Best Potty Training Seats and Toilets (2026)

Potty training gear comes in three shapes: a standalone potty on the floor, a seat reducer that sits on the adult toilet, and a travel potty that folds into a bag. Most families use more than one. This guide covers ten, all sold by Amazon.com, and explains when each makes sense.

We have not tested these products. Features come from each listing. All the readiness and age guidance comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics' guide to the right age to potty train on HealthyChildren.org, quoted directly.

Key point: gear does not decide when a child is ready. The AAP says "children control when and where they pee and poop", so readiness signs come first and the potty second.

At a glance

• Floor potty: BabyBjörn Potty Chair ($31.99) or Ingenuity My Size Potty Pro ($24.99).
• Floor potty, toilet seat and stool in one: Munchkin Multi-Stage 3-in-1 ($34.99).
• Toilet seat with ladder: Jool Baby ($34.97) or Ingenuity Foldaway Ladder Potty ($29.99).
• Toilet seat only: Munchkin Sturdy ($9.39) or BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer ($39.99).
• Travel: OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty ($24.99) or Frida Baby Fold-and-Go seat ($16.99).

How Do the Options Compare?

List prices as of our check. Each claim in the "What the listing says" column is the listing's, not ours.

When Is a Child Ready?

The AAP's answer is a range, not a date. "In general, children show signs of bladder and bowel control between 18 and 24 months of age." It adds that "the average age toilet training begins in the United States is between 2 and 3 years of age," and that "most children in the United States are bowel and bladder trained by 4 years of age."

The AAP lists these signs that a child "may be developmentally ready to begin the toilet training process":

• "Is dry at least 2 hours at a time during the day or is dry after naps"
• "Shows signs they are about to pee or poop, like grunting, freezing, or squatting"
• "Can follow simple instructions"
• "Can walk to and from the bathroom and help undress themselves"
• "Does not like to be in wet diapers and wants to be changed"
• "Asks to use the toilet or potty-chair"
• "Asks to wear 'big-kid' underwear"

The AAP also says "it is a good idea to delay toilet training" when a family has just moved or will move soon, is expecting or has recently had a baby, or is facing a major illness, a recent death or another crisis.

Pro tip: age labels on potty listings, like "18 months and up", describe the product's size. They are not advice on when to start. For that, use the AAP's signs above and ask your child's doctor.

Standalone Potties: Where Most Families Start

The AAP's tips begin with the equipment: "Pick a potty-chair." It describes one as "a child-sized seat with an opening in the seat and a removable container underneath to collect pee and poop," and adds that "children's feet should be able to reach the floor."

Feet on the floor is the main advantage of a floor potty. A child can sit, get up and walk away without help. The AAP also suggests a routine: "Make a habit of seating your children onto the potty-chair first thing in the morning."

The simplest option. The BabyBjörn Potty Chair has a backrest, armrests, a high splash guard and a removable inner potty. It has nothing to break and nothing to charge.

A potty that looks like a toilet. The Ingenuity My Size Potty Pro has a flush-sound handle and storage in the tank. Its seat ring lifts off to sit on the adult toilet later. The My Size potty we found on Amazon is sold under the Ingenuity name.

One purchase for every stage. The Munchkin Multi-Stage 3-in-1 is a floor potty whose top seat moves to the adult toilet, and whose base becomes a step stool.

A second potty for less. The Ingenuity Ready Set Go is the lowest-priced floor potty here, at $12.99. It is a sensible spare for a second bathroom or floor of the house.

Best for: a child just starting out. Put the potty in the same place every day. The AAP's potty training plan guidance advises keeping the routine consistent, "with their potty in the same place every day."

Seat Reducers and Ladders: Moving to the Big Toilet

A seat reducer makes the toilet's opening smaller so a child does not slip in. The AAP says: "Most of the time, your children will let you know when they are ready to move from the potty-chair to the 'big toilet.' Provide a stool to brace their feet."

