The Best Potty Training Seats

Potty training your toddler requires patience and encouragement. It's also a good idea to have a potty training seat. That way, your little one won't feel like they're going to fall through the big hole on the toilet. You want your child to feel safe and secure while they're using the bathroom, and a pint-sized seat can help eliminate fears and boost confidence. While you can use a stand alone tot-sized potty for your little one, those take up quite a bit of space in your bathroom. They also can be a pain to clean. A kid-friendly alternative is a potty training seat that's designed to work with your existing toilet, like the ones below. Any of these will help your child successfully make the transition from diapers to underwear.

Fedicelly Potty Training Seat with Ladder

Step Right Up

Reaching the toilet can be hard for little ones. Give them a step up with this uniquely shaped potty training seat.
Best Overall

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You want your child to become independent in the bathroom, and this potty training seat can help them accomplish that goal sooner. There’s a comfortable handle on each side for your child to grab onto to help them get seated correctly, and there’s an adjustable step-stool ladder on the front that allows even tiny toddlers to easily get onto the toilet alone. Since you won’t have to pick them up and lift them back down every single time, your back will thank you for getting this potty training seat.

The ladder isn’t the only awesome feature. The seat portion is padded for comfort, so your child won’t mind sitting. There’s also a splash guard on the front that can help keep pee in the toilet. Less clean up? Yes please. You and your child will both appreciate this potty training seat.

Pros

  • Compatible with almost every type of toilet (just not square ones)
  • Easy to assemble, so you can have your child testing it out in no time
  • Folds for storage, making it more compact when not in use
  • Non-slip foot pads on the step-stool to help keep your child safe while using it

Cons

  • Even though it folds, it’s still rather bulky, so you might have trouble storing it in a tiny bathroom.
  • The instructions that come with it could be more clear to make assembling it even easier.

Jool Baby Folding Travel Potty Seat

Fold and Go

You can slide this potty training seat into its special travel bag and turn any toilet along the way into a kid-friendly one.
Best For Travel

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Here’s a scenario you’re bound to find yourself in the midst of: the first time out of the house with a freshly toilet-trained toddler, you’ll be looking for a public bathroom. If your child is used to potty-sized places to pee, this can be a challenge. To avoid getting frustrated and having to hold onto your child the entire time so they feel like they aren’t going to fall in, you need this potty training seat. It’s so simple, but it will help make toileting out in public a success.

This seat folds down compactly for easy storage. It also comes with a portable bag so that you can plop it into your diaper bag or purse, and be ready whenever nature calls. It’s very lightweight, so you’ll hardly notice it’s in there. And once it’s in place on a toilet, the eight suction cups keep it firmly in place while your child uses the bathroom.

Pros

  • Comes with a travel bag so you don’t have to try to buy something else to fit it
  • Sized to fit most toilets, giving you the ability to turn nearly any potty into a kid-friendly one
  • Made from BPA-free materials to keep your child safe
  • Wipes easily to clean

Cons

  • Sometimes the suction cups can stick a little too strongly, and you’ll have to use some muscle to pull them free of the seat or use your hands to pry it off.

Gimars Upgraded Portable Potty Training Seat

Stop the Slip

Porcelain can be a bit slippery, but you won't have to worry about this potty training seat sliding off while you're child is using it.
Best Non-Slip

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You won’t have to worry about this potty training seat slipping and sliding with your child on it because underneath, there are six large silicone pads to keep it from slipping. They create friction on the toilet seat so it stays in place. But, you won’t have to worry about having to pry it off the toilet when your child is done. You can pull it off with one hand, which makes it very simple to use.

This seat is cute to look at, too, with adorable an owl design around the rim. It transforms any toilet into one that’s inviting for kids to use. Additionally, this seat folds up compactly when it’s not in use, so you can easily bring this along on adventures. It makes potty training much simpler, and more fun.

