Teaching your little one to use the potty is an important milestone. As a parent, you want to make this transition as smooth and stress-free as possible. One way to do that is by investing in a good potty training seat.
Potty training seats offer a child-friendly, secure place for toddlers to do their business. They give kids confidence while keeping them steady and reducing mess. With so many options on the market, however, it can be tricky to choose the right potty seat for your child.
This ultimate guide covers everything you need to know about potty training seats. You’ll learn about:
- The benefits of potty training seats
- Different types of potty seats
- Features to look for when shopping
- Tips for getting your toddler comfortable with a potty seat
- Common mistakes parents make
- When to transition from a potty seat to a regular toilet
Let’s get started!
Why Use a Potty Training Seat?
Potty training seats offer a few key benefits that make teaching your child to use the bathroom easier:
Gives Toddlers Stability and Confidence
Toddlers lack the coordination, balance, and strength to sit securely on a regular toilet. Trying to use a full-sized toilet can be scary for little kids.
Potty seats attach securely to the adult toilet, so your child feels safe and stable. Kids can keep their feet firmly planted instead of swinging their legs. This gives them the confidence to relax and focus on the task at hand.
Reduces Messes and Accidents
Let’s face it – toddlers are still perfecting their aim. A potty training seat keeps them centered over the bowl, reducing big messes (and backaches from scrubbing the bathroom!)
The splash guard common on potty seats also prevents urine from escaping and puddling on the floor. Mess containment makes cleanup easier on busy parents.
Designed for Little Bodies
Potty training seats are made to suit a child’s size and shape. Low profiles allow kids to climb on and off the seat more easily. Many seats also have ergonomic curves and cutouts tailored to toddler proportions.
Using a toilet designed for their small stature helps toddlers learn good posture and technique for using the bathroom independently.
Makes Kids Feel Grown Up
Being able to use the potty like Mom or Dad is an exciting milestone for little ones! A potty seat gives toddlers the confidence to take care of business while making them feel like a big kid.
Types of Potty Training Seats
There are a few main types of potty seats available:
Basic Potty Seats
These economical, lightweight seats rest securely atop the adult toilet seat. They are usually made of plastic and have bumps and ridges to keep them from sliding.
Basic potty seats come in a range of fun colors and designs to appeal to kids. They’re affordable and easy to pack for travel or public restrooms.
On the downside, these types of potty seats don’t offer back support. Toddlers have to rely on their sense of balance alone.
For kids just transitioning out of diapers, a basic seat gives them familiarity on a full-sized toilet. But precocious toddlers may feel too unstable without back support.
Potty Seats With Backrests
As the name suggests, these seats have a backrest for extra security. The backrest keeps kids from falling backwards or getting fatigued from sitting upright too long.
Seats with back support promote good posture and technique. They give timid toddlers confidence by literally “having their back.”
Some backrests are removable or foldable too. This dual design accommodates a range of ages and skills.
3-in-1 Potty Seats
These seats “grow” with your child in 3 stages:
- A standalone potty chair for floor use
- A seat for the adult toilet
- An integrated step stool for bathroom independence
As your child masters each phase, the seat converts to the next configuration. No need to invest in separate gear at each stage!
The step stool is a handy bonus. But it does add to the total size and heft of the seat.
Travel Potty Seats
Compact, foldable seats designed for on-the-go are lifesavers for busy families. They easily tuck into a diaper bag or car.
Travel-friendly features like grippy rubber bottoms and locking clips keep these seats stable and spill-proof. Their slim profiles take up minimal space when stowed.
Bonus: some travel seats have fold-out stands to use as a standalone potty chair. Very handy for potty breaks in the trunk!
On the downside, travel seats prioritize portability over comfort features like backrests. Their small size also makes them a short-term option.
Cushioned vs. Non-Cushioned Seats
Some potty seats have foam padding for extra comfort and insulation against cold toilet seats. Others have hard plastic seats.
Cushioning isn’t a must-have, but does keep kids comfy during longer sits. It also warms up cold toilet seats in winter.
Non-cushioned styles are easier to keep clean and sanitize. Spills and accidents won’t sink into porous padding.
Key Features to Look For
Here are some worthwhile features to compare when shopping for a potty training seat:
- Splash guard. Prevents both big messes and penis pushback.
- Textured surface. Creates friction to prevent sliding and slipping.
- Secure fit. Wide bumps and ridges grip the adult seat tightly.
- Ergonomic shape. Curves match toddler proportions for optimal comfort and posture.
- Removable backrest. Grows with your child as skills progress.
- Fun design. Cute shapes and colors make kids excited to use their new seat.
- Compact size. A plus for travel and storage when not in use.
- Stand for upright use. Lets seats pull double-duty as standalone potties.
- Bolt-on attachment. Secures seat firmly without marking up toilet seat.
Prioritize the features that suit your child, space, and potty training style. Then pick a seat that checks those boxes.
