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For toddlers getting started with potty training, the grown-up toilet can be a scary thing. Its size, the loud sound of flushing, and the fact that it makes things disappear are often unnerving to little ones. Thankfully, having the right potty seat can help ease their fears.
"Between 18 and 24 months of age, most children will begin to have an interest in what goes on in the bathroom," Dr. Carrie M. Brown told Parents of when to buy a potty-training seat. "This is a great time to invest in a potty chair and start talking about what happens in the bathroom with the terms that are comfortable for your family."
What's the Best Potty-Training Seat for Your Toddler?
If you want your child to use the toilet, a toddler's seat that fits on top of the regular toilet seat is a great space-saving option that relieves you of a cleanup step, too. You can also buy a standalone potty chair to keep in any room of the house—think of it as a toddler-sized "toilet," as well as a lifesaver for preventing accidents! These can be simple seats with pots, like the BabyBjorn Potty Chair, or they can have a few bells and whistles (or flushing sounds) like the Summer Infant My Size Potty. There are even potty seats that fold up and fit in bags to take with you when you leave the house.
It doesn't take a lot of technology to potty-train your child successfully, but having a seat that appeals to them is key. We've rounded-up a few of the best potty-training seats available right now so that you can find the right one for your tot.
If you've got a small bathroom, it can be nearly impossible to figure out where to put what amounts to a second toilet, or even a potty ring that fits on the seat. This two-in-one toilet seat solves that problem handily. Simply replace your existing seat with the Mayfair seat and lift and lower the kids' potty seat as needed (it attaches magnetically to the lid). You may still need to start out with a separate potty chair when they're learning, but eventually, you'll be able to streamline. The added feature of the slow-close lid makes sure that you and your littles don't have to worry about slamming it shut (particularly in the middle of the night).
"[I] was so tired of the clumsy toilet seat with the steps attached, big and bulky for our small bathroom," wrote one customer. "Have to always pull it out and put it away 99 times a day. This one you just put down and use and then put back up. It's magnetic. Whoever invented this is a genius, and you made this mom ecstatic!"
When you're potty-training your toddler, you have choices when it's time to leave the house: Stick to diapers for a while, load the seat up with toilet paper and hold your kid on the toilet as you hope for the best, or equip yourself with a portable potty seat. Parents are very enthusiastic about the Jool folding travel potty seat. They love that it attaches to the toilet with suction cups, eliminating any sliding around, but is still easy to remove and clean. They also like how small it is when folded and tucked into a pouch. "No idea I could be so hype about a potty seat lol," one customer wrote, adding, "This one is so handy because it folds so small, and I just wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe."
The BabyBjörn Potty Chair has a sleek, sturdy base that won't slide around the floor. Your kid will stay comfortable while doing their business, thanks to its ergonomic design, backrest, and armrests. A high splashguard keeps things sanitary—and the plastic material is easy to wipe clean. The potty training toilet comes in a variety of colors, including blue, green, gray, pink, yellow, and white.
It makes sense for kids to potty train on something that resembles an actual toilet—and the Summer Infant My Size Potty does the trick. It has a realistic design and handle that makes a flushing sound. Parents also like the built-in wipe compartment, easy-to-clean bowl, and integrated splash guard.
The Munchkin Sturdy Potty Seat is portable, so your child can use the familiar accessory wherever you go. The seat fits on most standard toilets, and it features a contoured design and built-in handles to keep your child from falling over. The non-skid edge also makes sure it stays in place.
The journey from the ground to the toilet seems intimidating for a little kid. This potty seat features an adjustable ladder to help them climb up and down independently. Padded cushions increase comfort level, while non-slip floor pads provide added safety. You'll also like the environmentally friendly material and easy-to-install design.
Calling all travelers! This OXO Tot potty training toilet folds together for compact on-the-go use indoors or outdoors. It also opens back up easily, has leg locks for security, and comes with disposable plastic bags so you don't need to worry about cleaning. It's the perfect toilet seat for vacations and emergencies in the middle of the park—but it also works as a potty seat on toilets.
Whether used as a potty chair, removable trainer seat, or sturdy step stool, this compact toilet eliminates odors with an integrated, deodorizing disk (which is especially handy in poorly-ventilated bathrooms). A built-in splash guard and removable bowl keep things clean.
With an ergonomic design and comfortable finish, this potty seat will help your toddler overcome their fear of the grown-up toilet. They can even get it on and off of the toilet themselves! The product is easy to sanitize, thanks to an inward sloping splash guard and wipe-clean surface. Parents can also hang it up between uses with a handle on the back.
Sabrina Rojas Weiss is the parenting and lifestyle ecommerce editor for Parents, People, Parenting, and other Meredith sites. She has honed her excellent online (and in person!) shopping skills while raising her son and her belligerent rat terrier in Brooklyn. That's where she can show you all the best off-road paths for rocking a baby to sleep or building fairy houses.