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.
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.
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:
| Feature | Summer Infant My Size Potty | BabyBjörn Smart Potty |
|---|
| Design | Realistic toilet look with lid, tank & flush | Minimal, clean & simple |
| Ease of cleaning | Good — more surfaces to wipe | Excellent — seamless bowl |
| Fun features | Flushing sound, toilet paper holder, lid | None |
| Size | Larger — takes up more space | Compact |
| Motivational design | High — familiar toilet look encourages use | Low — 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
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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