Best Potty Chairs

Parents say basic is best among potty chairs

Potty chairs are toddler-sized commodes that sit on the floor. They range from simple, one-piece units to models with several parts that convert to potty seats and stepstools. The small size of potty chairs makes them appealing to toddlers; most kids like the idea of a special potty made just for them, while others are fearful of sitting on a full-sized toilet. However, using a potty chair will likely mean that you'll need to retrain your toddler to use the adult toilet later, and some parents don't like having to clean a potty, preferring potty seats that allow a toddler to use a full-sized toilet. Most potty chairs have splash guards to prevent boys from urinating over the front of the potty when seated. Some models are quite elaborate, with built-in sticker dispensers, sound effects, colorful cartoon characters or music that plays when a toddler successfully eliminates. Experts say such extras -- while nice -- are not necessary for a successful potty training experience, although some parents like the encouragement their children get from fancy extras.

Although many potties come with such bells and whistles, the best potty chair according to the reviews we consulted is the basic Baby Bjorn Potty Chair (*Est. $25). Available in blue, green, red, yellow, white or pink, this potty chair features a colored outer base and a white inner potty that is removable for easy cleanup. To clean this potty, simply remove the inner pot, empty the contents into the toilet and hand-wash the potty with warm soap and water. It features a high back and sides, rounded edges and a rounded splash guard for comfortable seating. A rubber edge at the bottom prevents this chair from sliding around on the floor. An added plus is that this potty chair is made of recyclable plastic, so parents can feel good about disposing of it in a recycling bin rather than the landfill when it's no longer needed.

More than 360 owners have posted reviews of the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair on Amazon.com, where it has an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Most parents say the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair is easy to clean, and its two-piece design leaves few places for waste to collect. The majority of reviewers who have boys say the splash guard is high enough to prevent spillage, but not so high that it can get in the way when sitting down. Likewise, most parents say girls can also use it comfortably, although there are a few complaints to the contrary. A few parents say they wish the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair had a lid, and there are a handful of complaints about the inner bowl pinching a child's bottom. Overall, most reviews are very positive, with many parents praising the no-slip rubber bottom and the ease with which the inner potty comes out for cleanup. There are also several comments praising the portability of this potty; parents say it can be easily moved from room to room and doesn't take up much floor space

The Baby Bjorn Potty Chair also receives a lot of attention among expert reviewers. We found recommendations for this potty in two separate roundups conducted in 2008 that appear on the design-oriented parenting website Ohdeedoh.com. In a June 2008 review, Tammy Everts says, "This Panton-esque model seems to be the new classic among most parents we know." An individual review on The Potty Boot Camp blog from July 2005 notes that the high back and sides of this potty also make it suitable for little boys who want to pee standing up, because it prevents splashing out over the sides. The author says he used the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair to train his little boy and his little girl, and reports that it worked well for both. The Baby Bjorn Potty Chair also earns a spot in Babble.com's roundup of the best training potties.

While the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair's high sides are designed to provide an armrest to help toddlers sit comfortably and give them something to grab onto when sitting down, there are a few parents who say their child was a little cramped in this chair. The Boon Potty Bench (*Est. $30) eliminates that problem by having no sides at all -- it's simply a bench with a hole in the center to allow waste to fall through to the removable drawer below. This Potty Bench also has a lid, allowing it to double as a bench or a stool that can hold up to 300 pounds. It also features storage on the sides to hold toilet paper, wipes or other essentials, and a removable splash guard made of flexible plastic. The Boon Potty Bench comes in green and white or blue and white.

In a review of training potties for Babble.com, Kate Bayless recommends the Boon Potty Bench, saying it's aesthetically appealing and makes a good choice for a bathroom that is frequently used by guests. One the downside, she says, the opening is a bit small, so it can sometimes cause problems with the waste not getting where it needs to go. Reviewers at Ohdeedoh.com say the Potty Bench looks stylish and note that it's not obvious that it's a potty when the lid is closed.

Owner-written reviews are mixed, however. We found more than 30 reviews on Amazon.com, where it earns an average score of four stars out of five. Most parents agree this potty is attractive, and one notes that the rectangular shape is suitable for small bathrooms because it can be stored flush against a wall or vanity, in contrast to toilet-shaped potties that take up more floor space. However, other owners complain that the opening isn't big enough and the urine deflector is too small to prevent splashing. One reviewer notes that there are no rubber grips on the bottom, so it can slide on tile or smooth flooring when being used as a bench. About 20 reviewers each on Target.com and Diapers.com also give the Potty Bench an average rating of four stars out of five. Negatives cited by users are similar to those found on Amazon.com.

Convertible potties, urinals offer added flexibility

The Graco Soft Seat Potty Trainer (*Est. $20) converts from a potty chair to a stool by closing the lid; the removable seat, which has a blue handle on either side for gripping, doubles as a toilet ring for older kids. The lid closes completely with the soft seat inside, making it convenient for travel. It features a removable splash deflector to prevent splashing from little boys, and the red inner potty portion has a handle for easy emptying. There are two versions of the Soft Seat Potty Trainer. One includes reward stickers, and the other does not; otherwise, they are identical.

