If you're on the hunt for the best potty for your tot on the market, you've no doubt noticed the signs that your child is ready for potty training.
If they're stopping in their tracks or hiding whenever they need to go or taking more of an interest in the toilet, then they're ready for a potty. Depending on what stage of potty training they're at, there are many different potties and potty training products and seats you'll want to consider.
While you're potty training, the potty is going to go with you everywhere; to friends and family's homes, to the shops, on walks in the woods, and to cafes. That's why you'll want to consider everything from how easy the potty is to empty, the size, how simple it is to transport and how easy it is to clean.
All parents will agree that a potty is an essential part of toilet training, and it's important both you and your toddler are happy with the potty you choose. That's why our mum testers have put the best potties for potty training to the test, taking into account how easy their toddler found using it, cleaning and emptying and value for money.
Editor's choice:
• Best for being portable: The Potette Max – Buy now on Amazon
• Best for sound effects: Pote Plus My First WC – Buy now on Amazon
The best potties for 2023
Best for sound effects
Description
Award: Mother & Baby Award Gold Winner 2023 for the Best Potty Training Product.
Want to really engage your little one with toilet training? Get them their own mini toilet! This Pote Plus My First WC looks just like an adult toilet - it even has a flusher (although obviously not plumbed in) and a wipes storage compartment. It really helps tots feel that sense of independence and helps them learn how the real toilet will work.
Mum tester Hannah said: "This potty is great as it looks and sounds like a real-life-size toilet. It is easy to empty and clean and even sounds like a real toilet with a flush button. My little boy had a traditional potty that he would not go near for some reason and now loves going to the potty like a big boy. It comes in three different colours and is the perfect size for toddlers."
Read our full Pote Plus My First WC review
Pros
- Bowl is removable for easy cleaning
- Realistic flush sound button with lights
Cons
- Too big to carry around.
Best travel potty
www.mycarrypotty.com
Description
Award: Mother & Baby Award Silver Winner 2023 for the Best Potty Training Product
Developed by toilet training expert Amanda Jenner, My Carry Potty contains all the step-by-step instructions you and your toddler need to guide you both through your potty training journey. It prides itself on being the world's only leakproof potty that you can use in and out the home and wherever you go, offering your child consistency in training.
Our mum tester said: "I loved that it did what it said and was leakproof. I tested it with water first and not a drip came out. It has been amazing in situations where its not easy to empty immediately, such as when we were at the park without a toilet, we could just use it in a discreet place and then shut it and empty it at home."
Read our full My Carry Potty Training System review
Pros
- Lightweight for travel
- Leak-proof
Cons
- Not much storage
Best for hygiene
www.mipotty.com
Description
Award: Mother & Baby Gold Award 2022 for the Best Potty Training Product
If you're looking for an affordable potty option that does the job, then the mi-potty The Worlds Most Hygienic Potty might be just what you're looking for. The clever surface of the mi potty is proven to reduce the growth of germs by up to 99.9% – that's a world first for potties. It's also 100% recyclable which makes it a great choice for eco conscious parents.
Mum tester Chelsea said: **"**It is a good size to take anywhere, easy for my son to use by himself and has a good size 'bucket' part so it can handle if my son does big wee’s etc. It is an easy material to keep clean and is travel suitable. It is lightweight so if my son doesn't like where I put it, he can move it to wherever suits him at that moment in time."
Pros
- Very hygienic
- Affordable
Cons
- Might not fit in a bathroom sink
Best for comfort
www.tesco.com
Description
Award: Mother & Baby Award Shortlist 2021 for the Best Potty Training Product
The Fred & Flo Steady Potty has been Shortlisted in the 2021 M&B. The design is practical, with a high back for comfort, non-slip base for safety, and it's lightweight, so it is easily portable. This potty is also one of the most affordable potties on the market.
Mum tester Maryam said: "This is compact and light, so I find that it is very portable. I recently took it on holiday as I did not want my daughter to have a break in her potty training. I also take it to nursery when my daughter goes there as my daughter likes the colours and patterns on it and wants something familiar to use at nursery."
