Potty training is a major milestone for your tot, and an important step on their road to becoming more independent. 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 piece of kit you'll need for potty training (except maybe a reward chart!) is either a potty chair or a potty seat.
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.
Benefits of potty seats
• 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.
• 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.
The best potty seats for toilet
1. Pejoye Foldable Potty Toilet Training Seat
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Available in four 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 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."
2. Luvdbaby Toilet Training Seat
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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."
3. My Little Trainer Seat
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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."
4. Folding Travel Potty Seat
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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!"
5. Bambino Mio toilet training seat
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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 it comfortable and stable."
6. KEPLIN Toddler Toilet Training Seat
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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 foot rest 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!"
7. Potty Training Seat for Kids
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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 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."
8. TOSSIG seat
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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 introduction to toileting for my little granddaughter a great success!"
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 hi, 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.
For more potty-training advice, follow our potty training expert tips.