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Best Potty Training Seats for Toddlers: Honest Reviews for 2025

Choosing the Right Potty Seat Makes a Difference

Walk into any baby store and the range of potty training seats on offer is genuinely overwhelming. Standalone potties. Toilet seat inserts. 3-in-1 training systems. Musical versions. Character-branded versions. Travel versions. It is easy to spend a lot of money on the wrong thing.

I have used a lot of potty seats over the years — with my own children and through the experiences of the thousands of parents I have connected with through this blog. Here is my honest assessment of the best options in each category, and how to choose the right one for your child.

selection of potty training equipment for toddlers

The right potty seat depends on your child's age, temperament, and stage of training.


Category 1: Standalone Potty Chairs

A standalone potty chair is the most common starting point for children aged 18 months to 3 years. It sits on the floor, looks less intimidating than a full toilet, and gives small children a sense of ownership over their own dedicated seat.

BabyBjörn Smart Potty — Best Overall

The BabyBjörn Smart Potty remains our top pick for standalone potties. The seamless inner bowl is genuinely the easiest to clean of any potty we have tested — no corners, no crevices, just a smooth curve you can rinse in 30 seconds. The low, wide base is stable on all floor types and the high splash guard is effective for boys. Available in white, yellow, blue and red. Read our full BabyBjörn review.

Best for: Parents who prioritise ease of cleaning and simple, reliable design.
Price: $20–25

Summer Infant My Size Potty — Best for Motivation

The Summer Infant My Size Potty looks like a miniature real toilet complete with a flushing sound, lid, and toilet paper holder. For children who need extra motivation to use the potty, the familiar design and interactive features genuinely help. Slightly more to clean than the BabyBjörn but excellent for the right child. Read our full Summer Infant review.

Best for: Hesitant children who respond to novelty and familiar toilet design.
Price: $25–35

IKEA LOCKIG Potty — Best Budget

If budget is tight, the IKEA LOCKIG is the best value standalone potty available. Simple design, smooth inner bowl, stable base, available in soft colours. At under $10 it outperforms most mid-range potties. The one thing it lacks is a high splash guard — keep that in mind if you are training a boy.

Best for: Budget-conscious families who want a functional, no-frills option.
Price: Under $10


Category 2: Toilet Seat Inserts

A toilet seat insert reduces the opening of your adult toilet to a child-appropriate size. Most children transition to the toilet between ages 2 and 4, and a seat insert makes this transition much more comfortable and less frightening than simply removing the potty and hoping for the best.

toddler showing independence in bathroom potty training

A toilet seat insert gives children the confidence to use the full-size toilet safely.

BabyBjörn Toilet Training Seat — Best Overall Insert

The BabyBjörn Toilet Training Seat fits most standard toilet seats without installation hardware, has a handle for easy transport to public toilets, and is designed for children aged 2 to 6. The non-slip surface keeps it secure and the simple click-on design means your child can eventually manage it independently. Our top pick in this category.

Best for: The transition from potty to toilet, including public toilets.
Price: $25–30

Potette Plus 2-in-1 — Best for Travel

The Potette Plus works as both a standalone portable potty and a toilet seat insert, making it the most versatile option for families on the go. Fold it flat for the changing bag, open it as a potty in the car park, or clip it onto a public toilet seat. Disposable liners are available for clean hygiene on the road. A genuine travel essential.

Best for: Travel, outings, and families who need one product that does both jobs.
Price: $25–30


Category 3: 3-in-1 Training Seats

3-in-1 training seats combine a standalone potty, a toilet seat insert, and a step stool in a single product that adapts as your child grows. They are more expensive than standalone options but eliminate the need to buy separate products at each stage.

Summer Infant Step-by-Step Potty

A well-designed 3-in-1 that separates into a standalone potty, a toilet seat reducer, and a step stool. The step stool is a genuine differentiator here — having your child's feet supported on a step when sitting on the toilet makes it significantly easier for them to relax the muscles needed for a bowel movement. Good quality for the price.

Best for: Families who want a single product that covers all three training stages.
Price: $30–40


The Step Stool — The Most Overlooked Item

Whichever toilet seat insert you choose, pair it with a step stool. When a child's feet dangle in the air while sitting on the toilet, it is physically harder to relax the muscles needed for a bowel movement. A step stool with their feet flat and slightly elevated changes this immediately — and explains why children who have mastered wees in the potty sometimes still struggle with poos on the toilet.

