Baby Potties : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentOut of the 50 baby potties and potty seats available on Amazon.com, many have received several dozen reviews at the time of our visit. The Baby Bjorn Potty Chair is the highest-rated potty chair, with an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five, based on over 350 reviews. Among seat adapters, the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer has a perfect five-star rating based on nearly 250 owner-written reviews. Most models get good reviews overall, but the Primo folding potty seat and Mommy's helper travel seat score lower.

Our AssessmentTop picks in potty chairs are provided in this review. Readers are invited to share their favorites, although most of those commenting say they prefer toilet rings over actual potty chairs, because they dislike the idea of cleaning out a potty. One reader says the Ikea potty looks easiest to clean, and another mentions owning -- and loving – the Boon because it offers its own toilet paper holder on the side and it's very easy to clean.

Our AssessmentCoverage of potties is brief in this latest edition of the popular baby gear book "Baby Bargains." Authors Denise and Alan Fields recommend using inserts, or toilet seats that sit on top of a regular toilet seat to make it small enough for a toddler, over floor model potties. They say it's a "big deal" for a toddler to use the same toilet as his parents. Despite this tip, they do offer recommendations for both inserts and floor models.

Our AssessmentThe editors of BabyGizmo.com select the top five potty chairs in addition to providing a general overview and features to consider when selecting a potty. Each selection has a brief description and a mom rating between one and five stars, based on owner-written reviews, although each has only been reviewed one or two times, at the time of our visit.

Our AssessmentThis review conducted by About.com's guide to baby products includes recommendations for products that aid in the toilet training process, which includes books, dolls and DVDs in addition to actual potty seats. Among her recommendations are three potty chairs: The Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer, the Kalencom Potette Plus Travel Potty and the Boon Potty Bench. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Our AssessmentMost potty seats have received dozens of owner-written reviews on Walmart.com. The Peter Potty Flushing Toddler Urinal, The First Years Disney Cars Soft Seat Trainer and the Child Matters Once Upon a Potty Gift Set for Boy all maintain perfect five-star average ratings, based on 170, 36 and 57 owner-written reviews at the time of our visit.

Our AssessmentOver half a dozen potty training products have more than 10 user reviews on Target.com. The Fisher-Price Royal Stepstool Potty has an average rating of four stars out of five, based on over 40 reviews, while the Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer maintains a perfect five-star average rating based on more than 25 reviews.

Our AssessmentThis useful article breaks potty chairs down into five main categories, providing the pros and cons of each style. An example is included with each type, although it's not clear whether the authors are recommending that particular model or merely using it as an example.

Our AssessmentAt the time of our visit, most of the potty seats reviewed have received less than 10 owner-written reviews. Viewpoints.com offers a useful review snapshot for each product, providing a summary of comments found among owner-written reviews and a list of pros and cons.

Our AssessmentBased on a recommendation from a reader in response to an earlier roundup of potty chairs conducted by this site, one of the editors reviews the Babywunder Deluxe Clear Potty. As its name suggests, this potty is clear, designed to be minimally invasive visually. According to the author, the purpose is to allow parents to immediately see if a child has eliminated in the potty, enabling them to provide immediate positive feedback. She also mentions that it's a bit more fragile than other potties, and the fact that it is clear makes it more likely that someone might trip over it – meaning it could potentially break easily. Readers commenting on this post are less than enthusiastic; many feel that the clear potty concept is just plain gross.

Our AssessmentThe author, a parent of three young children, reviews the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair, recommending it for its stability, ease of cleaning and multiple color choices. He also likes the fact that this potty seat has a higher back and sides, which provides additional support for a child when sitting in the seat.