Tips for Successful Potty Training
The right potty seat gets you halfway to bathroom success. But technique matters too. Here are some useful tips:
Prep Your Child Emotionally
Talk up using the potty and “big kid pants” for weeks before starting. Share your own positive experiences to normalize it. Books and videos about potty training also generate excitement.
Pick a Low-Stress Time
Wait until your child shows signs of readiness before diving in. Signs include curiosity about the bathroom, staying dry for longer stretches, and communicating about peeing/pooping.
Once ready, pick a relaxed period without major changes or disruptions at home or daycare. Potty training requires focus.
Set Up a Potty Station
Keep the potty chair or toilet seat adapter in the bathroom. Nearby, stage wipes, hand sanitizer, step stool, books, toys, and sticker rewards. Easy access to supplies minimizes accidents.
Dress for Success
Outfit your child in loose, easy-on bottoms like shorts or pants with elastic waists. Avoid tricky buttons, zippers, and belts. The easier clothes come off, the more likely kids will use their potty seat.
Schedule Potty Breaks
Remind your toddler to “try” every 30-60 minutes at first, plus upon waking, before naps, after meals, and before leaving home. Frequent use establishes a habit. Gradually extend time between breaks.
Offer Incentives
Praise your toddler every time they sit on their potty seat – even without results. Small treats like stickers or jelly beans make it more enticing. But don’t bribe or punish. Stay positive.
Handle Accidents Calmly
Expect mistakes as part of the learning process. Never scold or shame a child for accidents. Say encouraging things like “Uh oh, try to get to your potty next time!” as you briskly clean up.
Staying relaxed keeps kids from feeling nervous or guilty. Respond to progress, not perfection.
Give It Time
Some toddlers crack potty training overnight while others take months to get accident-free. Try to stay consistent, but don’t force it if your child resists. Simply shelve potty training for a few more weeks before restarting.
The key is following your toddler’s lead through this transition. The right seat provides support, but your little one sets the pace.
Common Potty Training Mistakes
It happens to the best of parents. Avoid these common missteps for a less frustrating (and cleaner!) potty training journey:
- Starting too soon. Don’t rush it before your child is truly ready.
- Skipping preparation. Have supplies and incentives ready so you can focus just on potty skills.
- Pressuring or shaming for accidents. Stay positive – progress over perfection.
- Making switching between diapers and underwear confusing. Stick to one or the other.
- Getting in power struggles over using the potty. Remain matter-of-fact.
- Not giving sufficient reminders and opportunities. Increase chances of success.
- Ending potty training if challenged. Temporarily stop but don’t give up for good.
- Forgetting to empty potty seats promptly. A dirty seat discourages use.
- Letting kids use ill-fitting seats for too long. Size up seats as they grow.
- Assuming nighttime training mirrors daytime. Night potty skills come later.
Stay patient, supportive, and tuned into your child’s needs to avoid these pitfalls. The messiest accidents wash away; don’t dwell on them.
Moving On From Potty Seats to the Big Toilet
Potty seats serve an important purpose, but aren’t needed forever. Here’s how to know when your toddler is ready for a seat-free toilet:
- They can climb on/off the toilet without help
- Feet touch the ground for stability while seated
- Urine stream reaches the bowl without a splash guard
- Bowel movements happen without back support
- They feel confident using the bathroom alone
Kids usually outgrow potty seats between ages 3-4, but readiness varies. Let your child set the pace.
Remove the potty seat and try out the “big kid” toilet for a few minutes at a time. Offer praise for trying without the seat, even if successes are mixed at first.
Use a step stool so your toddler’s feet rest firmly on the ground while seated. This provides stability without the seat adapter.
Consider leaving the potty seat insert nearby in case your child doesn’t feel secure. But encourage trying without it.
Within a few weeks, your big kid will joyfully leave “baby seats” behind! Just remind them to close the bathroom door for privacy now that you won’t be helping.
Potty Training Products from Amazon
Amazon carries all the potty training essentials to set your little one up for success:
Top Pick: BABYBJORN Potty Chair With Removable Inner Potty – Sturdy, ergonomic potty chair in fun colors helps kids feel secure and relaxed. Inner potty removes for easy cleaning.
Dreambaby Soft Touch Potty Seat – Cushioned seat with handles for stability. Fits most toilets.
OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty – Convenient seat with legs to use stand-alone or on a toilet. Leak-proof seal.
Cozy Greens Training Pants – Soft, eco-friendly underwear helps toddlers transition from diapers.
Bumbo Step ‘N Potty – Combines potty seat, step stool, and standalone toilet in one.
Check Amazon’s store for the latest potty training innovations and wife selection for your toddler’s needs.
Potty Like a Pro
And just like that, you’re armed with expert tips for navigating big kid potties!
Potty training is a major milestone but can also be a messy, stressful process. The right potty seat makes it easier by giving your child confidence, security, and independence. Add in patience and positivity from you, and bathroom success is within reach.
With the help of this ultimate potty training seat guide, you can ditch diapers for good. Before you know it, your toddler will be pooping in the potty – and then dancing around yelling about what a “big kid” they are.