Starting to think about hunting down the best potty for your youngster? While we're sure you won't be sad to say goodbye to nappies, getting your child to be consistently dry during the day can be a challenge. The most important product that you'll need (except maybe a potty training reward chart!) is either a potty chair or a potty seat.
Potty seats are usually lightweight, and many can be folded up, meaning you can take them with you when travelling. They're also a lot easier to store compared to a potty chair which is much bulkier. Because of the location of the potty seat on top of the toilet, you can immediately flush your tot's business down the toilet, which means cleaning is a lot easier than with a potty chair which requires emptying and then cleaning.
The best potty seats 2024 at a glance:
• Best potty seats for slimline: Luvdbaby Toilet Training Seat
• Best potty seats for storage: Folding Travel Potty Seat
• Best potty seats for easy cleaning: Bambino Mio toilet training seat
• Best potty seats for travelling: TOSSIG seat
Although not as easy to travel with as a travel potty, using a potty seat will make the eventual full transition to using the toilet a lot easier than if you'd used a potty chair, as your child will already be used to being up high. Here we've rounded up some of the very best for you to browse.
The best potty seats for the toilet
Best potty seats for a novelty design
Available in different colours, this potty toilet seat is finished with upgraded non-slip silicone pads, which increases the friction between the toilet seat and potty training seat, to ensure your child sits securely on the toilet. It also folds up easily and comes with a storage bag which makes it easy for carrying and for training on the go.
Review: "Bought to take out and about as my son prefers to sit on toilets himself rather than have me hold him. I wasn't expecting much as it's relatively cheap, but it's really good. Folds up into a little bag so perfect for taking out with us. I thought it might be a bit flimsy, but it's not at all and feels well-made. The non-slip feet are also good and it sticks really well to the seat."
Pros
- A broad range of animal designs to choose from
- Odourless material
Cons
- Quite small
Best potty seats for slimline
The soft rubber surface on top of this toilet seat will keep your toddler comfy as they do their business. The non-slip gripping ring on the underside won't scratch your child or your toilet, and it has a hook for hanging on the back of the bathroom door.
Review: "I bought this for my nephew who is almost four years old and is on the autism spectrum. Before this seat, he was scared to use the toilet and showed no interest in wanting to go to the toilet. Since buying this seat he was happy to sit on the pan and eventually, successfully used the toilet on his own for the first time after just one day. The seat is very sturdy and comfortable. It curves at the front which is a very good feature for little boys."
Pros
- Available in different colours
- Comes with a hook so you can attach it to the wall
Cons
- Not the most secure
Best potty seats for handles
This sweet character will (hopefully) encourage your child to use the toilet. It provides a smaller size hole on the toilet to reassure your toddler that they won't fall in and has stability handles for them to grab onto, helping them feel super secure.
Review: "Very cute and colourful toilet training seat. The handles are great to help with kid's confidence and the rubber room means it doesn't move around. Also really appreciate having the hill to hang it up."
Pros
- Easy to carry with the handles
- Other fun characters are available
Cons
- Perhaps not the smallest fit (depending on your toilet size)
Best potty seats for sturdiness
If you're looking for something simple, this could be the potty seat for you. Fitting most standard and public toilets securely, the eight super-suction cups keep it sturdy. It's lightweight and folds up into the included travel bag for when you're out and about.
Review: "It is an absolute essential when out and about. Folds easily and it's very compact so doesn't take up much space in your bag. Great it comes with its own little pouch!"
Pros
- Compact and easy to fold
- Travel bag included
Cons
- Some say that the suction cups could be stronger
Best potty seats for easy cleaning
Designed to comfortably fit most toilets and secured underneath the toilet seat, this Bambino Mio potty seat is BPA-free and has a raised splash guard at the front saves any drips.
Review: "Bought two of these and very happy. Working flawlessly with both an Ideal Standard square toilet and a classic oval one, the potty is held in place by gravity making it very firm and safe for the baby. Our little girl is very happy as she feels comfortable and stable."
Pros
- Made from recycled material
- Easy to wipe clean
Cons
- No varying size options
Best potty seats easy access
Toilets can feel pretty high to toddlers, and you can make the journey a lot simpler with this toilet training seat which comes with a fully adjustable footrest that doubles up as a step. Suitable for v-shaped, u-shaped, o-shaped toilets, the seat has soft padding to keep little bums warm and comfy.
