Toilet training is an event every parent dreads, but with the right potty trainer, it doesn't have to be difficult. Childcare experts recommend many methods of potty training, but one thing is for sure - when kids are comfortable with their potty trainer, they'll be more open to using it.
As you prepare for this important developmental milestone, it can be overwhelming to choose the right potty trainer for your child—no need to worry. Our buying guide—with comments and tips from pediatrician Dr. Joey Cuayo-Estanislao—is here to let you know what to consider when picking a toilet training seat for your toddler. We've also rounded up the best potty trainers available online to help narrow down your choices.
Quick List - Top Potty Trainers
Dr. Joanna Pamela Cuayo-Estanislao is a pediatrician and child health specialist based in Metro Manila. Doc Joey is passionate about health education and empowering families to become informed advocates of their children's health and wellness. She uses social media to educate and raise awareness about important issues and topics in the field of pediatrics and child care.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
As babies grow into toddlers, they will start showing signs that they are ready to use the big-people toilet. This means that parents will soon be saying goodbye to diapers. However, it is not wise to jump straight from diapers to adult toilets simply because toddlers are too small for regular toilets.
A potty trainer makes it possible for parents to carry out the transition smoothly because it is appropriate for their size. Potty training itself is already a challenging task, so the best way to approach it is to think of their comfort. When kids are comfortable, they will be able to see potty training as a fun event in their lives instead of a chore.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Potty trainers typically come in two kinds – stand-alone and toilet seat. Your choice will depend on how much space you can allot at home for the potty trainer.
The biggest advantage of a freestanding potty chair is that you can take it along wherever you go. You can put it in a corner of your child’s playroom and access it right away when he shows the need to go to the toilet. You can also take it along when you travel so that your toilet training doesn’t get interrupted.
A stand-alone potty also leaves the regular toilet free for other people to use. That way, you can motivate your child by demonstrating or modeling bathroom skills at the same time he is potty training.
A potty that's your child's size helps encourage them to use it because it's at a size accessible to them. They also have ownership over their potty, which makes it more appealing. Ideally, their potty should be in or near the bathroom, so they can get used to going to the bathroom when they need to go, but while they're also still getting used to the idea of using a potty, you can also place the potty in their bedroom or near their play area, so it's easily accessible to them.
Some potty trainers come as a smaller, child-size ring, also known as a seat reducer, that you attach to your regular toilet. For homes where space is an issue, this is a viable solution. Another advantage is that your child gets used to sitting on the regular toilet, which means one less transition to make as he gets bigger.
However, if you choose this type, you would also need to get a stool to help your child get up on the potty. The stool would also provide sufficient foot support so he can be comfortable.
A seat reducer requires a little more attention and effort (and some kids may find it daunting), but it does help aid with enforcing that they should be using the bathroom when they have to go. Do make sure that you have a step stool so that they can easily position themselves and to ensure they always have both their feet grounded.
Potty trainers are child-size by nature, of course, but they do come in a variety of rim sizes and heights. You will know the right size for your child if his bottom rests solidly on the seat, and his feet are resting firmly on the floor or on the stool.
I highly encourage taking your child with you when you go buy their potty chair and have them help in choosing the potty they will be using. It allows you to check if the potty chair is the right size for them and lets your child become part of the decision-making process.
For parents who are potty-training a boy, a splash guard is a helpful feature to minimize post-potty clean-up. Make sure you get one that is high enough to keep the pee in the potty, but not too much to limit your child from sitting down on the potty by himself.
Some newer designs also have an illustration or a marker for your child to "aim" for while they go, which can actually help reduces messes.
If you’re concerned with clean-ups, a toilet seat is perhaps the better choice. A stand-alone potty can be messier, especially if it doesn’t have a splash guard. The chances of pee splashing or trickling out on the floor are greater. Also, freestanding potties require you to disassemble the receptacle and empty it out in the regular toilet.
Whether they have their own potty or they use a regular toilet with a seat reducer, do keep the toilet and the area clean and tidy, especially as your child may likely still have accidents and spills. These are normal! Do stay positive and encouraging.
The most important feature to look for in a potty trainer is the handles. Handles are not just for fun; they provide stability and make your child feel in control of her toilet experience.
Some potty trainers also have fun features like lights, songs, and sound effects to make the experience more enticing to your child. They can help keep your child on the potty longer, and some even have “reward songs” to motivate children.
