The potty training process tests even the most patient of parents. Having one of the best potty training seats on hand can make the process smoother. I’ve tested potty chairs with bowls that were too shallow, and a friend had an incident where a heavy toilet seat fell on a kid’s sensitive area. Getting started with the best potty training seats like the BabyBjörn Potty Chair can help prevent mishaps and prep them for success.
If it's time to ditch the diapers, you'll want to purchase one of the best potty training seats ... [+] before kicking off toilet training. Potty Seat And Step Stool
When choosing the best potty training seat, consider your needs, your child’s temperament and size, and how the seat will fit into your lifestyle. Do you think your child will be reluctant to potty train? Do you travel a lot and need a portable option? Are the toilets in your home seated low enough for a toddler or too high? Will you mind emptying the bowl of a potty chair over and over and over? Will your child appreciate a built-in potty training seat on your regular toilet or would they prefer their own, personalized potty sized to them? Ask yourself these questions to help find the right potty training seat for your family.
The most important thing to remember when getting ready to potty train your child is that they will make mistakes regardless of how prepared you are. “Potty training is not a measurement of your parenting. If your child struggles, it’s not that you did it badly. It’s that your child is struggling—that’s all,” says Jamie Glowacki, author of Oh Crap! Potty Training, a go-to potty training manual for many families. I spoke to Glowacki, leaned on firsthand potty seat experience as a parent and my editor’s experience potty training three kids, and researched the current bestsellers to put together this list of the best potty training seats and chairs.
After you’ve finished reading this list, you may want to check out some of our other top toddler content, including the best toys for 3-year-olds and the top toddler beds.
The BabyBjörn Potty Chair is a favorite of many parents, myself included. It sits higher than many other potties and has a solid backrest, offering comfort to kids who might need to hang out for a bit waiting to go. Without any batteries, stickers or nooks and crannies, it’s also very easy to clean. Many parents prefer its modern look and colorways. The bowl has a splashguard as well, making spills less likely.
The advantage of a potty chair during toilet training is that it offers the child a comfortable, easy-to-access potty, and it’s quite portable, meaning it can move with the child. The disadvantage in choosing a chair vs. a seat that goes on the toilet is that it constantly needs to be manually emptied and wiped clean—by you.
What the parents say: My own child has been using this chair for nearly two years—and it still looks brand new. The senior baby and kids gear editor at Forbes Vetted, Rose Gordon Sala, also used this potty training seat for her children, among other seats. “It’s easy to clean, sturdy and comfortable for them to hang out on. I like the taller back, but the chair isn’t huge,” she says. “It also held up perfectly through three children, and I was able to clean it and pass it along to another mom.”
This streamlined potty chair is similar to the Björn model, but it does lack the armrests and the splash guard is a bit lower. The whole thing is a bit more petite, and it’s certainly lightweight enough to move from room to room as your child needs it. The non-slip tread added to the base helps keep it in place if your child fidgets. Empty it and simply wipe it clean. There’s nothing remarkable or unremarkable about the Oxo potty training seat—and that’s one of the reasons parents seem to love it. It’s perfectly effective and just $20 when on sale.
What the reviews say: Amazon reviewers have given this chair a 4.7 out of 5 positive rating, calling it “sturdy” and “lightweight,” as well as simple to use. “Easy to use for toddlers. Easy to clean! Well made product,” raved one. Some reviewers did refer to the bowl as a bit shallow for mega users or possibly boys who may splash a bit more.
The Munchkin Sturdy Potty Seat is, well, quite sturdy. I’ve used other toilet inserts, and this one stands out as the best, because it’s so lightweight yet durable. It’s also a cost-effective option and can easily be moved from one bathroom to another, or stored off to the side when not in use. My only gripe is that the underside can be difficult to clean, but it does eliminate the mess of constantly emptying and cleaning out a potty chair bowl. It also doesn’t fold away for storage, but that’s part of what makes it feel sturdier for them to sit on than other options.
What the parents says: I’ve tested a number of potty seats inserts that go over your current toilet’s seat and found this affordable Munchkin seat to be the best. My toddler could easily put it on and off the toilet herself, and it provided a comfortable seat for her to go on wherever and whenever the need struck—all for less than $12.