Review: "My toddler loves the fact there is a ladder going up to the toilet, really clever seat. The ladder has feet that have rubber grips these are important, and handles. I encourage him to hold the handles instead of the toilet seat. It's easy to clean and keep the hygiene up. Fantastic seat!"
Pros
- Padded seat
- Angle is quick and simple to adjust
Cons
- Some mention lack of a splashguard
Best potty seats for comfort
We love the ergonomic design of this potty training seat which has a high backrest for comfort and support as well as a splash guard to prevent urine from splashing out. There are handles on either side for your youngster to hold onto if they are worried about falling. While the adjustable arms underneath keep it from wiggling back and forth.
Review: "As parents we were starting to be worried as our 3 years old wouldn't show any interest on potty training. After multiple attempts and several items, this one here saved our lives! Our son loves it and it was a big success from day one."
Pros
- Strong, non-slip handles to hold onto
- Spare seat pad included
Cons
- May take longer to clean than others
8.
TOSSIG seat
Best potty seats for travelling
www.ikea.com
Next time you're at IKEA, pick up this bargain toilet seat. With soft curves and edges, it's shaped especially for little ones. Easy to remove and clean, just hang it on the wall or place in on its side when not in use.
Review: "Really please with the fitting of the toilet seat, very secure and made the introduction to toileting for my little granddaughter a great success!"
Pros
- Affordable
- Thin and lightweight
Cons
- No varying size options
Best potty seats for anti-slip design
Coming in pink and blue colours, the GRANDMA SHARK Kids Toilet Potty Training Chair makes potty training a lot easier. Designed to be robust and safe, this training chair comes with a comfy, waterproof, cushioned seat and a stable frame that will give your child more confidence when going to the toilet.
Review: "Very simple to put together but very strong ! My little girl loves it and can climb up and turn around to sit down fine."
Pros
- Non-slip feet
- Can be folded and stored away
Cons
- It's hard to find any!
Best potty seats easy clean design
With magnetic attachment design and quick release for easy cleaning, the WOLTU Family Child Toilet Seat is a high-quality option for your little one while they're potty training. We love the premium plastic design and soft closing design - perfect for nervous toddlers.
Review: "My 3 year old son loves this. We were previously using an Oxo removable kids seat but he somehow managed to make a mess using it almost every time. We thought we would try this to see if there was an improvement and there was. It also saves us from having the removable one laying around."
Pros
- Simple cleaning
- Soft-close hinge
Cons
- Fairly basic
Which is better: a potty chair or potty seat?
A potty chair is a standalone product that is placed on the floor for your toddler to use, while a potty seat goes either over or under an actual toilet.
The choice of which you use is completely up to you and your little one. Some children prefer using the toilet right from the start, especially for poos. Others can find an adult-size toilet a bit intimidating, which is why they might prefer a potty.
Toilet-training dos and don'ts
Do... give your child plenty to drink. If they aren't drinking lots of fluids, they won't be able to practise their potty-training skills, and there's a risk they might become constipated.
Do... only give your child water, milk or sugar-free juice to drink. Sugary drinks and fizzy pop are diuretics and stimulate urine production, making accidents more likely.
Do... stop and try again later if your child isn't ready. If they are still having a lot of accidents every day after a week, give them a break and revisit potty training again in a few weeks' time.
Do... let your toddler lead the way. Every child is different, so don't compare your toddler to others, and don't potty train because other people are telling you to do it.
Do... teach your little boy to wee sitting down first. There'll be plenty of time to teach him to wee standing up once he has successfully mastered potty training.
Don't... be tempted to make your little one sit on their potty seat for ages' in case they need to go.' Encourage them to recognise their own cues and prompt them to try regularly for just a few minutes each time.
Don't... start potty training when you have just moved house, had a new baby, or your child has been ill or started at nursery. Wait a few weeks for everything to settle before introducing another big change.
How we test and choose recommended products
Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.
Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe consistently provides great insights into which products mums like best and why, helping us highlight the products that will meet your needs.
For essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested. Full reviews from our mum testers can be found on our product pages. The winners and runners-up for each category will also appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.
Emily Gilbert is a Digital Writer for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.