Potty training is often one of the more difficult parts of early parenting, but it is also possibly the most necessary, as potty training your child at a young age is an absolute necessity.
Travelling with a toddler that is still busy with potty training on a long journey, a trip to a restaurant, or just a long day out, can make things slightly more complicated than normal.
Thankfully, there is such a thing as a travel potty, which can make life so much easier for parents of toddlers, as you’ll be able to continue your potty training schedule regardless of how far away you are from home.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best travel potties for toddlers, as well as some foldable toilet training seats – and some top tips for using them.
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Best Travel Potty System
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Best Standalone Potty
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Best Novelty Design
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5.0
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4.0
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4.5
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$23.99
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$8.00 ($8.00 / Fl Oz)
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$179.99
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What Is A Travel Potty?
The function of a travel potty is relatively self-explanatory, as it is basically a portable potty that allows parents to continue potty training their children when they are out and about.
There is, however, more than one type of travel potty that parents will be able to choose from.
- Normal carry potty — these function like a normal potty that needs to be emptied out after use. They’re easy to carry.
- Toilet training seat — these are simply placed on top of a normal toilet seat and so do not need to be emptied out.
The type of travel potty that you as a parent choose to use will depend on your and your toddler’s preferences, as they’ll be the ones who’ll be using it!
Regular potties are usually cheaper than foldable toilet seats, but they are less flexible and take up more bag space.
What To Look For When Purchasing Travel Potties
The best travel potties on the market will generally have certain features that will not only make your life easier but also the life of your toddler.
The best travel potties will be easy to clean, as no parents want to be lugging around a potty that is exuding a foul smell! Having to clean a potty in the sink of a public toilet is also not ideal, as it may very literally require you to get your hands dirty.
This is why when you are choosing a travel potty, it will be best to choose one that empties into disposable bags or bowls, as this will make cleaning it far easier. This will mainly apply to normal carry potties and not potty training seats that fit on the top of a toilet.
Another important aspect of a travel potty is that it needs to be small and easy to carry. Having a great potty that your toddler likes is all fine and well; however, if it is too big to fit in the boot of your car or uncomfortable to carry easily, you may not want to bring it with you, which defeats the object!
Having a lightweight, small, and foldable travel potty will make your life easier, as you’ll be able to continue potty training your toddler regardless of where you are.
The most important aspect of a travel potty is how comfortable it is, as an uncomfortable potty will make your toddler not want to use it. This will make toilet training and potty training your child all the more difficult!
A comfortable potty that looks appealing to your child will make the process far more exciting and may even make potty training fun for your child, which can help them to want to start potty training without needing any encouragement from you.
Best Travel Potties For Toddlers
Potette Max 3-in-1
The Potette Max is a great travel potty for a variety of reasons and can make potty training and, therefore, your life far easier.
The Potette Max is a plastic potty that is both compact and foldable, so it will be extremely small enough to carry around with you. It also comes with a carry bag that it can fit into easily, so you will be able to discreetly carry it around with you if you are out with your toddler doing your weekly shopping.
Another added bonus of this travel potty is the fact that it comes included with three disposable bags that are biodegradable, so you can quickly and efficiently dispose of your child’s business without having to worry too much. It also has a separate wee guard, designed especially for boys. This is just a helpful addition – it’s still suitable for both girls and boys.
This potty also includes one reusable liner that is hygienic and easy to clean. Parents only need to tip out the contents of the potty and then wash the liner with some household cleaner.
It is, therefore, no surprise that this compact travel potty is award-winning, as it won the Silver Made for Mums Award 2022 for the “Best potty and toilet training product“.
Award Winning Potty Training Essential: This full size portable potty can be folded flat to be used as a toilet training seat, giving your little one a smooth overall potty-training experience.
Potette Plus 2-in-1
The Potette Plus 2-in-1 is another great travel potty, as it can also serve as a toilet training seat when your toddler is ready to make the transition.
It is also compact but comfortable and can therefore be used at home as well, which means you won’t need to have more than one potty.
This travel potty, like other Potette models, also comes with three biodegradable disposable bags to make getting rid of your child’s business slightly easier for everyone involved in the process. It acts as a foldable toilet training seat, providing convenience on the go, especially if you want to use it in public toilets.
The plastic potty also features an easy wipe surface for easy cleaning, so you won’t have to lug around a potty that doesn’t smell all that pleasant! The legs can even be detached so that they too can be wiped clean.
If you’re wondering what’s the difference between the 3-in-1 and 2-in-1 Potette models, here’s what you get with each:
| Potette Plus 2-in-1 comes with… | Potette™ Max 3-in-1 comes with… |
| 1 Portable Travel Potty & Toilet Trainer Seat (no extra wee guard) 1 Travel Carry Bag 3 Potette Disposable Liners | 1 Portable Travel Potty & Toilet Trainer Seat (with additional wee guard) 1 Nylon Travel Carry Bag 1 Reusable Hard Liner (only suitable for this Potette) 3 Potette Disposable Liners |
Needless to say, they are both excellent choices as a travel potty seat — but the 3-in-1 is arguably a slightly better toilet seat for boys.
Potty Training Essential: This full size portable potty can be folded flat to be used as a toilet training seat. It's just like the Polette Max, but without the additional wee guard. Suitable for both girls and boys.
My Carry Potty
The My Carry Potty will likely be a huge hit with your child, as you can buy it with a variety of character decals. You can even allow your toddler to help you select the one that they like most.
Buying your child a potty with a character decal that they like on it can make the process far less intimidating for them, and it could even become a fun experience with some encouragement.