Any stable step stool works. The IKEA BOLMEN step stool is under $10 and does the job perfectly.


Head-to-Head Comparison

ProductTypeBest AgePriceBest For
BabyBjörn Smart PottyStandalone18m–3yr$20–25Easy cleaning, reliability
Summer Infant My SizeStandalone18m–3yr$25–35Motivation, hesitant children
IKEA LOCKIGStandalone18m–3yrUnder $10Budget
BabyBjörn Toilet SeatInsert2–6yr$25–30Toilet transition
Potette Plus 2-in-1Insert + portable18m–4yr$25–30Travel & outings
Summer Infant Step-by-Step3-in-118m–5yr$30–40All-in-one system

Quick Summary: How to Choose

  • Starting training with an 18–24 month old: BabyBjörn Smart Potty or Summer Infant My Size
  • Budget is tight: IKEA LOCKIG standalone + any cheap toilet insert later
  • Child is ready for the toilet: BabyBjörn Toilet Training Seat + step stool
  • Travel a lot: Potette Plus 2-in-1
  • Want one product for all stages: Summer Infant Step-by-Step 3-in-1

Have a potty seat recommendation that is not on this list? Leave a comment below.

More posts that might help:


Written by Baby Potty Training Mommy — real potty training advice since 2010. Read more about me here.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Stop guessing — follow a plan

The Complete Potty Training Guide

The 4-week day-by-day plan, boys' & girls' guides, the Regression Rescue Plan, and two printable bonuses — everything in this post, taken all the way to dry nights.

$29  $17  ·  Instant PDF  ·  30-day money-back guarantee

See what's inside →

BabyBjörn Potty Chair Review: Is It Really Worth Buying?

The Potty Chair That Everyone Recommends — But Is It Actually Worth It?

When I was getting ready to start potty training, the BabyBjörn Smart Potty came up in almost every conversation I had with other parents. It showed up on every “best potty chairs” list. My health visitor mentioned it. Two of my mum friends had it. And it costs noticeably more than the basic potties sitting right next to it on the shelf.

So I did what any sensible, slightly sceptical parent would do: I bought it, used it, cleaned it approximately one thousand times, and formed some very firm opinions.

Here is my honest, experience-based review — the good parts, the parts that surprised me, the parts that made me roll my eyes, and the one thing no review ever mentions that you absolutely need to know before you buy.

young toddler learning to use the potty during potty training

The right potty chair makes training smoother for both parent and child.


What Is the BabyBjörn Smart Potty?

The BabyBjörn Smart Potty is a standalone toddler potty designed for children from approximately 18 months to 3 years. It sits directly on the floor and is designed to be the first step in potty training before transitioning to a toilet seat insert.

BabyBjörn also makes a Toilet Training Seat designed for the next stage — when your child is ready to move from the standalone potty to the full-size toilet. The two products are designed to work together as a two-stage system, though you can use either one independently.

The Smart Potty retails at around $20 to $25 USD depending on the colour and retailer. Available colours include white, yellow, blue, and red — all bright and appealing to toddlers.


What I Liked About It

The Design Is Genuinely Clever

I was initially sceptical that a simple plastic potty could justify a premium price. Then I used a cheap alternative first (we had one left over from an older child) and immediately understood the difference.

The BabyBjörn Smart Potty has a low, wide base that stays firmly on hard floors without rocking or sliding. The inner bowl sits snugly inside the outer shell and lifts out in one clean piece for emptying and rinsing. There are no complicated mechanisms, no removable lids, no extra parts to lose. Everything about it is deliberately, thoughtfully simple — and that simplicity turns out to be exactly what you need at 2am when you are half asleep cleaning a potty in the bathroom.

It Is Extremely Easy to Clean

This is the thing nobody tells you about potty chairs: cleaning them is where the design really matters. Some potties have corners, crevices, texture patterns, and decorative moulding that trap waste and are genuinely difficult to sanitise properly.

The BabyBjörn Smart Potty has none of that. The inner bowl is a smooth, seamless curve with no angles and no joins. You lift it out, tip it into the toilet, rinse it under the tap, and wipe it dry. The whole process takes about thirty seconds. I cannot overstate how much this matters after the first week of potty training when you are doing it multiple times a day.