Pros

  • Fits easily into a storage bag so you can bring it anywhere
  • Can unfold and fold with one hand, so you can keep your other one on your child
  • Stable on the toilet, eliminating slipping
  • Upgraded design, so there’s not a gap where the seat unfolds. This helps keep your child safe from pinches

Cons

  • The underside of this seat has many nooks and crannies that are a pain to clean. It’s best to use this over a paper seat protector when out in public to keep it from picking up germs.

Munchkin Sturdy Potty Seat

Something to Hold Onto

If your child tends to grab the germ-laden sides of the toilet, this potty training seat gives them a secure place for their hands.
Best with Handles

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No matter how many times I remind them not to touch the toilet, my toddlers always want to hang onto the sides. It’s understandable: holding on helps them find a better balance and feel more stable. While one alternative is to hold onto their hands, that’s not always possible. To give your kids a safe place to grab that’s not the side of the toilet, pick up this potty training seat. Each side features a handle that’s the perfect size for little hands to grab. With these, your child can sit independently on the toilet.

The seat has a non-stick edge to help keep it in place, helping your child to feel even more secure. The splash guard on the front helps keep your child from accidentally getting their clothes wet while they use the toilet. It’s a great addition to your bathroom to help your child gain confidence on the big toilet.

Pros

  • Easy to put onto the toilet and has feet so it stands upright for storage
  • Has a spot to hold Arm & Hammer nursery freshener discs on the back to keep your bathroom smelling fresh
  • Contoured shape is comfortable for young kids to sit on

Cons

  • Doesn’t fit well on elongated toilet seats – there will be a gap in the front that could scare some kids.

Mayfair NextStep2 Toilet Seat with Built-In Potty Training Seat

Pull Down for Kids, Push Up for Adults

You won't have to worry about finding a place to store this potty training seat when it's not in use. It stays securely in place on the lid of your toilet and easily pulls down when you need it.
Most Clutter-Free

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When you’re potty training a toddler, every second counts. It can seem like it takes forever to take the seat out and get it in place. Then when you’re done, you’ve got to take it back off, wipe it down, and put it away before you or another adult can use the toilet. If that all seems like a lot of hassle, give this toilet training seat a try. It’s different from the others on the market because you’ll actually replace your existing toilet seat with this one.

Once you get it installed, adults will use it just like a regular seat. When your child is ready to go, they simply pull down the built in child’s seat and use the bathroom. It takes only a second to pull down, and when they’re done, it snaps right back up. If the child portion gets dirty, you can remove it for a deep cleaning, and then you can put it right back on. There won’t be any potty training-related clutter taking up space in your home.

Pros

  • Built-in potty training seat that won’t take up any extra space in your bathroom
  • Durable enameled seat with a high-gloss finish that doesn’t chip or scratch easily
  • Slow close system that eliminates the possibility of fingers getting crushed in toilet seats
  • Comes in both round and elongated, so you can pick the seat you’re most comfortable using

Cons

  • You will need to use a wrench to remove your other seat and install this one.
  • It’s recommended to clean with mild soap and water, not spray cleaners designed for toilets. Those products are simple to use, but can cause discoloration. Your toilet seat will still work well – it just may look a little funky.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old should my child be before we use a potty training seat?

Each child is different, so there isn’t a set age when your child is sure to be ready. You can watch for signs of toilet training readiness to help you know when your child is developmentally ready to begin toilet training. When that time comes, you can use one of these toilet training seats right away.

Should I use a potty chair or a potty training seat?

There are so many products available to help you successfully potty train your child. You get to pick the one that you think will work best for your little one. While there are pros and cons for each style, here are a few of the reasons to go with a potty training seat instead of a potty chair. First, potty training seats take up a lot of space. They don’t work well in small bathrooms, either, because you’ll constantly be tripping over them. Next, your child’s potty chair will need cleaned regularly. When you use a potty chair, you have to clean the insert and the seat, and it is a bit time consuming. Finally, if your child gets used  to using a potty chair, they may resist using the big toilet.