Best Potty Seats

Potty seats allow training right on the toilet

Potty seats, also known as toilet rings, sit on top of a full-sized toilet seat, creating a comfortable, toddler-sized seat. Some parents prefer these seats to potty chairs because a child becomes accustomed to using the toilet and won't need to be retrained to use it later. In addition, potty seats are easier to clean because the waste can be flushed and the seat cleaned in the same manner as the regular toilet seat. These seats come in cushioned and plastic versions; some are plain, while others are decorated with favorite Disney or "Sesame Street" characters.

When it comes to comfort, the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer (*Est. $26) easily beats the competition, according to nearly 250 owners posting reviews to Amazon.com, where it has a perfect five-star rating. One unique feature is an adjustable dial that ensures a perfect fit on any adult toilet seat (including commercial public toilets). It also features a built-in handle, used for hanging the seat when it's not being used. The contoured seat has no sharp angles or edges that could hurt a child. A splash guard on the front keeps little boys from making a mess outside the toilet, yet isn't so tall that it makes sitting difficult (a few think the deflector is too small). Reviewers on Amazon.com love the adjustable fit and say the smooth plastic is very easy to clean and won't absorb odors.

Furthermore, parents like that the seat promotes good posture, encouraging kids to sit back. Of the few complaints we found, one parent says the seat has a habit of popping up unless the child is sitting on it, while another says it doesn't fit Toto-brand toilets (we didn't find others complaining about this, however. The Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer has a perfect five-star rating on Target.com, based on more than 25 owner-written reviews. Most parents there say the deflector is the perfect height, and the seat is comfortable and secure.

Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products, recommends the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer in two separate reviews. The Toilet Trainer is also an editor's pick among the top five potty training products in a review on BabyGizmo.com; editors like that the potty seats promotes good posture.

The First Years Soft Trainer (*Est. $11) is inexpensive, and recommended in some reviews. At Epinions.com, it earns an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five, based on nearly 40 owner-written reviews. Parents praise it for having two handles on the sides, which help toddlers to hold themselves steady when sitting on the toilet and also allow easy removal of the seat when it's not in use. It also has a removable rubber splash guard that fits into the front edge of the seat and will bend down if bumped into while a little boy is sitting, avoiding injury and pinching. Reviews are far more negative on Amazon.com, where the Soft Trainer has an average rating of 2.5 stars out of five, based on over 10 reviews. One parent says this seat has a sharp edge where the top and bottom pieces connect, which cut his little boy's penis and caused him to receive 11 stitches in the emergency room.

If you want something cute that will excite your child, you might like the Primo Ducka Soft Potty Training Seat (*Est. $18) which is white with yellow trim and features a duck face on the front. The rubberized outside edge is designed to prevent slipping on the full-sized toilet seat, and it features a handle for hanging the seat when not in use. According to Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products, those are the distinguishing features of this potty seat; beyond this, it's pretty basic. Although it makes her list of top potty-training seats, she does say that the built-in splash guard doesn't work as well as some others.

More than 30 owners posting reviews of the Primo Ducka on Amazon.com give it an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five, with many parents appreciating the ergonomic design of this seat, which angles a child naturally downward to prevent splashing. The duck theme is also a big hit with kids, reviewers say. Parents also note that the Primo Ducka doesn't slide around and is easy to clean. There are pins that come with this seat to help secure it in place on the toilet, although a few reviewers say it stays in place fine without them. On the other hand, there are some parents stating that the Primo Ducka didn't fit their toilet seat, one of whom said her seat is elongated, which could be the problem. There weren't enough reviewers mentioning this problem to get a general consensus of whether it is only elongated toilet seats that this potty seat doesn't work with, however.