That is why a reducer alone is only half the job. A child's feet dangle from an adult toilet without a stool. There are two ways to solve it:

• A seat with a built-in ladder. The Jool Baby Potty Training Seat with 2 Step Ladder and the Ingenuity Foldaway Ladder Potty both combine a seat, steps and handles, and both fold for storage. The Ingenuity lists D-shape toilets as well as round and elongated ones.
• A separate seat and stool. The Munchkin Sturdy Potty Training Seat costs $9.39, and the BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer adjusts once to fit your toilet. Pair either with a step stool, which also helps at the sink for hand washing.

Pro tip: check your toilet's shape before you buy. Round and elongated bowls take different seats, and a listing that says "fits most toilets" is not a promise about yours.

Travel Potties: For Outings and Car Trips

Accidents happen far from home, especially early on. A travel potty keeps the routine going.

• Potty or seat. The OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty stands on locking legs with disposable bags for a roadside stop. With the legs folded, it sits on a public toilet as a seat. It comes with a travel bag and three disposable bags; refills are sold separately.
• Seat only. The Frida Baby Fold-and-Go folds into its bag small enough for a diaper bag, and has silicone handles. It needs a toilet, so it is for places where one is always nearby.

Bottom line: most families end up with a floor potty at home, a seat with a ladder for the transition, and one travel option. Buy the floor potty first and add the rest as your child needs them.

What the AAP Says About Rewards and Pressure

Equipment is the easy part. The AAP's tips for the process itself:

• Keep it positive. Choose the words your family uses. The AAP says: "Avoid words that are negative, like dirty, naughty, or stinky."
• Hand over control. "When you start the process, try to turn as much of the care of toileting as possible over to your child."
• Skip treats and punishments. The AAP says "treats and punishments distract rather than encourage," and advises being specific about why you are proud instead.
• Stay calm. "Power struggles, begging, pleading, rewarding, and punishing keep children from managing their own toileting."
• Teach wiping and washing. Girls should wipe "thoroughly from front to back", and the AAP says to "make sure both boys and girls learn to wash their hands well after using the toilet."

If any concern comes up before, during or after training, the AAP's advice is to talk with your child's doctor.

Key point: the AAP suggests switching to underwear once training starts. It notes that "diapers and disposable training pants send a message to children that they are not taking over." Some parents use thicker cloth training pants instead.

Other Products We Looked At

The Frida Baby 3-in-1 Grow-with-Me Potty was not sold by Amazon.com or Frida's own store when we checked, so it is not listed. Many ladder seats on Amazon come from sellers we could not confirm as the brand. We listed only products sold by Amazon.com.

For more toddler gear, see our guides to toddler beds and crib conversion and gifts for 2-year-olds. Check our baby and toddler product recalls page before buying anything second-hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age should I start potty training?

The AAP says children show signs of bladder and bowel control between 18 and 24 months, and the average age training begins in the US is between 2 and 3 years. It adds that training "can begin as soon as parents and children want to start." Watch for readiness signs rather than a date.

Is a potty chair or a toilet seat better to start with?

The AAP's tips start with a potty-chair where a child's feet can reach the floor. It says children usually let you know when they are ready for the "big toilet", and advises a stool to brace their feet then.

Do I need a step stool with a potty seat?

If the seat has no built-in ladder, yes. The AAP says to provide a stool to brace a child's feet on the big toilet. Seats like the Jool Baby and Ingenuity Foldaway include steps.

Should I use rewards or stickers for potty training?

The AAP advises against treats and punishments, saying they "distract rather than encourage." It suggests being specific about why you are proud instead.

When should I wait to start potty training?

The AAP suggests delaying during major changes: a recent or upcoming move, a new baby, or a major illness, a death or another family crisis.

What is the best potty for travel?

The OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty works as a standalone potty with disposable bags or as a seat on a public toilet. The Frida Baby Fold-and-Go is smaller, but it is a seat only.