The High Splash Guard

If you are potty training a boy, the front splash guard matters enormously. The BabyBjörn Smart Potty has a high, well-angled splash guard that genuinely contains misdirected wee rather than just decoratively suggesting where it should go. We had significantly fewer floor incidents with this potty than with the cheaper alternative we had used previously.

It Grows with Your Child

The same seat that fits an 18-month-old is still comfortable for a 3-year-old. The seat opening and depth are generous without being so large that small children feel unstable — a balance that cheaper potties often get wrong in one direction or the other.


What I Did Not Like

The Price

Let us be straightforward: $20 to $25 for a plastic potty is on the higher end of the market. You can buy a functional potty for $6 to $10. For some families the price difference is significant, and I want to acknowledge that honestly.

My honest assessment: if budget is a concern, a basic potty will work. Your child will learn to use the toilet whether they are sitting on a $8 potty or a $24 one. The BabyBjörn is easier to clean and better designed, but it is not going to make or break your potty training experience.

No Bells and Whistles

Some parents want a potty that plays a congratulatory tune when their child succeeds, or that lights up, or that has their child's favourite character on it. The BabyBjörn Smart Potty has none of this. It is clean, simple, and deliberately unadorned.

I actually consider this a pro — distraction-free sitting means your toddler focuses on what they are supposed to be doing rather than trying to make the potty play its song again. But if your child is highly motivated by novelty and characters, a more decorated potty might keep them seated for longer in the early stages.

No Travel Version

The Smart Potty is designed for home use and does not fold or compress for travel. If you need a portable option for outings, you will want to look at the BabyBjörn Toilet Training Seat which is more portable and doubles as the next stage of training.


toddler washing hands at bathroom sink after using the potty

Building the hand-washing habit alongside potty training is important from day one.

The One Thing Nobody Mentions

Here is the thing I wish someone had told me before I bought any potty chair: the potty is not the hard part. The chair you choose will not make your child ready before they are ready. It will not make them enthusiastic when they are resistant. It will not prevent regressions or fix constipation or stop accidents in public at the worst possible moments.

The potty chair is just furniture. What actually works is patience, consistency, a well-timed reward system, and following your child's readiness rather than a calendar date.

That said — once you have committed to starting, having a potty that is genuinely easy to clean and stays stable on the floor removes one small source of friction from an already demanding process. And on balance, the BabyBjörn Smart Potty does that job better than most of the alternatives I have encountered.


BabyBjörn Smart Potty vs Cheaper Alternatives

Here is my honest comparison after having used both:

FeatureBabyBjörn Smart PottyBudget Potty (~$6–10)
Stability on floorExcellentVariable
Ease of cleaningExcellent — smooth seamless bowlOften difficult — corners & crevices
Splash guardHigh & effectiveLow or absent
ComfortErgonomic, well-sizedOften too small or unstable
Price$20–$25$6–$10

My verdict: if you can comfortably afford it, the BabyBjörn Smart Potty is the better product — primarily because of how easy it is to clean. If the price is a stretch, a basic potty will absolutely work and your child will not know the difference.


What About the BabyBjörn Toilet Training Seat?

Once your child is reliably using the standalone potty and ready to transition to the full toilet, the BabyBjörn Toilet Training Seat is an excellent next step. It fits over the adult toilet seat and reduces the opening to a comfortable size for small children. The handle makes it easy to carry to public toilets and hang on the back of the door at home. It is designed for children aged 2 to 6 and makes the transition from potty to toilet far smoother than simply removing the potty and hoping for the best.

parent and toddler in bathroom during potty training

Potty training is a team effort — patience and consistency matter more than any product.


Quick Summary

  • Best for: Parents who prioritise easy cleaning and stable, simple design
  • Best age: 18 months to 3 years for the Smart Potty; 2 to 6 for the Toilet Trainer
  • Worth buying if: You want something that lasts through multiple children and is genuinely easy to sanitise
  • Skip it if: Budget is tight — a basic potty will work fine
  • My rating: 4.5 out of 5 — loses half a point only for the price

Have you used the BabyBjörn potty with your child? I would love to hear your experience in the comments — especially if you compared it to other potties.