Having their own miniature version of a toilet can help kids take ownership of their potty training. After all, kids love to mimic their grown-ups. This chair has an interactive handle that makes flushing noises, too. It also has a place to store wipes, toys or other items. Your child can enjoy the full backrest, as well as a solid seat with their feet planted on the floor. It lacks armrests, but the flushing handle and flip-up seat are sure to win them over. It’s about 15 x 15 inches, meaning a similar size to the other potty chairs on this list.
What the parents say: My nephew has this potty, and my daughter literally gets excited to use the facilities every time she goes to his house. It’s a fun option for kids who like to imitate daily life (which is pretty much every toddler) but aren’t quite ready for the full-size toilet.
When you have a kid who doesn’t want to toilet train, sometimes you need to pull out all the stops, as in finding a potty chair bedecked in the faces of their favorite TV show characters. Choose the friendly face that most appeals to your tot, from Mickey Mouse, Baby Shark, Minnie Mouse, Paw Patrol, Toy Story or Wonder Woman with this First Years potty chair. There’s also a very cool looking race car chair. It also plays flushing and cheering sounds—meaning everything about this seat encourages kids to use the potty.
What the parents say: The character theme on this seat, as well as the fun flushing and cheering sounds, might be just the inspiration or enticement a child needs to get onto the potty for the first time—and maybe even stay there as long as needed. “I’ve potty trained three kids, and I found that every child needs something different to help them ditch the diapers,” says Sala. “My last one was extra reluctant until I found this potty chair with her beloved Paw Patrol all over it. Suddenly she was excited to sit on it. It still took extra time to wrap up potty training, but I’m certain this chair saved us months of frustration.”
A potty training seat that goes right onto your typical toilet is preferred by some families who want to eliminate clutter or simply keep things simple with all the peeing and pooping happening in one place. The issue is that often a full-size toilet is not so easy for a little one to climb onto, or just feels scary, especially to the youngest tots. The addition of a ladder to this Jool Baby potty seat eliminates some of those concerns. While there are a number of ladder potty training seats out there, we really like that the step on this one can be adjusted to get the height right for your child. The handles at the top offer additional safety support and the seat is soft and cushioned. The ladder collapses for storage, too.
What the reviews say: It has a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Amazon with around 1,000 reviews. “This was a game changer in potty training,” wrote one. “No more cleaning out tiny pottys. Stable enough that the kid feels safe with handles for added support.” Other reviewers praised its space-saving design and its ability to encourage independence in kids. Others felt it didn’t fit well on their toilet and recommended measuring closely.
I can’t tell you how many times this travel potty has saved my daughter from having an accident in the car. It folds up neatly into a bag for storage, and it comes with absorbent bags that make cleanup a breeze. We often use it with bags in the car when we can’t find a nearby (or suitable) toilet, and you can also use it as a toilet seat to place over a regular toilet in a pinch. You may find that you have a kid who refuses to enter into public restrooms or a porta potty, because they’re too loud or seem too scary. The Potette is perfect in these situations. It’s quite small, so it won’t hold an older child over 50 pounds, but it’s a crucial tool for those in the early potty training days.
What the parents say: I’ve already described how useful this potty can be, especially when driving recently toilet trained (or still learning) young kids around. Just pull it out from the trunk and bam, you have an instant potty. My editor Sala also refers to the Potette as a “lifesaver” on many, many occasions even once at a bathroom-free beach when someone had to go No. 2. “It’s always a sad day when they get too big for the Potette,” she adds.
This seat is an ideal pick for small spaces or travel when public restrooms are involved. Simply pop it onto the regular toilet seat, and you transform a possibly intimidating or too large seat into a just-right for training potty. It folds into a bag for travel, so you can stash it in your backpack, the trunk of the car or in a vanity drawer. Its petite size makes it ideal for use in a smaller bathroom that can’t accommodate a potty chair. Where it really shines is in making potty training a bit easier when encountering public restrooms or even portable potties, which are unfamiliar to tots. Because it suctions onto the regular toilet, it also eliminates the need for dumping and cleaning a bowl.
What the parents say: “I’ve used this for the kids on and off during road trips. It’s another solid travel seat, because it folds up so small,” says Sala. “We’ve used it most often to pop onto a gross public bathroom seat or one that is just too wide for littles.” Another happy reviewer wrote: “This has been great for us when out and about for my toddler. I LOVE that it folds up and comes with a travel bag so I can easily pack it without taking too much room. It suctions well to toilets I have used so far and is super easy to clean.”
