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 2023:
• Best for slimline: Luvdbaby Toilet Training Seat
• Best for storage: Folding Travel Potty Seat
• Best for easy cleaning: Bambino Mio toilet training seat
• Best 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 for a novelty design
Description
Available in different colours, this potty toilet seat is finished with upgraded non-slip silicone
Pros
- A broad range of animal designs to choose from
- Odourless material
Cons
- Quite small
Best for slimline
Rrp: £19.99
Description
The soft rubber surface on top of this toilet seat will keep your toddler comfy as they do their
Pros
- Available in different colours
- Comes with a hook so you can attach it to the wall
Cons
- Not the most secure
Rrp: £19.99
Best for handles
Description
This sweet character will (hopefully) encourage your child to use the toilet. It provides a
Pros
- Easy to carry with the handles
- Other fun characters are available
Cons
- Perhaps not the smallest fit (depending on your toilet size)
Best for sturdiness
Description
If you're looking for something simple, this could be the potty seat for you. Fitting most
Pros
- Compact and easy to fold
- Travel bag included
Cons
- Some say that the suction cups could be stronger
Best for easy cleaning
Description
Designed to comfortably fit most toilets and secured underneath the toilet seat, this Bambino Mio
Pros
- Made from recycled material
- Easy to wipe clean
Cons
- No varying size options
Best for easy access
Description
Toilets can feel pretty high to toddlers and you can make the journey a lot simpler with this
Pros
- Padded seat
- Angle is quick and simple to adjust
Cons
- Some mention lack of a splashguard
Best for comfort
Rrp: £25
Description
We love the ergonomic design of this potty training seat which has a high backrest for comfort and
Pros
- Strong, non-slip handles to hold onto
- Spare seat pad included
Cons
- May take longer to clean than others
Rrp: £25
8. TOSSIG seat
Best for travelling
Description
Next time you're at IKEA, pick up this bargain toilet seat. With soft curves and edges, it's
Pros
- Affordable
- Thin and lightweight
Cons
- No varying size options
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.
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.