Potty Chair Guide

Here’s a look at our favorite potty training gear —

Potty Chair vs. Potty Seat

A Potty Chair is a little training potty that sits by itself on the floor. Most of them have a removable basin that you can dump and clean.

Unless you’re dealing with a kid over the age of three, I feel that the potty chair is less intimidating for little ones who are dwarfed by the size of an adult potty.

The big downside? It can be really gross to clean poop out of the bowl – perhaps even slightly grosser than changing diapers.

The Potty Seat (below), on the other hand, is a seat that reduces the size of the adult seat to a smaller size such that your kiddo won’t fall into the potty.

If you can get your little one to sit on the real potty, score! No transfer of waste is required, and it’s so much less cleanup. Just keep in mind, your toddler might be intimidated by the sheer height of the potty. You’ll also need a kid’s step stool, unless your toilet happens to be really low to the ground. Or you live at a preschool.

Which kind to get?

In my experience, toddlers less than two or 2 ¼ prefer a potty chair and kids over 2 ¼ or 2 ½ seem to be okay with going on the big potty. At the end of the day, try both and let him decide which is more comfortable.

Generally speaking, a potty chair is the safest bet, but most people end up getting a potty seat (sometimes called a seat reducer) later on when the child becomes a little bigger and more confident.

Favorite Potty Training Chairs

Here are our favorite potty chairs. You can also find a variety of potty chairs at your local Target or Walmart.

BabyBjorn ~ $30

BABYBJORN makes a couple of different potties, the larger of which is the BabyBjorn Potty Chair (below), which has an ergonomic design with a high backrest. Because the chair sits a little higher off the ground, I find it’s easier for kids to “center” themselves and sit on.

They also make a smaller potty called the Smart Potty (~$20), which is a perfect portable potty. Many moms keep the Smart Potty in the car for emergency pit stops and such. The smaller footprint makes the Smart Potty great for multiples.

Summer My Size Potty ~ $26 – Editor’s Pick

Look, it’s a tiny little version of an adult potty — and kids love this thing! It’s the closest thing to “cute” in the world of tiny potties.

This potty has a handle that features a “flushhhhh” sound to reward a job well done. A built-in wipe compartment keeps everything together and for little boys, a splash guard helps with the peepee.

AOMOMO Frog Urinal Trainer ~ $10

If you have a boy who is ready to try peeing while standing up, this hilarious frog pee trainer is here to help him learn how to aim.

Favorite Potty Training Seats (“seat reducers”)

Again, if you can get your kid to sit on the big potty, you’re sitting pretty! No transferring of waste makes everyone happy.

Here are the best potty seats ~

BabyBjorn Toilet Trainer ~ $34

Another “Old Faithful” product, many prefer the BabyBjorn potty seat because it has a knob you can adjust (on the back) to get the perfect fit on your toilet seat. The last thing you want is for the seat to be sliding around. Also, if you plan on taking the seat on and off (in a shared bathroom and whatnot), you’ll appreciate the hanging hook (you don’t want it sitting around on the floor, right?).

Mayfair Potty Training Seat ~ $52 – Editor’s Pick

By far my favorite, Mayfair makes an awesome mini seat/big seat combo that blends in beautifully in any bathroom without screaming “kids!!!” This toddler toilet seat replaces your existing toilet seat — and you can remove the mini seat by unclipping it once your kids have outgrown it.

Potty Toilet Seat with Ladder ~ $32

This combo ladder/toddler seat does away with the need for a step stool for your toilet (though you will probably still need one in front of your sink). Its handles will help your kiddo get up on the seat all by himself.

Step Stools

Whether getting up to the big potty or getting up to the sink for hand washing, you’re gonna need some step stools. You can use the same one for both if you don’t mind moving it around. I have step stools all around my house, such as in the kitchen and bedroom closet, so the kids can get things for themselves. Very handy. Note: If your child is pretty small (or your sink is rather tall), you may need one of the taller stools for hand washing.

IKEA Forsiktig ~ $5

For a smaller stool… did I mention it’s $5? It’s not particularly tall, but good for those who need a little boost.

…and for a taller stool, check out the BOLMEN (below) for $7. I have two in my house. Love ’em. Update: I have had these stools in my house for years now and they hold up wonderfully! My kids now use them in the kitchen to “help” cook.

Bumbo ~ $14

This is a nice potty stool for little ones because it’s wider and taller (than most) and very sturdy.

BabyBjorn ~ $19

Cute and very sturdy with anti-slip material on the bottom and top, another crowd pleaser from BabyBjorn. Anti-slip is so very important because hand-washing stools get wet easily by messy kids. Note: this one is not particularly tall.

Pottery Barn Kids ~ $59+

PB Kids makes cute wood stools that look great in any bathroom: a one-step and a two-stepper. The two-stepper will give a small child more height at tall sinks. Add your kid’s name for a little flair (this is mandatory if you are Southern…).

Aqueduck Faucet Extender ~ $9

For anyone who’s ever had to hold their child in midair so he can wash his hands… I bring you the Aqueduck Faucet Extender. Give your back a break.

Wipes

Last but not least… you may find it hard to go from nice, wet baby wipes to dry toilet paper overnight (we looove getting that butt really clean, no?). Since we’re moving toward everything being flushable now, it’s time to transition your wipes too —

Pampers Kandoo Flushable Wipes ~ $25 (12 pack, 50 ct)

What about flushable wipes? We used to recommend these — and didn’t hear anything negative for years until…. you guessed it… #coronavirus. Seems that people turned to these when they couldn’t get toilet paper and it’s a disaster for septic tanks, sewer lines, and sewage treatment plants. Therefore, we can no longer recommend them in good faith 😫.

Portable Potty Seats — On the Go!

So, you’ve just potty trained your kid (you think), and now it’s time to go to the park. Or the beach. And — WAIT — what if she has to go?? (And you KNOW she will, lol.) Because you don’t want to confuse her by putting a diaper back on, a travel potty seat will get you through those first few weeks and months of potty training when time is of the essence.

Potette Plus 2-in-1 ~ $17

The Pottete Plus is a portable potty and trainer seat all in one — it can fold flat into a trainer seat. It comes in a small, drawstring bag. Toss it in your diaper bag or in the back seat of your car. Includes three disposable liners. You can buy the refills — or, in a jam, use a plastic grocery bag.

OXO Travel Seat ~ $19

Another great travel option is the OXO Travel Seat. This seat is very easy to fold into a flat or standing position (some would say easier than the Potette) for use on a regular toilet or as a stand-alone potty. This one has a splash guard for boys and comes with a drawstring bag for storage. You can also buy OXO leak-proof bag refills with absorbent liners.

Foldable Travel Potty Seat ~ $14

The main appeal of the foldable travel potty seat is that it folds up really small so you can easily store it in your bag until you need it. This is a handy option, since most travel potties will take up quite a lot of room in your diaper bag or purse, even when folded flat. 

That’s it for our favorite gear — happy pottying!