This seat replaces your regular toilet seat, and in fact, installs right over it. It has a few modifications to help it fit perfectly over your normal seat, which is unlike many other training seats. Another appealing feature is the slow-close to prevent injuries in kids. This built-in potty training seat is ideal for small spaces, because it eliminates the need to store a separate potty. It’s also very easy for kids to use, unlike some other seats and adapters I’ve tried that were difficult for my toddler to set up herself.
What the reviews say: Reviewers like that this child seat comes with an adult-size seat and that it is easy to switch between the two, eliminating any surprises for them. It’s also easy to remove from your toilet once your children grow older. The NextStep2 has an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars with more than 17,000 reviews on Amazon, so it’s well-liked by many other parents, too. “I have three kids (4, 2, and 1) and the older two love this,” wrote one on Amazon. “It doesn’t wiggle or wobble, keeping the two year old from getting his thighs pinched. The four year old like that he doesn’t feel like he’s going to fall in.”
Forbes Vetted has deep experience in reviewing and testing baby and kids gear, and we care about selecting the best and safest products for families. We’ve researched and written about a number of both diapering products and children’s health items, from the best diaper rash creams and sunscreens to the best deodorants for kids.
As the author, I’ve tested many potty training seats with my kids, some of which made it onto this list. I also included seats that the Forbes Vetted’s senior editor of baby and kids gear, Sala, used with her three children. I also spoke to Jamie Glowacki, author of the popular Oh Crap! Potty Training book and method, to understand what types of features to look for in a potty and to understand how to set these young kids up for success.
This article is regularly reviewed for accuracy and was most recently updated in September 2023.
To choose the best potty training seats, I used a combination of research, testing and expert advice to select these chairs and seats. I researched the current potty seats and gave favor to those that were inviting to toddlers, easy to clean and well-rated or came with a firsthand recommendation. I also noted when a special feature made a potty stand out and tried to include a number of different types of seats to accommodate different household needs and budgets.
Based on our research, we named the BabyBjörn Potty Chair the best potty training seat overall. However, the best seat for potty training is simply the one your child agrees to use to go pee and poop. Beyond that, choose a seat that fits your budget and your lifestyle. From our choices above, there are fun seats that encourage kids to enjoy going to the potty, and there are practical seats that meet a need you may have, such as saving space or blending in with your bathroom décor.
There are many developmental factors that play into potty training. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that most American kids are potty trained (during the daytime hours, not overnight) by around 4 years old. However, this is just an average. Some children learn to use the potty earlier, others later. Many parents might start potty training with children around age 2 or 3, and some learn very quickly, others take their time to conquer this new skill. There are also special circumstances to consider, such as neurodivergence or major life milestones that may delay potty training for individuals and families.
Glowacki prefers to start potty training before children turn 3. She explained that around 3 years old, kids go through a psychological process called individuation where they recognize themselves as separate from their parents. During this process, kids exercise free will and and they say “no” a lot, so you may face less pushback if you potty train before 3. However, every kid is different and some might not be ready at this age.
Many parents potty train their kids around age 2 or 3, though some start much earlier and some wait longer. In general, Glowacki recommends that parents potty train their kids between ages 20 and 30 months. “There is a developmental lull happening in those months. Before that the learning curve is probably going to be a little bit longer,” she says. After 30 months, kids go through individuation, as explained above, so it may be easier for both you and your child if you potty train before that age.
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I'm a reporter covering the intersection of sports, business and technology. My byline has appeared at CNBC.com, The Hockey News and Narratively. I started this journey covering a handful of New Jersey Devils stranded in Albany during the 2012 NHL Lockout, with stops on the beats of the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. I graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism where I specialized in Sports Media.
I'm a reporter covering the intersection of sports, business and technology. My byline has appeared at CNBC.com, The Hockey News and Narratively. I started this journey covering a handful of New Jersey Devils stranded in Albany during the 2012 NHL Lockout, with stops on the beats of the Chicago Blackhawks, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. I graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism where I specialized in Sports Media.
I am a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, relationships, home, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, Prevention, Health, Yahoo Life, and more. I have a master’s degree from American University, live by the beach, and hope to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
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