Travel Potties

Useful for road trips or everyday emergencies

Most potty seats are fairly portable due to their small size, but some potty chairs are designed specifically for travel. Travel potty chairs are either smaller than regular potty chairs or fold compactly to take up less space in the trunk of a car. Some have removable liners for easy cleanup and storage for holding disposable underwear, toilet paper or baby wipes. Travel potties are useful for families who spend a lot of time in the car, even for children who have been potty trained (for those occasional emergencies).

The Travel Potty Seat by Cool Gear (*Est. $25) folds into a briefcase-sized unit with a handle and two storage compartments. It uses regular gallon-sized zippered bags to collect waste, which are held in place by the seat. A June 2008 review on Ohdeedoh.com lists the Travel Potty Seat in a roundup of potty chairs. The Family Travel & Vacations Blog also recommends the Travel Potty Seat, noting its light weight and convenient storage compartments. On the downside, the reviewer says the hole is somewhat small, so it's difficult for little boys to aim properly when standing up.

We found more than 40 reviews on Diapers.com and nearly as many on Amazon.com for the Cool Gear seat; parents say it's great to have for long road trips; it even works pretty well in the car. Some parents still say it's still on the large side and difficult to stash under a stroller, for example.

The Kalencom Potette On-the-Go Potty (*Est. $10), which folds flat and can easily fit into a big purse or diaper bag, also earns praise from parents. It works with a scented diaper-like liner that catches and absorbs waste (up to 5 ounces of liquid). Three disposable liners are included with the potty; additional liners are sold separately (*Est. $5 for a 10-pack). Ties on the liners secure it to the potty and then to tie it shut for disposal. It also comes with its own plastic carrying bag, which some reviewers say also works well for transporting used liners. When opened, the legs lock into place, creating a seat for your child. It comes in blue, green or red and is recommended for children 2 years and older, weighing up to 50 pounds.

About 70 owners posting reviews of the On-the-Go Potty on Diapers.com give this portable potty an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Most parents like it, but some say it's a little too small, and a few parents say it doesn't work as well for little boys to urinate into. Several parents recommend not purchasing the liner refills; instead, they say a small trash can liner or grocery bag with a few napkins works just as well. While there are some complaints about it being very small or uncomfortable, most reviewers say it serves its purpose well and is sturdy when unfolded.

The larger Kalencom 2-in-1 Potette Plus (*Est. $15) works just like the On-the-Go Potty but can also be attached directly to a toilet seat. The Potette Plus comes in blue, green, red or pink. It requires its own special refill liners (*Est. $5 for a 10-pack), although the trash can liner/napkin trick does work, according to parents. When used as a travel potty, it can be used with children 15 months and older, weighing up to 50 pounds, and when used as a potty seat, it can be used with children 2 years and older, up to 50 pounds.

Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products, recommends the Potette Plus in two separate articles. Owner reviews are similar to those for the smaller version. When used as a potty seat, most parents say it fit snugly enough. Parents rave about the convenience offered by this potty despite its compact size, with many calling it a lifesaver for public restrooms, parks, road trips, the zoo and more. On the downside, parents also complain about the size of this potty when used as a chair; it sits quite low to the ground, and some say it looks uncomfortable to sit on.

The Baby Bjorn Little Potty (*Est. $10) is designed primarily for use when traveling, although some parents also use it at home. A smaller one-piece version of the Baby Bjorn Potty Chair, the Little Potty is made of recyclable plastic and has a splash guard and a carrying handle. Reviews on Babble.com and BabyGizmo.com both note that the Little Potty is perfect for keeping in the trunk of the car for emergencies. It comes in the same six colors as the larger version, but also has a handle on the back to make it easy for mom or dad to dump out for cleaning.

About 140 owners have posted reviews of the Baby Bjorn Little Potty on Amazon.com, giving it an average rating of 4.5 stars out of five. Most parents say the small potty works great for young children, although they say it won't be as comfortable for older or bigger toddlers. Most of the praise comes from parents who are using a potty training method called elimination communication, which involves beginning the potty training process when children are still infants.