It features a handle that will make it easier for you to carry around, so taking it out and about will be a breeze. It is also rather hygienic, as it has a leak-proof seal that will prevent any unwanted liquids or solids from seeping out!
One thing to be aware of is that this potty does not make use of disposable liners, so parents will need to clean it out after each use.
As folding travel potty seats go, this is certainly one of the most kid-friendly designs! A cute dinosaur character potty with unique handle encourages little ones to take it wherever they go.
OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty
The OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty is another great travel potty that doubles as a toilet training seat, so if your toddler is in the process of moving towards using a toilet seat, this potty can double as both.
The OXO also features flexible flaps to hold disposable bags in place, which helps when disposing of your child’s business. Unfortunately, it does not come with any disposable bags, but you will be able to purchase some at an extra cost.
It has smooth surfaces for easy cleaning and a splatter guard, so it will be suitable for both little boys and girls. It only weighs 0.7kgs so it’s really lightweight and can be carried around easily.
The foldable legs of this potty allow it to fold up into a very small package that can easily fit into any carry bag that you bring with you.
The OXO 2-in-1 Go Potty opens quickly and easily so it can be ready in snap, whether you need a standalone potty to use with disposable bags, or a travel potty seat to use in a public restroom.
Pourty Easy-to-Pour Potty
The Pourty Easy-to-Pour Potty is a bag-free standalone travel potty, but it is almost just as easy to dispose of your child’s business as it features a design that makes it easy to pour the contents of it into a toilet.
The design also makes it very easy to rinse out and clean, and it features a handle to help you pour the contents of the potty out without messing anything on your hands.
This sturdy potty has a high splash guard, so it will be suitable for a little boy or girl. Unlike some travel potty seats, it also features a large seating area, which is really comfortable for your child to sit on it.
The only thing to bear in mind with this travel potty seat is the fact that it is slightly larger than some of the other products listed above, so it may not be suitable to bring with you on a trip to the shops, for instance, as it may not fit easily in a bag.
Pourty is a comfortable, well proportioned travel potty seat with a unique pouring spout design. When your child has successfully mastered going to the loo on the Pourty, you simply pour the contents out the back using the handle at the front.
Potty Training FAQS
How To Use A Travel Potty
Using a travel potty is not always just as easy as plopping your toddler on top of it and waiting for them to finish their business, as being away from home can sometimes make them uncomfortable.
As a parent, if you are potty training your little one, it will be beneficial to bring a potty with you wherever you end up taking your child, as using a public toilet may make them uncomfortable at first.
One of the most important parts of potty training is consistency, so if you are leaving your toddler in someone else’s care, like a grandparent or nursery school teacher, you should inform them about your potty training methods. This will make it easier for both the caretaker and your child.
When you are out and about or on a long car journey, you should ask your child if they need to use the loo about every 20 to 30 minutes, so you can avoid any accidents and keep your potty training schedule consistent.
You will also need to be patient with your child when they first start using a travel potty away from home, as being in a strange place may make it difficult for them to use a potty at first. This is the reason that it is a good idea to practice as much as possible.
If you are going on a long journey, it may be a good idea to map out your route and note how many and where toilets will be situated along your journey, as this will help you to plan out where you should stop if your little one needs to use the loo.
What Is The Normal Age For A Child To Be Potty Trained?
In Western society, most children are potty trained between the ages of 18 months and three years. In Asian and Indian cultures, children may be encouraged to be potty trained earlier.
However, it will ultimately depend on your child, any additional needs they might have, and how comfortable they are with the process. If you don’t feel like your child is ready for potty training by the time they’re three, it might be worth seeking advice from your health visitor or GP.
Is It Better To Potty Train On The Toilet Or On A Potty?
If your child is quite young, it might be best to start potty training them on a potty first, as it can make the process easier for them due to it being lower to the ground than standard toilets.
If your child is closer to 3 years old and attending preschool, they may prefer to use a regular toilet seat (AKA, “The big toilet!“), as many preschools have small public toilets just for kids, and your child might have gotten used to this.
Should I Use a Travel Potty or a Foldable Toilet Seat?
There are pros and cons to both options, depending on your child’s personal situation and preferences.
If you’re planning on taking your child out of the house often or travelling with them, it might be best to use a foldable toilet seat, as these are lightweight and portable. However, a foldable toilet seat can take up more space than travel potties.
On the other hand, if you plan to stay at home most of the time or just visit friends’ houses regularly, a regular potty may be easier for your child to get used to and less likely to spill from being knocked over accidentally.
Even if it does take up a lot more space in your travel bag!
Is Three Too Late To Begin Potty Training?
No age is too late to begin potty training, as it is an extremely necessary developmental skill that your child will need throughout their lives.
Most children will only have full control over their bowels by age four, so starting potty training at age three will not be too early or too late.
Do Pull-Ups Delay Potty Training?
Using pull-ups during potty training can delay the process, as when you begin potty training, as a parent, you should fully commit to moving away from nappies and anything else like them.
Using pull-ups makes your child still think they have an option as to whether they want to use a potty or not, which can make the process take somewhat longer.
Final Thoughts
Travel potties are great inventions that can help you keep up with your child’s potty training no matter how far you are from home, and especially when there is no toilet nearby.
If you’re looking for the best travel potty, you can’t go wrong choosing one that is easy to carry in your travel bag, easy to clean and, ultimately, one your child likes to use.
What’s your recommendation for the best travel potty?
Head over to our advice section for more tips on travelling with a baby or toddler! You may also want to check out our toddler packing list if you are heading on an extended trip.
