The 9 Best Potty Training Seats, According to Parents

One training potty that both What to Expect staff and community members rave about is the Summer My Size Potty Pro. Because this training seat looks so much like a real toilet, parents say their tots actually got excited to use it. It makes potty training convenient for your child by providing a comfortable seat that’s their size and even a realistic flushing sound as a reward for using the potty. 

“My daughter is the type of kid who wants to do everything mommy does, so it really helped for her to have her own little potty that looked so similar to the regular-size toilet,” says Christine Mattheis, What’s to Expect’s VP, Content. “It was very easy to use and to clean.”

And, once your child is ready to graduate to the next stage of potty training, it comes with a removable topper that can be placed right inside a regular-sized toilet. It also has a built-in compartment up top for wipes and storing other toileting accessories your kiddo might need, like books. 

“It's easy to clean, has a book holder which was helpful in getting my daughter excited about the potty,” says Olivia DeLong, Senior Editor with What to Expect. “She loved filling it up with new books each day.”

One thing to note about this style of potty seat is that you’ll have to empty it after each use. That being said, many say it’s easy to clean because of the removable bowl that you dump and wipe clean or place a disposable potty bags inside.

This potty training seat comes with an attached step-up ladder that makes it easier for your child to make their way up to the big toilet. The comfortable design boasts a removable cushion that’s easy to clean, and a splashguard to prevent messes. It also has a backrest for added comfort, and side handles give your little one a good grip both when climbing up and when seated. The foldable ladder design also has anti-slip grips on the bottom feet, so it’s stable for toddlers and preschoolers to climb up and down on their own. And, you can adjust the height to make it fit different sized toilets.

Parents note that the ladder helped their little ones feel more independent while learning to use the toilet because they didn’t need to be picked up and placed on it. One thing to keep in mind is that it takes up a lot of room, so some parents advise only buying it for a larger bathroom.

While it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing for adults, kids love a character design on pretty much anything. In fact, my youngest son would hardly approach a toilet until we invested in a character seat like this Mickey one. He was also extremely picky about how a toilet seat felt on his rear end, but took well to the seat’s padded design. Parents, including myself, like that the cushion is quite thick and has a smooth coating that makes it easy to wipe clean after uses. This Mickey seat (as well as the matching Minnie potty training seat) will likely delight your little one seeing their favorite character, especially if they’re reluctant to use the toilet. Plus, it’s one of the most lightweight options on this list, so they can place it on the toilet themselves to feel some independence.

One thing to keep in mind is that the rounded shape of this training seat may not fit well on more elongated toilet bowls.

To help your child get the hang of using the big toilet, a potty training seat with handles can help them feel stable and secure when seated. This kind of seat may also be beneficial for kids who are differently abled, as it provides them extra balance and support when they use the toilet. These handles are particularly great because they’re large, soft and feature non-slip material, too, so they’re easy to grasp and hold on to for feeling more secure.

The seat’s non-slip edge runs all the way around the bottom so that it won’t slide, and the high backrest comes up just enough for your child to relax comfortably into position on the potty. Parents also appreciate that it can be stored upright, thanks to grips on behind the backrest. However, some note that it didn’t fit their elongated toilet.

This portable potty-training seat opens easily and quickly for when your tot needs to toilet break while traveling. The legs fold in for compact storage in the car or your stroller, and can be used flat on a regular toilet or popped open as a standalone potty. 

“It's a great option for on the go use!” says Shelley Gingrich, What to Expect's Executive Director of Brand Solutions. “The legs fold in making it easy to cart around.”

Christine also used this toilet for her daughter, agreeing that it was easy to take on the go. “We kept it in a backpack with a set of potty liners and stored it on the bottom of the stroller,” she says. “It was really super easy and helpful to have when we lived in NYC, where playgrounds often do not have bathrooms.” 

Some parents note that the design might be a little tricky to use with children who have long legs (it’s low to the ground when not used on the toilet) or who are bigger (ages 3 and up).

If you’re looking for a no-frills option, this Munchkin potty training seat is a great option. It has all the necessary features to make potty training easier, including non-slip edges so it stays put on your toilet and handles that your child can grab for extra security while doing their business. You can also hang it on your seat for quick, easy access with the Munchkin hook that’s sold separately or with a Command strip hook.

“It gets the job done!” says Shelley, who also uses this potty training seat. “I like that it is white to match the toilet, it's easy to clean and you can hang it off the top of the toilet to keep it out of the way.”

One thing to note is that some parents said the underside of this toilet can be more difficult to clean because there are a few crevices and corners that are harder to scrub.

If you have limited space in your bathroom, consider replacing your existing toilet seat with Mayfair’s built-in potty training seat. It includes both a regular toilet seat and a training seat, the latter of which goes up and attaches magnetically to the cover when not in use. The entire seat installs easily, and closes slowly and quietly to prevent pinched fingers. It comes in five colors, and a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different toilet bowls. Plus, it’s the least likely of these over-the-seat options to shift because it’s attached to the toilet.

Though it’s pricier than other potty training seats, the high-quality design is crafted from enameled wood that’s resistant to chipping and scratching so that you can use this one seat for many years and multiple kids.

When you’re not sure exactly which type of potty training seat your child will like best, a multi-stage seat like Frida Baby’s 3-in-1 Grow-With-Me Potty is an ideal choice. This versatile system is designed to adapt as your child grows, serving as a standalone potty, a toilet seat topper and a step stool all in one convenient package. The seat is cushioned and has handles for your tot’s comfort, while the potty base can be used with or without liners depending on your preference. The Frida Baby liners and absorbent pads are sold separately, but are able to contain your kid’s mess so you’re left with minimal cleaning.

“It’s really helpful to be able to pop the seat off because my daughter loves her choices of the big toilet or small toilet,” says Alexandra Bisonó, Senior Art Director at What to Expect. “When we’ve used the big toilet with this seat, I’ve found it is really nicely cushioned to others we had tried that are plastic and hard.”

When your little one is ready to transition to the big toilet, you can easily put the topper on there, flip the base over and use it as a step stool, which can be great tool for potty training. “If a child’s legs dangle without support, many will tighten their leg and pelvic floor muscles to brace themselves which does not facilitate complete bladder emptying,” says Dr. Eaker.

One drawback that parents noted is that the training toilet is quite large and works best with children who are taller or older, perhaps closer to preschool-aged. Alexandra adds that she finds the stool to be too small in width for her child, so she isn’t able to use it as a step for her daughter to get on the toilet herself.

Some parents struggle to find the right potty training seat when they have an elongated bowl, because they tend to move around with the shape. The Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer, however, has a more narrow shape and many parents say it fits their elongated toilets well. (And, others note that it works just fine on round toilets, too!) What makes it a great fit is the adjustable dial underneath, which allows you you to loosen or tighten the seat so that it doesn’t move when your toddler sits down. And, the non-slip edges make for a sturdy fit, too.

Parents in the What to Expect community rave about the BabyBjörn's potty training seat, attesting to the fact that it does fit most toilets and doesn’t budge. Its secure fit also means that little ones won’t be able to put their fingers in between the seat and the toilet anymore! And the easy-to-store handle allows you to hang it from the toilet so your tot can place it on the toilet themselves.