More posts that might help:


Written by Baby Potty Training Mommy — sharing real-world potty training advice since 2010. Read more about me here.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe in.

Stop guessing — follow a plan

The Complete Potty Training Guide

The 4-week day-by-day plan, boys' & girls' guides, the Regression Rescue Plan, and two printable bonuses — everything in this post, taken all the way to dry nights.

$29  $17  ·  Instant PDF  ·  30-day money-back guarantee

See what's inside →

Babies 'R' Us Training Pants Review: Are They Worth It?



The Babies'R'Us Pants

The Babies 'R'Us pants can be classified into many categories. Ranging from  design, size, colour, texture, and flexibility. Today we are going to review two of the commonly used Baby R Us training pants. The most common Babies' R'Us pants are the Seventh Generation training pants and the All in one water proof training pants,

The Babies' R'Us pants help in keeping your toddler dry and comfortable throughout the day. Made from cotton, the Babies' R'Us pants are highly absorbent and with the elastic features at the waist and leg opening make them a flexible fit for every toddler.

Seventh Generation Training Pants

The Seventh generation training pants are designed to make potty training easier by giving your toddler the experience of pull-on pants with the protection of a lightweight, absorbent core. They have a stretchy, tear-away side panel that let you adjust the fit for a perfect, custom feel.

The Seventh generation training pants are designed to be kind to little bottoms with no fragrances, petroleum-based lotions or chlorine processing.

Seventh Generation Training Pants size 3T-4T are designed to fit children 32 - 40 lbs.

Features

  • Training Pants with exceptional leak protection
  • Stretchy, tear-away side panels for custom fit and clean-up convenience
  • Training Pants that are hypoallergenic and free of fragrances
  • Free of chlorine processing
  • Training Pants free of petroleum-based lotions
All in one water proof training pants

The Babies'R'Us All-in-One 2-pack of Boys' Waterproof Training Pants help keep your little baby dry and comfy! Each cotton-lined pair is crafted with PEVA material and features elastic at the waist and leg openings for a flexible fit. Fun colors and designs add an extra-adorable touch to potty training.
The All in one water proof training pants are perfect for parents that are seeking value while retaining brand name quality. The Babies'R'Us exclusive house brand gives you the advantage of saving money while making sure that your newborn baby or infant receives the care and attention that they deserve.


Features:
  • Includes 2 pairs of training pants
  • Elasticized waist and leg openings
  • Waterproof
  • One pair is solid blue, and the other is decorated with cars, trucks and planes
  • Shell: 100% PEVA; Lining: 100% cotton
  • Machine wash warm, tumble dry low

The Baby R Us Pull up training pants

Let The Baby R Us Training Pants be a tool to help you motivate and celebrate on your child’s potty training journey. With child-preferred Disney© graphics and patterns that fade when wet, these potty training pants display innovative and fun learning-focused features. Avoid sweating the small stuff—start potty training today the fun and easy way with The Baby R Us Training Pants.

Features;
  • Easily put on and take off with underwear-like waistband
  • Easy-open sides that easily open for quick checks
  • Soft, underwear-like feel
  • Fade when wet patterns to promote learning
  • Graphics featuring familiar Disney® friends
  • Maximum absorbency in necessary areas for boys or girls


Stop guessing — follow a plan

The Complete Potty Training Guide

The 4-week day-by-day plan, boys' & girls' guides, the Regression Rescue Plan, and two printable bonuses — everything in this post, taken all the way to dry nights.

$29  $17  ·  Instant PDF  ·  30-day money-back guarantee

See what's inside →

Best Potty Training Methods & Gear: A Complete Parent's Guide

So Many Methods, So Much Conflicting Advice

If you have spent any time looking into potty training, you have probably noticed that there is no shortage of opinions about how it should be done. The 3-day method. Child-led training. The Oh Crap method. Elimination communication. Scheduled sits. Reward charts. Each one has passionate advocates and parents who swear it was the only thing that worked for their child.

The truth is that no single method works for every child — because every child is different. What this guide gives you is an honest overview of the main approaches, the gear worth buying, and enough information to choose the combination that fits your child's temperament and your family's lifestyle.

potty training equipment set up in a clean bathroom ready to begin

The best potty training method is the one that works for your specific child — not the one everyone else is using.


