toddler potty seat or chair is a very worthwhile investment. One accidental tumble into the toilet may be all it takes to scare your toddler away from the porcelain throne for a while. (And who can blame them?!)

In addition to making your child feel more secure, a toddler-proportioned potty can help with the ergonomics of “the go.” Having their legs at a 90-degree angle (or even slightly squatted), with feet flat on the floor or a footstool, and sitting securely will help your child move their bowels more easily.

Plus, sitting way up high with legs dangling and hanging on for dear life just isn’t comfortable, especially for a newbie.

While children don’t have bowel and bladder control until after 18 months, you can begin exposing them to their potty at any age. Depending on your potty training approach, it may help some children get familiar with their own potty seat or chair.

When your child starts showing signs of toilet training readiness, you can start incorporating “sitting on the potty” into their daily routine. Equipped with lots of patience, some books, and cups of their favorite beverage, you’ll see them start to understand the sensation of going in the potty.

Not to mention, many toddlers feel a sense of pride in having their own potty or love copying their parents by sitting on the big potty (complete with toddler seat, of course).

When shopping for a potty seat, one of the first things you’ll notice is products differentiated by seats versus chairs. There are a few important differences to keep in mind.

A toddler toilet seat is a removable seat that sits right on top of your regular toilet seat. It’s sized for a toddler’s bum and may have features such as handles or a splash guard to provide added security for your little one.

This kind of seat is much easier when it comes to clean-up. As opposed to potty chairs, which have a bowl that needs to be dumped and wiped out, you can flush away waste.

A potty chair, on the other hand, resembles a bowl or an actual tiny toilet. This option may feel much less intimidating for your child than climbing a step stool to sit on a full-size toilet.

As a general rule of thumb, toddlers under the age of 2 or 2 1/2 often seem to prefer potty chairs, while toddlers who are 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 seem to prefer using the grown-up potty.

But just as every child is ready to train at a different age, they may each have their preference for a seat or chair.

The most important features are safety, security, and kid appeal. If your child feels safe using their toilet — whether chair or seat — and thinks it’s fun and exciting, you’ve already won half the battle.

Additionally, it may be helpful to take your toddler with you to pick out their special potty. They might feel proud of choosing and using their particular potty or toilet seat, which will only make your job easier.

If you have a toddler who especially wants to be just like you, or observes older siblings, you may lean toward a toilet seat with an accompanying step stool. It really is a personal decision based on your bathroom setup, your child, and your preferences.

We interviewed parents, read reviews, and tested some products with our own kids (don’t worry, no toddlers or parents were harmed in the testing of these toilets) to bring you our list of top picks for toddler toilet training seats and chairs.

This simple seat wins best overall for ease of use, toddler comfort, storage options, and affordability. (How many baby gear items can you find for less than $15?!)

The Munchkin seat features a contoured shape, a nonskid base, handles for your kiddo to hold on to, a built-in splash guard, and a hook to allow the seat to hang on the side of your toilet for easy storage. Lightweight and simple, we found that toddlers enjoyed putting this on the potty “all by themselves.”

Worth noting: A few parents report that on certain toilet shapes, this seat may still move around a bit.

This little toilet looks exactly like the real thing, complete with a handle and flushing sound effects. Toddlers like that it looks so grown-up (and get the idea of what it’s for pretty quickly), while parents appreciate that it’s easy to clean and easy for little people to climb on and off independently.

It features a contoured seat with removable splash guard, an easy-clean removable bowl, and a compartment in the toilet tank to store wipes or extra underwear. The only complaint we got was that the splash guard falls off easily if bumped, which kind of defeats the purpose.

This OXO potty gets rave reviews from parents — including Healthline Parenthood editor and mom of three Saralyn. With quick-fold legs, easily wipeable surfaces, disposable bags (instead of a bowl), and a sanitary travel storage bag, this potty is beyond easy to transport.

While it’s especially well suited for use on-the-go, many parents prefer this as their only potty training seat. You can use it as a seat on any toilet, or pop out the legs and attach a waste bag for a freestanding potty chair that can be used anywhere — including the side of the road.

While refill bags have to be purchased separately, the convenience of this toilet is impossible to beat.

Another fantastic choice for travel is this budget-friendly potty seat from Gimars. It folds up to a compact 6 inches by 7 inches, comes with its own little travel bag, features nonslip grips, and has a colorful owl design that appeals to kids.

Adults can’t argue with the low cost and the convenience of a foldable seat that can be easily stashed in your diaper bag — because potty training moments happen everywhere!

Like the Summer My Size, this potty chair is realistic, which is a hit with many toddlers. It looks like a grown-up toilet and features a nonskid base, removable bowl, and a built-in splash guard. It also comes with a removable, larger splash guard, which you might appreciate if you have boys.

It also has a handle with flushing sounds and a compartment for storing wipes. This potty features a full lid, so you can close it for sanitary purposes. A few parents feel the various pieces make it harder to clean than other options, but overall it’s very highly rated.

While you may choose to train your little one to urinate sitting down at first, or prefer to teach him to stand, some parents of boys like using a training urinal to teach their little man to go standing up.