The Graco potty is generally popular with parents who like the handles on the seat cushion, saying it's great for kids to hold onto as well as for mom and dad to remove the seat for cleaning. The soft seat cushion also earns points for added comfort; a few parents say their child wouldn't sit on plastic potties, but happily used the Potty Trainer, which doesn't leave any red marks or lines on a child's bottom. But some parents say cleaning this potty is a pain: In order to remove the inner bowl to dump out the contents, you have to first remove the soft seat. In addition, the three total pieces provide more nooks and crannies that can trap germs and debris, which can be difficult to keep completely clean. We found a few reviews on Amazon.com and Target.com complaining of this potty starting to smell after awhile, despite thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

Parents of little boys may want to consider the Visionaire Peter Potty Urinal (*Est. $40), a free-standing, height-adjustable urinal with push-button flushing. A water reservoir on top holds water for flushing, so it doesn't require any plumbing, and the used water accumulates in a collection tray that caregivers remove, dump out and clean. It comes with a base to sit on the floor, but can also be mounted to the wall or placed directly on the floor without the base. The base of the unit is blue, the main body of the urinal is white, and the collection tray and water reservoir are teal.

There are several recommendations for the Peter Potty Toddler Urinal (*Est. $40) in more formal reviews appearing on Babble.com, BabyGizmo.com and Ohdeedoh.com. One parent posts a detailed review of this urinal on BabyGizmo.com, who says it engaged her son and got him excited about potty training. One con she notes is that the water reservoir can be removed by a child, which can create a mess In addition, some parents caution that their little boys are so fascinated by the flushing mechanism that they tend to stand and flush the urinal several times, filling up the water collection tray and making more work for mom or dad. In a review for Babble.com, Kate Bayless says the Peter Potty Toddler Urinal allows her son to get in position to relieve himself faster than with a potty chair, making it good for last-minute potty emergencies. She also notes that it's easy to empty and keep clean, although, like other reviewers, says it is a bit unstable. Finally, it's worth noting that the Peter Potty Toddler Urinal can only be used for urinating -- parents will still need to purchase a separate potty chair or seat to train a boy to do the rest of his business, unless he's already comfortable using the adult toilet.

Potties with rewards offer encouragement but can be distracting

Many parents use a reward method during potty training, giving their child a sticker or a treat each time they successfully use the potty. Some potties play music or realistic flushing sounds when a child successfully uses the potty, while others feature colorful cartoon characters or built-in sticker dispensers. Some parents say these added features work wonders to entice resistant toddlers to begin potty training, but others say all the noises and bright colors are merely a distraction from the task at hand.

Safety 1st Smart Rewards potty chair (*Est. $40), for example, has sensors that detect when a child sits on the seat, prompting it to play a greeting. A sensor in the bowl detects when a child has eliminated in the potty, prompting a congratulatory message followed by a song and flashing star-shaped lights on the backrest. When the potty is flushed, a realistic flushing sound is activated and the star-shaped lights flash again. The Smart Rewards potty also has a parent-activated sticker dispenser and comes with a progress chart. This potty comes in two color options: white or green. Both have a blue, removable inner bowl and blue removable potty seat that can also be attached to the adult toilet.

The Smart Rewards potty earns a Babble Best award in a review by Kate Bayless on Babble.com. Bayless likes the warm female voice, which reminds the child to wash his hands and flush (or try again if he doesn't use the potty successfully). She also says the potty doesn't look bad and is easy to clean. There aren't many user reviews available for the Smart Rewards Potty -- just under 15 owner-written reviews on Target.com. Opinions are mixed; some parents love this potty and say that it encouraged otherwise reluctant toddlers to give potty training a try, especially since it looks just like a miniature version of the adult toilet. An added plus that many reviewers like is the fact that the potty will not make a flushing noise when the handle is turned unless the child has actually gone to the potty, so it eliminates the problem of kids relentlessly flushing the potty for the pure excitement of it. On the other hand, some reviewers say all the sound effects are a distraction; one parent says her son was terrified of all the sounds the Smart Rewards potty makes. The stickers and accompanying chart do seem to be a hit across the board, however.

The Sesame Street 1-2-3 Learn with Me Elmo Potty (*Est. $22) may appeal to children that are fond of the "Sesame Street" Muppet. Children can slap Elmo's hand in a high five when they've finished using the potty and he'll respond with one of 10 phrases in English, Spanish or French.. The volume is adjustable, and Elmo's voice can be turned off completely if parents desire. The potty seat is white with a yellow, removable plastic deflector, and it can be used separately as an insert for the adult toilet seat. The bright red, inside bowl is removable for cleaning, and anti-skid grips prevent the potty from sliding around on the floor. The Sesame Street 1-2-3 Learn with Me Elmo Potty also converts to a stepstool. A sticker book and 20 reward stickers are also included.

Jenny Wagner, in a review of best potty chairs for Bestcovery.com, says the Elmo Potty is fun and interactive, going so far as to say that it may be difficult to pull your child away from it. Owner opinions are less enthusiastic; however, with 13 reviewers on Amazon.com giving the Elmo Potty an average rating of just three stars out of five. Some parents love this potty, noting the realistic sound of Elmo's voice and the added function of being able to use it as a toilet seat and accompanying stepstool. Others complain that the urine deflector comes off too easily, hurts their little boys when they sit down or that their child's leg bumps Elmo's hand, causing him to constantly talk. Not only does this annoy mom and dad, but it distracts some toddlers who are trying to use the potty. Several parents remedied this problem by turning the power off or taking the batteries out. Many owners also complain about difficulty cleaning this potty. It has many parts, which must be taken apart and reassembled, and it has electronics, which can't be submerged in water or gotten wet.

Parents seeking fewer distractions may want to consider the Potty Scotty Musical Chair (*Est. $20), which plays "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" after a child has successfully used the potty. Other than this feature, the Potty Scotty is a very simple one-piece unit with handles for easy emptying. It has a low splash guard, sits low to the ground and is contoured to promote good posture while seated. Since it is designed specifically for boys, it comes only in blue. There are no owner-written reviews available for the Potty Scotty Musical Chair, but we did find one recommendation on Ohdeedoh.com in a review written by Tammy Everts in June 2008.