The Main Potty Training Methods Compared

1. The 3-Day Method

What it is: An intensive training approach where you clear your schedule for three days, remove the nappy completely, and stay home to catch and reinforce every potty trip. The goal is to establish the habit quickly through concentrated repetition and consistent reward.

Best for: Children who are fully ready (showing all 5 readiness signs), cooperative temperaments, and parents who can dedicate three uninterrupted days.

What to expect: Day 1 is messy. Day 2 is better. Day 3 you start to see real progress. Most children are not fully trained in 3 days — the method establishes the foundation, and consolidation continues over the following 2–4 weeks.

Verdict: Works well when the timing is right and the child is genuinely ready. Does not work if you try it too early.

Read our full guide: The 3-Day Potty Training Method: A Real Parent's Guide

2. Child-Led Training

What it is: You introduce the potty, keep it accessible, talk about it positively, and let your child lead the pace. No pressure, no scheduled sits, no intensive launch phase. Training happens gradually as the child shows readiness and interest.

Best for: Sensitive children, strong-willed toddlers who resist pressure, children with developmental differences, and families who prefer a low-stress approach.

What to expect: Training typically takes longer — weeks to months rather than days. But the process tends to be lower in conflict and regression is less common.

Verdict: Excellent for the right child. Less effective for children who need external structure and motivation to make progress.

3. The Hybrid Approach (What Most Parents End Up Doing)

What it is: A combination of the structured launch of the 3-day method with the relaxed, child-following philosophy of child-led training. You have an intensive first 3 days to establish the routine, then back off and follow the child's lead while maintaining consistency.

Best for: Most children and most families. Provides enough structure to get started without the pressure that creates resistance.

Verdict: This is the approach most experienced parents end up using, and the approach behind most of the advice on this blog.

4. The Oh Crap Method

What it is: Developed by Jamie Glowacki, the Oh Crap method involves an intensive nappy-free period followed by a structured transition through "commando" (no pants), then loose pants, then regular clothing. Strong emphasis on reading the child's signals and responding consistently.

Best for: Children aged 20–30 months, and parents who want a clear, step-by-step system with a strong philosophical framework.

Verdict: Well-researched and effective. The book is worth reading if you want the full methodology.

5. Elimination Communication (EC)

What it is: Starting from birth or very early infancy, parents learn to read their baby's cues and "catch" eliminations by holding them over a potty or toilet. The goal is to maintain the natural awareness babies are born with before nappies suppress it.

Best for: Parents who want to start very early (birth to 6 months), families with strong commitment and flexibility in their daily routine.

Verdict: Can be effective but requires significant dedication. Most families in Western cultures use it partially rather than exclusively.


Method Comparison at a Glance

MethodBest AgeTime to TrainEffort LevelBest For
3-Day Method22–36 months3 days + 2–4 weeksHigh (intensive launch)Ready, cooperative children
Child-LedAnyWeeks to monthsLow (ongoing)Sensitive/strong-willed children
Hybrid22–36 months1–3 weeksMediumMost children & families
Oh Crap20–30 months1–2 weeksHigh (structured)Parents wanting clear system
Elimination CommunicationBirth+Ongoing from birthVery highEarly-start families
clean organised bathroom with step stool set up for potty training

Whatever method you choose, consistency and patience matter more than the specific approach.


The Best Potty Training Gear

The method you choose matters. The gear matters less — but the right equipment makes every method easier. Here is what is genuinely worth buying.

Potty Chairs

BabyBjörn Smart Potty — our top pick. Minimal design, seamless inner bowl that is extremely easy to clean, excellent splash guard, and stable low base. Available in white, yellow, blue, and red. Read our full review.

Summer Infant My Size Potty — best for motivation. Looks like a real toilet with a flushing sound and toilet paper holder. Children who need extra motivation love this one. Slightly more to clean but excellent design. Read our full review.

Toilet Seat Inserts

For the transition from potty to full toilet, a toilet seat insert that reduces the opening is essential. The BabyBjörn Toilet Training Seat is the best we have used — fits most standard toilet seats, portable handle for public toilets, no installation required.

Always pair with a step stool so your child's feet are flat on a surface — dangling feet make it harder to relax the muscles needed for a bowel movement.