If your child's potty doesn't come with bells and whistles, you can still help them make potty time more appealing by allowing them to place some of their favorite toys and books near their potty. You can also help them write their name on the potty. Personalizing the potty and the area around it helps give them ownership, which encourages them to use it more.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty | ![]() | Dual-Function Toilet Trainer That Adjusts to Your Child's Growth | |
2 | Nuby My Real Potty Toilet Trainer | ![]() | A Realistic-Looking Mini Toilet | |
3 | Mamafrog Potty Training Toilet Seat | ![]() | A Toilet Seat That Feels Like Memory Foam | |
4 | Fisher-Price Royal Stepstool Potty Trainer | ![]() | A 3-in-1 Choice With a Tunes Sensor | |
5 | Two Dads Potty Trainer | ![]() | Foldable and Travel-Friendly Potty Trainer | |
6 | Frog Toilet Training Urinal | ![]() | A Mountable Urinal for Toilet Training Boys | |
7 | Folding Baby Potty Seat With Step Stool Ladder | ![]() | Adjustable Ladder Design for Height Changes | |
8 | Child Care Goose Design Potty Trainer | ![]() | Make Potty Time Fun With an Animal Design | |
9 | Bestmommy Baby Potty Trainer With Cover | ![]() | Potty With a Comfortable and Appropriate Height | |
10 | Chicco Potty Trainer Seat | ![]() | A Basic and Budget-Friendly Option |
If you can't decide on the type of potty to get, this one from industry leader OXO Tot is the way to go. It's a dual-function one—you can use it as a stand-alone trainer or as a seat on the regular toilet. It opens quickly for on-the-go potty emergencies, and the legs fold in easily for compact storage when not in use.
As a stand-alone potty, it has flexible flaps to hold disposable bags in place, which is useful for when you're traveling and need to keep up toilet training on the road. As a seat reducer, it is sized to fit on standard-sized toilets. Users love how they can easily transition to the regular toilet once their child has gone through the initial phase of toilet training.
This potty trainer from Nuby is a delight to see. It looks like a regular toilet but in a child-sized version. It really reinforces in kids the idea that they are growing up because they have a toilet just like mom and dad! What better way to motivate them to use the potty?
Its winning feature is the real-life flushing sound it makes when you press a button. There's also a back compartment to hold a full pack of wipes for easy access. The entire trainer has a smooth and integrated one-piece construction for durability, plus an anti-skid rubber base for stability. Clean-up time is also a breeze, thanks to the splash guard and removable pot.
This bright green ring looks simple, but it has garnered a ton of positive reviews all over the world. It is made by Mamafrog, a US toilet training seat brand for babies and toddlers. For all its simplicity, kids love its happy "froggy" green color, which is a plus for getting them to use the potty.
Made of medical-grade polyurethane, the seat is super soft and feels like memory foam. It also warms up quickly once it comes in contact with body heat. And because it's a solid one-piece seat, all it needs is a quick rinse to maintain hygiene. The coverage on the splash guard is also higher than most potty seats, so parents of boys cite this as a winning point for them.
With a cute crown emblem on the back of the seat, this potty from Fisher-Price feels like a throne fit for a prince or princess. One of the most enticing things about it is the presence of a sensor that detects when your child's effort is successful. The sensor then chooses a song from a selection of 4 royal tunes to reward and encourage your child.
This trainer also converts into a toilet ring that fits most toilet seats, although it's not recommended for use on padded toilet seats. Aside from that, it also folds down to convert to a stepstool that your child can use to reach the sink or to get on and off the regular toilet as he grows older.
Two Dads is a UK brand that has been designing child-safe products for over 10 years. This potty seat is a testament to their commitment to using non-toxic materials. The thermoplastic elastomer material makes the product soft and antibacterial, easy to clean, and sanitary.
Most of all, it makes the product lightweight, foldable and portable. It has three stand feet that fold up after use. You can stash this potty in a foldable silicone bag for easy handling on trips. To minimize clean-up, you can place a disposable plastic bag into the basin for waste collection.
Training boys to pee properly will be much easier when you have a urinal like this one. It might be different than the other toilet seats on the list, but this one is specially designed to be mounted on a wall to teach boys how to urinate while standing up. It has a splash guard to help prevent messes and a removable bowl for easy cleaning.