Read our full Fred & Flo Steady Potty review
Pros
- Good value
- Portable
Cons
- The width and shape of the edges make it difficult to pour wee out
Best for portability
Description
Award: Mother & Baby Award Shortlist 2021 for the Best Potty Training Product
We like The Potette Max's 3-in-1 design. It has a hard liner for use at home - simply empty down the toilet. Then you can use it as a travel potty, with biodegradable liners and a travel bag. Plus, you can also fold it flat as a toilet training seat to sit on top of a toilet. It's great that it does all three things, as it means you only have to buy one potty - rather than a potty, a travel potty, and a seat.
Mum tester Sikha said: "As the mum of a recently potty trained toddler, and a slightly older child too, this product is brilliant. We use it primarily as a child seat for the toilet when we're out and about, and both kids find it comfy and ready to use. It is ready to clean and packs up really small. The carry bag is useful. We have also used as an emergency potty when we've been caught short and had to pull over while driving."
Read our full Potette Max review
Pros
- 3 in 1 design
- Two colours to choose from
Cons
- Quite bulky to carry
Best toilet-like potty
Description
Award: Mother & Baby Silver Award 2020 for the Best Potty Training Product
This won Silver in the M&B Awards 2020 in the Best Potty Training Products category. The Nuby My Real Potty is another favourite of ours, imitating a real toilet, even with a real flushing noise. There's also a handy place for storing wipes at the back, which is great for getting your tot into the habit of flushing.
Mum tester Sally said: "This potty really is amazing! It is such a lovely addition to any bathroom/living room or wherever in your house a potty needs to be! It looks very comfortable, and my little one was very happy with it. The flushing is a great feature and such a fun thing for the children to be able to do as a reward after they do their business, just like a big person!"
Read our full Nuby My Real Potty review
Pros
- Suitable for babies and toddlers from 18 months
- Removable toilet bowl
Cons
- Some found the flushing sound very loud
Best for cleaning with ease
Description
Award: Mother & Baby Bronze Award 2020 for the Best Potty Training Product
This won Bronze in the 2020 M&B Awards in the Best Potty Training Products category. Imitation adult toilets are all the rage at the moment - this Summer Infant My Size Potty features a flip-up seat, a realistic flush and a place to hold wipes. Available in pink or white (but not blue?), it has a removable, easy-to-clean bowl and a clip-on splash guard for boys.
Mum tester Jade said: "This potty is fantastic! My little boy absolutely loves it and shows it to everyone who visits our home. Before this potty, I was struggling to convince him that he should go to the toilet on our very simple potty, and he could not understand why we used toilets and he used a potty. Now he has fully taken to attempting to potty train because he has his own mini toilet."
Read our full Summer Infant My Size Potty review
Pros
- Realistic design
- Two colour options
Cons
- Splash guard can fall down easily, better for girls than is for boys
Description
This lightweight toddler and baby toilet is portable and very easy to use. The lid opens and shuts, and the bowl is detachable for easy clean-up. The splash guard for boys is also included, making using the loo comfortable, giving them a realistic experience combined with fun designs and creativity.
One reviewer said: "Lovely little piece of equipment and child was really excited to sit on it."
Pros
- The lid opens/closes, & the bowl is removable for easy clean-up.
- A splash guard for boys is also included.
Cons
- Splash guard at the front which gets in the way when said child sits on the product.
Description
This easy to carry potty for toddlers comes in handy as your child grows older and wants to be able to use the toilet independently. The seat can be removed and transfered onto regular toilet seats, which will help them upgrade to using the adult toilet. In addition, the fun, bright designs, a pretend flush handle, and a retractable toilet roll holder wil give your little one a sense of realism, which will boost their confidence.
**One reviewer said: "**Really recommend and we have had various types of potty and This one is the best by far . Super sturdy and doesn't move about which helps child to feel secure . Easy to clean . Not flimsy at all.'