Training Pants

Use cloth training pants at home — your child needs to feel wet to learn. Pull-ups for outings and night use. Gerber Training Pants are reliable, affordable, and easy to find. Buy at least 10 pairs. Read our full training pants guide.

Reward System

A simple sticker chart placed in the bathroom at your child's eye level. One sticker per successful trip. When the chart is full, a small milestone reward. Simple, immediate, and highly effective for most children aged 2–3. Read our potty training chart guide.

Cleaning Supplies

An enzyme-based cleaner for accidents on carpet and fabric is non-negotiable. Regular cleaning products mask smell; enzyme cleaners eliminate it completely, which prevents your child being drawn back to the same spot. Worth buying before you start.

Potty Training Books for Children

Reading about the potty in the weeks before you start builds positive associations and pre-motivates children for training. Our recommendations: Potty by Leslie Patricelli (ages 1–2), Once Upon a Potty (ages 2–3), and My Big Girl/Boy Potty by Joanna Cole.


Gear to Skip

Not everything marketed for potty training is worth buying. Save your money on:

  • Potty training apps — real-world feedback works better than screen prompts
  • Musical potties — the novelty distracts from the task and fades within days
  • Pull-ups for daytime home use — too absorbent to teach wetness awareness
  • Character-branded potties with lots of features — harder to clean and the novelty wears off fast
calm parent and toddler — patience and consistency are the best potty training method

The right gear supports the process — but your patience and consistency matter most.


Quick Summary: How to Choose Your Approach

  • Child is ready and you have 3 clear days: Try the 3-day or hybrid method
  • Child is sensitive or resistant: Child-led or hybrid with minimal pressure
  • Child is strong-willed: Reduce pressure, increase autonomy, try the Oh Crap approach
  • You want a clear system: Oh Crap method or the 4-week plan in our Complete Potty Training Guide

Have a question about which method might work for your child? Leave a comment below — I read and reply to every one.


Written by Baby Potty Training Mommy — sharing real-world potty training advice since 2010. Read more about me here.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe in.

Stop guessing — follow a plan

The Complete Potty Training Guide

The 4-week day-by-day plan, boys' & girls' guides, the Regression Rescue Plan, and two printable bonuses — everything in this post, taken all the way to dry nights.

$29  $17  ·  Instant PDF  ·  30-day money-back guarantee

See what's inside →

Summer Infant My Size Potty Review: Honest Parent Assessment

The Potty That Looks Like a Real Toilet — Does It Actually Help?

When I was browsing for potty chairs, the Summer Infant My Size Potty stopped me in my tracks. Unlike the small, brightly coloured plastic potties lined up next to it, this one looks almost exactly like a miniature version of an adult toilet — complete with a lid, a tank, a flushing handle, and even a little roll of toilet paper on the side.

My first thought was: that is either genius or completely unnecessary. My second thought was: my toddler is going to love it.

I bought it, used it extensively, and I am here to tell you what I actually think — including the parts the marketing does not mention.

toddler learning to use the potty during potty training at home

Familiar design can help toddlers feel more confident about the transition to the toilet.


What Is the Summer Infant My Size Potty?

The Summer Infant My Size Potty is a standalone toddler potty chair designed to look and feel like a scaled-down version of a real toilet. It features a hinged lid that opens and closes, a decorative tank at the back, a removable inner bowl for easy emptying, a flushing handle that makes a flushing sound, and a small toilet paper holder with a pretend roll included.

It is designed for toddlers from approximately 18 months to 3 years, and the idea behind the realistic design is straightforward: if the potty looks like the toilet your child sees you using every day, the transition from potty to full-size toilet should feel more natural and less intimidating.

The My Size Potty retails at around $25 to $35 USD and is one of the most popular potty chairs on the market. It is available in white and grey colourways.


What I Liked About It

The Familiar Design Genuinely Helps

I was sceptical about whether a potty that looks like a toilet would actually make a difference. It does. My toddler took to this potty with noticeably less resistance than she had shown to the basic potty we had tried first. She wanted to use it because it looked like what we used. She lifted the lid, she closed it, she “flushed” it — all of these little rituals helped build the habit of using the toilet in a way that a plain plastic bowl simply did not.