Coming in around $15, this urinal is almost worth it just for the entertainment value. It hangs on the wall via an included suction cup hook or adhesive strip (although some parents said they ended up using a Command hook, as the included adhesive was not strong enough), so you can choose the right height.

The interior bowl removes for easy cleanup, and the urinal walls help contain the splash. A little spinning target in the middle helps motivate your toddler to aim in the right spot, which many parents felt was its most valuable feature.

This multifunctional potty is unique in that it can be used as a stand-alone potty chair, a toilet seat plus step stool, and a toddler step stool. This is very helpful if you want to purchase one piece of gear that will carry you through the potty training process.

Sure, we like the cute pink and purple design (it comes in blue too). But we chose this potty because girls sometimes move through the training process a little faster than boys, so this potty will grow with them no matter how quickly they graduate.

Most of the negative comments on this potty were from parents of boys, who felt that the seat had too many compartments that got messy. Parents of girls had no complaints about this multi-use potty and liked how it converts to a step stool by the end.

While not as sleek as some of the potty chairs we reviewed, this adjustable potty is great if you’re starting potty training early or have an extra tall toddler, as you can adjust the seat to two different heights.

The adjustable height, as well as the armrests and supportive back, may make this seat more comfortable for your kiddo during the many hours they’ll spend learning how to take care of business. The affordable price and an easy-clean design make this a solid choice for your potty training needs.

This combo seat from Mayfair replaces your current toilet seat and features both a regular adult toilet seat and a toddler-sized potty seat. Parents rave about the ease of use and the invisible footprint in the bathroom.

This option is available in both a round and elongated shape and is available in three colors — linen, bone, and white — to best match your existing toilet.

If you’re up for a project, this could be a great solution for your family. Although, you may still want a portable potty seat for when you’re out and about.

There’s so much parents love about this travel potty seat. First of all, it comes in eight different colors, which is enticing for small, opinionated toddlers. It can be used as a standalone chair or as a toilet seat.

Additional features include nonslip, rubberized bottoms that will stay still while your kid attempts to sit and get up off the seat. The ergonomic shape accommodates children up to 50 pounds and is specially designed for tiny behinds.

Another plus about this seat is that it comes with all the accessories you need, including a drawstring carrying bag and three absorbent, toss-away liners.

If your child is so ready for the potty that they refuse to use anything that even resembles a child seat, then it’s time for something that looks just like the real thing. That’s what parents appreciate most about this life-like toddler training seat.

It not only looks just like the toilet in your bathroom, but it also includes “flush” buttons that sound like a real flush. It also has cheering sounds to encourage your child when they’re successful with going potty.

Once your child gets a handle on using this mini seat, the trainer seat comes right off and can be added to the real toilet to help smooth the transition.

Perhaps the most appealing feature, however, is the foot lift that helps your child master the proper squat to help with pushing.

Once you’re relieved from the majority of your diaper-changing duties, you’ll be glad to have just a seat to clean. For most potty training seats or chairs, you’ll do the following:

Dr. Gary Kirkilas, a pediatrician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson, recommends looking for potty seats that include features that limit slipping and increase stability, such as rubber stoppers on the underside and side handles for gripping. For boys, Kirkilas finds that a splash guard is helpful for preventing messes. “Some potty seats include a step stool, which can be helpful for parents who are physically unable to lift the toddler onto the seat as well as providing support to the child’s feet as they bear down for a bowel movement,” he adds.

Lastly, Kirkilas recommends looking for potty seats that have roughly the same oval or circular shape as your toilet.

According to Kirkilas, both seats and chairs are useful in facilitating the potty training process. In his experience, however, he has found that potty chairs may be easier for a child to get used to at first.

“The chair allows their feet to touch the ground, which may make them feel more secure and can also be placed in convenient locations outside of the bathroom, such as play areas, as easy access is critical to success when they are getting started,” he says.

Once your child has gotten used to using the separate potty chair, over-the-toilet potty seats work well in helping them transition to the toilet. As an added plus, potty seats tend to be easier to clean that potty chairs.

Children typically show signs of readiness, including dry diapers, an interest in the potty itself, running to a private area to poop, and predictable bowel movements, between the ages of 18 months to 36 months, according to Dr. Dylan Hes, medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics. “Some parents like to wait for the warm weather and just take away the diaper for 3 days straight and keep running to the toilet with their kids to train them, while others train their kids gradually,” she says.

She recommends beginning potty training by letting your child sit on the potty seat or chair with the diaper on initially, so as not to be scared.

“You can take the stool from the diaper and allow your child to flush it down the toilet so she knows where it goes and even shout ‘hurray!’ for a flush,” she says. “For boys, I love to train them standing up for urine and throwing a handful of colored cereal in the toilet to have them aim.”

Parenting can feel overwhelming and potty training can make it seem especially so. Fortunately, there are a lot of great options for toddler potties to help make the process smoother.

And really, this could be fun. How many times in your life will you have to buy a miniature toilet?

Last medically reviewed on June 21, 2022

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Megan Dix, RN-BSN, Jenn Sinrich

Meredith Wallis, MS, APRN, CNM, IBCLC

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