The cartoony frog design certainly helps to make potty time exciting for them. There's even a rotating windmill mechanism in the middle that serves as a "target" to help your child know where to aim. This little feature adds a lot of fun and turns potty training into a game!
This foldable potty is highly rated for its versatile design. Kids love climbing, so the ladder design of this seat reducer has an added appeal for them. The steps on the ladder help the child get up easily on the seat and also serve as a footrest when they are seated. The pedal on the ladder can be adjusted to accommodate changes in height as your child grows.
The ring fits most regular toilet bowl sizes. It is made of environmentally friendly PP material and is easy to clean. You also get two options for the kind of seat—hard or padded. The base is equipped with non-slip mats for more stable protection, and the feet can be adjusted and rotated. It also has a double-sided soft handrail design for added safety.
This locally-made potty trainer aims to make toilet training as easy as possible for you and your child with its fun goose design that's sure to capture your child's attention. It's easy to use—your child just straddles the goose's body and grips its "ears" whenever they need to go potty.
It's also easy to clean because you can access the bowl at the back and remove it for draining and washing. It's also made of sturdy and BPA-free PP plastic, so it's safe for use with your little one. Lastly, it comes with a convenient lid to cover the potty until the next time your child uses it.
This cute potty trainer strikes the perfect balance between price and function. For less than Php 200, you get a potty trainer with a high backrest that serves as extra support for your child. This makes it possible for your child to stay longer on the potty because it's quite comfortable.
The potty seat is made of high-quality and non-toxic ABS plastic that is sturdy enough to accommodate bigger kids. It also has a splash guard to prevent accidental spills and a lid to keep it covered when not in use. The cute animal print in front also makes it fun and encouraging for kids to look forward to potty time!
If you're looking for a basic toilet seat for your child, this Chicco potty trainer is a budget-friendly option. It adapts well to most toilet seats, which can be a concern when shopping for toilet seat trainers online. User reviews talk about how easy it is to install and remove.
The seat itself is made from soft padded material, so your child will be warm and comfortable as he goes through potty training. Meanwhile, the two handles at the side provide stability. The presence of a splash protector also makes it easy and practical to clean.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Dr. Joey Cuayo-Estanislao.
Toilet mastery is one of the most important skills your child will learn and gain as they move on from their toddlerhood. Being able to move on from diaper reliance, go to the potty on their own, and be able to control and understand their urges are important for becoming more self-sufficient, confident, and independent, especially as they approach school age.
Beyond that skill mastery and its impact on their independence and self-reliance, being able to move on from diaper use and become toilet trained is also important for their hygiene, especially as they also learn the importance of handwashing and after-toilet hygiene.
Training pants are different from diapers in that they are designed so that your little one can pull them up and down themselves. They are usually made of absorbent material and can capture small accidents and leaks. The need for training pants can vary per child and per family, and even per situation.
Some kids and families may find it more helpful to use regular undies in their toilet training, especially since some kids no longer like the feeling of having soiled underpants. It also allows you, as the parent, to know right away if your child had an accident. Some families may also opt to wear training pants when they are out of the house and their child is not yet too confident about using public facilities.
In general, most children become physiologically ready for toilet training at around eighteen months of age. This is when they have already mastered walking, and their digestive system and bladder have matured to the point where they can control or delay their bowel movement or urination long enough to get to a potty.
Toilet training can be a challenging skill to master, and progress is not always fast or linear. Be patient with yourself and your child. Be consistent in your instructions and encouragement. And most importantly: keep the experience positive. Accidents and spills will happen, and these are totally normal.
Do not make a big deal out of accidents. Never shame your child or even compare them with other kids (including their siblings). Ask the rest of your household to help your little one in their journey so that you are all on the same page in how you're helping your child achieve toilet mastery.
Your child’s toddler years are such a wonderful time for exploration. They become more mobile and independent and soak up every experience you give them. Check out our articles below for more useful items to keep your toddler safe and happy during this age!
Author: R. Umlas
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: OXO Tot|2-in-1 Go Potty
No. 2: Nuby|My Real Potty Toilet Trainer
No. 3: Mamafrog|Potty Training Toilet Seat
No. 4: Fisher-Price|Royal Stepstool Potty Trainer
No. 5: Two Dads|Potty Trainer
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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