The lid in particular is more useful than it sounds. Toddlers who are not yet using the potty cannot access it unsupervised when the lid is closed, which adds a small but genuine safety and hygiene benefit.

The Flushing Sound

The flushing handle makes a realistic flushing sound when pressed. I know this sounds trivial, but it was one of the most effective motivational tools in our potty training arsenal. My daughter pressed it after every successful use and it became a celebration ritual in itself. The first time she used the potty independently and then pressed the flush handle, I nearly cried. Small victories in potty training feel enormous.

The Removable Inner Bowl

The inner bowl lifts out cleanly for emptying and rinsing. It is smooth-sided with no sharp corners or crevices, which makes cleaning straightforward. It does not achieve quite the same seamless simplicity as the BabyBjörn’s bowl, but it is genuinely easy to keep clean with a quick rinse and a wipe.

The Toilet Paper Holder

A small detail that matters more than you would expect. Having a toilet paper holder right next to the potty teaches children to reach for paper as part of the potty routine from the very beginning. It builds the habit naturally without needing a separate prompt every time. The included pretend roll is obviously for decoration, but you can attach a small real roll to the holder for practical use.


What I Did Not Like

It Is Larger Than Expected

The My Size Potty is noticeably bigger than a standard small potty. This is fine if you have space in the bathroom, but if your bathroom is small or you want to move the potty between rooms during the training period, the size can be inconvenient. It is not a potty you will easily tuck into a corner or slip under a sink.

The Flushing Sound Gets Old

I said the flushing sound was motivating — and it is. For the first two weeks. After that, when your child is pressing it fifteen times in a row not because they have used the potty but because they find the sound entertaining, it starts to wear on you. A small thing, but worth knowing before you buy.

The Decorative Parts Need Cleaning Too

The tank, the lid, the toilet paper holder, the flushing handle — all of these decorative elements need wiping down regularly. Compared to a simple flat-surface potty, there are more surfaces to clean. None of it is difficult, but it adds a minute or two to the cleaning routine compared to a minimalist design like the BabyBjörn.

Not Portable

Like most standalone potty chairs, this one is for home use only. It does not fold or compress for travel. If you need a portable option for outings, you will need a separate folding toilet seat insert — the Summer Infant toilet trainer seat is a good companion product for the transition to full-size toilets.

toddler washing hands at bathroom sink after using the potty

Building the full routine — potty, wipe, flush, wash hands — from day one sets lasting habits.


Summer Infant My Size Potty vs BabyBjörn Smart Potty

These are the two most recommended potty chairs and they represent two genuinely different design philosophies. Here is how they compare:

FeatureSummer Infant My Size PottyBabyBjörn Smart Potty
DesignRealistic toilet look with lid, tank & flushMinimal, clean & simple
Ease of cleaningGood — more surfaces to wipeExcellent — seamless bowl
Fun featuresFlushing sound, toilet paper holder, lidNone
SizeLarger — takes up more spaceCompact
Motivational designHigh — familiar toilet look encourages useLow — purely functional
Price$25–$35$20–$25

Which should you choose? If your child is resistant to the potty and needs extra motivation, the Summer Infant’s realistic design and flushing sound give it an edge. If you prioritise ease of cleaning and simplicity, the BabyBjörn wins. Both are excellent products — the right choice depends on your child's temperament.


Who Is the Summer Infant My Size Potty Best For?

  • Children who are hesitant about the potty — the familiar toilet design reduces anxiety about the transition
  • Children motivated by novelty and interactive features — the flushing sound is a genuine engagement tool
  • Families with more bathroom space — it is a larger product and benefits from dedicated placement
  • Parents who want to build the full toilet routine from day one — lid, flush, paper holder all mirror the adult toilet experience

Who Should Consider Something Else?

  • Parents who prioritise cleaning speed — the BabyBjörn is simpler to sanitise quickly
  • Small bathroom situations — the larger footprint may not work in tight spaces
  • Parents who find sound-making toys irritating — the flushing sound will feature heavily in your daily life for several months
happy young child smiling in bathroom during potty training

The right potty makes training feel like a positive experience for your child.