Pros
- Kids will love using this potty chair. In addition to its fun and bright design.
- The potty toilet has a removal bowl which can be detached and washed separately.
Cons
- Not much left in stock.
Description
This colour and attractive car seat potty, is anti-skid strip at the bottom, which helsp to prevent slipping and the cosy soft gasket keeps your baby's buttom warm in winter and cool in warm weather.
One reviewer said: "Grandaughter loves it easy to empty. Price very good."
Pros
- The potty training seat comes with handles, to stop your child worrying about falling.
- Made of high-quality environmentally friendly materials and is wear-resistant.
Cons
- Not many colours to select from.
Choosing the right potty for your toddler and you
Weight – Some of these potties are much heavier than others. If you want your child to be able to carry their potty independently, then opt for a lighter option. Alternatively, if you want to leave the lifting of the potty to the grown-ups (it's understandable why), then you might be better off going for a heavier potty.
Size – As potties will most likely be used when your toddler is around the age of two, it's important to make sure it's small enough for them to use in terms of the seat. You'll also want to consider how big your space is, as if you want to put the potty in the bathroom, you'll need to think about how much space you have for a potty.
Comfort – No toddler will sit somewhere they aren't comfortable. Especially when it comes to having a number two, it's important for your toddler to want to sit for a while.
Ease of use – While many parents and children prefer a basic plastic potty, there are so many clever options on the market now, some even have an artificial flush feature or removable bowls.
Cleaning – With the more basic potties, you simply need to pour out the waste and clean the bowl which you can do in minutes. These suit sitting down well but if you're potty training a boy, you may prefer a potty with a splash guard to avoid any messy accidents.
Toddler appeal – It's important that your toddler gets excited about their potty. From cute designs to the added reward of being able to flush and feel very grown up, finding a potty they're excited to use is essential. You may also want to add an extra incentive by introducing a potty training reward chart.
Portability – Whether you're always travelling or your tot spends a lot of time at their grandparents, keeping portability in mind is important. You might also want to opt for a second potty to live at caregivers' homes.
Types of potty
Potty training toilet seat – If you're keen to get them used to using the real toilet and getting to grips with the bathroom space then you might be better suited to a seat that goes on the toilet seat.
Plastic potty – The most basic form of a potty you're probably most familiar with and often the most affordable. If you're keen to have a few potties around the home, then a budget plastic potty might be the best option for you.
Travel potty – Whether you're planning a family holiday or you're always on the road with your toddler, a potty that you can easily travel with is a must-have.
Removable bowl potty – With multiple parts, these potties have a removable bowl which you can take out and clean. Some have a separate potty training toilet seat which can sit over the toilet for when they get a bit older.
Why use a potty instead of a toilet?
As a small child, the toilet can look like a very big place. Not only is it hard to climb up on, the seat is often far too large for little bottoms and the seat can also feel quite cold and uncomfortable at first. Until they're confident on the potty and know how to flush without getting frightened by the loud noise, then it's a good idea to stick to a potty.
How did we choose the best potty?
There are loads of potties on the market to buy today, but which one should you choose?
To help you decide, we've rounded up the best ones - including the potties that have featured in our annual Mother&Baby Awards. Every year, we have a massive panel of real mums who test new products thoroughly with their own children, writing in-depth reviews of the products that help us decide who deserves those coveted Gold Awards.
Find out more about how we test and what considerations we take into account in our testing process.
So you can rest assured that the potties we've listed here have been tested and reviewed thoroughly - not just by the mums and experts in Team M&B but also by real-life mums putting these potties through their paces.
Our verdict on the best potty
Our favourite potties are the Potette Max and the Fred & Flo Steady Potty. They're very different potties but with massively different price points. If you want an all-singing, all-dancing potty, then plump for the Potette Max; however, the (much) cheaper Fred & Flo potty does what it says on the tin - it's a potty. You can pee and poo in it, you can empty it easily, and it doesn't cost the earth.
Emily Gilbert is the Features & Reviews Editor 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.