Quick Summary

  • Best for: Hesitant toddlers who need extra motivation from a familiar-looking design
  • Best age: 18 months to 3 years
  • Worth buying if: Your child is motivated by the flushing sound and realistic toilet features
  • Skip it if: You want the simplest, easiest-to-clean option — see the BabyBjörn instead
  • My rating: 4 out of 5 — excellent design, slightly penalised for the extra cleaning surfaces and size

Have you used the Summer Infant My Size Potty? Leave a comment below — I would love to hear whether the flushing sound was a hit or a source of mild insanity in your household.

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Written by Baby Potty Training Mommy — sharing real-world potty training advice since 2010. Read more about me here.

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Toilet Training Essentials: Everything You Need to Get Started



Toilet Training Essentials
Toilet training success will only be achieved by one making sure that they have the all the essential equipment and supplies needed before commencing the process. This is the top secret to of most toilet trainers. Ensuring that you have all the necessities needed eases this transition and also saves you time.

In this article we are going to review some of the most essential toilet training equipment and supplies to ensure that you and your toddler have a smooth sail as you embark on your transition from diapers to the real deal.

Potty Chair: These stand-alone potties are the impeccable size for petite learners and come in a variety of colors and are designed with familiar cartoon characters that your toddlers are bound to enjoy. A kid-size potty will be easier for your toddler to use and less intimidating than a traditional toilet, and it can be easily moved around the house if need be.

Seat Reducer or a potty seat:  These are much smaller and less expensive than the potty chairs; a seat reducer (or potty seat) is placed on top of a traditional toilet seat and reduces it to a child-friendly size. Seat reducers mostly have colorful designs and are accompanied with a padded cushion for added comfort. Most seat reducers have handles for easy removal and storage therefore they can be placed on top of the toilet and removed with a lot of ease.

Potty Stool: can either be made from a small plastic or wooden material and the stool will help your child get up on to a seat reducer or the potty seat and sit on the toilet. It also gives your child a sense of safety and stability, and can help get her in the right position for using the bathroom. The potty stool also comes in handy for lifting kids up to the sink and faucet level to wash their hands. Some potty chairs convert into or can be used as a stool to cut down on clutter in the bathroom.

Toilet Paper/Flushable Wipes: Toilet paper is one of the standard essentials in your loo, but pick up a pack or two of flushable wipes, which are similar to baby wipes but disintegrate more easily and are safer for plumbing. These wet wipes are softer than toilet tissue and more accustomed to your child, they make cleanup faster. Ensure that they are attuned with your plumbing.

Kid-Friendly washing Soap: Potty training also involves teaching good hygiene, so choosing a hand soap that will encourage post-potty hand washing comes in handy here. Instead of going for regular bar or liquid soap, consider stocking up on foaming soap. Toddlers will love the bubbles, and there are easy, inexpensive recipes online to make your own once you have the pump dispenser.

Comfortable Undies: Cool big-kid under wear will be key motivator in helping your child make the transition beyond diapers.  Excitement is key element to successful potty training. Consider taking your potty trainee to the store with you to pick out his first pack featuring different colors, patterns, characters, and themes.

Easy On-and-Off Pants: During those first few days, weeks, and months of potty training, avoid the rompers, overalls, and button-up pants and instead go for easy on-off pants and shorts with elastic waists. Avoid pants with zippers because they will need to be unzipped. Your child will still be learning the sensation of needing to go, so you don't want to waste any time with tricky clothes; you'll want to be able to get the pants off in the shortest time possible, by either you or your child. The aim is to train your child to be self-sufficient enough to take off her pants to use the bathroom, so choose a style that will be simple enough for her to manage.

Training pants: Training pants come in both disposable and reusable/washable styles and are designed to let your child feel wetness. This way, he knows when he's gone potty but the wetness is contained so it doesn't soak through clothes.
 
 Progress Chart: Using the potty is a whole new habit for your child, and it can help if she can see, record, and be reminded of her progress. A simple hand-drawn grid decorated by your child will work. The goal is to help her and you have a smooth transition. Hope that this article will be helpful and I wish you all the best.

Stop guessing — follow a plan

The Complete Potty Training Guide

The 4-week day-by-day plan, boys' & girls' guides, the Regression Rescue Plan, and two printable bonuses — everything in this post, taken all the way to dry nights.

$29  $17  ·  Instant PDF  ·  30-day money-back guarantee

See what's inside →