If you’re thinking of buying a potty, check each of the categories below to see how the different models scored under different criteria. The Baby Bjorn and Extra Comfortable Potty won the Best Buy and Best Value awards but you may find that other brands scored better in different areas. If you have something to say about one of the potties in our test, tell the babyworld community and add a review.
Our parent panel comments on the following:
Ease of use
An easy to use, simple to clean potty that’s functional and hygienic
will make training easier for you and your baby. Look for simple to construct,
comfortable potties that offer a good height for your child. It’s also
worth thinking about portability – especially if you travel regularly.
+ Our panel found the Safety First Potty and Toilet
Trainer to be ‘top of the list’ for longevity and assisting the transition
from nappies to toilet. ‘It’s easy to use and the potty, toilet seat and
stool mean you are completely sorted for the duration of the training
process’.
+ The Baby Bjorn, Tommee Tippee and Extra Comfortable
Potty with Footplates were the ‘most portable potties on test’ with our
panel commenting on their ‘basic and simple designs’ that were ‘travel-friendly
and 100% hassle free’
+/- On the cleaning front, our panel couldn’t
fault the Baby Bjorn and Tomme Tippee Potties: ‘Rinsing and cleaning was
a doddle – it’s much easier with a traditional, basic style of potty.
However, they did find that the height of the Tommee Tippee potty was
‘quite low which caused the occasional spillage’.
+/- The panel
had mixed views on the Fisher Price Royal Potty. One mum found it ‘fiddly
to put together and a tad unstable’ whereas another felt it was ‘easy
to assemble with clear instructions. One aspect of the Royal Potty that
our panel did agree on was how easy it was to clean: ‘The rectangular
bowl slides in and out of the unit easily and it can be fully immersed
in the sink – the best of all the potties tested’.
- Our panel
agreed that the Safety First and Fisher Price Royal Potties were ‘far
too bulky for travel’ and ‘the least portable of all the potties on test
as you need two hands to carry them’
Design
There are numerous types of potties on the market to help assist the
training process. Which style you choose really depends on how you visualise
training your child and what’s important to you. Our mix of mums demonstrated
some interesting views on what they felt benefited or distracted their
child on the potty.
+ The Safety First Potty & Trainer and Fisher
Price Royal Potty scored points for their ‘efficient designs’ and ‘bright
colours’ that ‘preserved baby’s interest in the potty’. Two of the toddlers
testing these potties were really encouraged by the rewards and wanted
to sit on them regularly.
+ Other panel members felt that the Baby Bjorn,
Tommee Tippee and Extra Comfortable Potty with Footplates offered the
most benefits for their toddlers: ‘They have a basic, practical design
and the fuss-free approach works best as they don’t get distracted by
music and rewards’
+ The Baby Bjorn potty scored extra points for
its ‘high splash guard and footplates which reduce little accidents on
the floor’. Our panel also liked the ‘folding mechanism’ on the Tommee
Tippee potty – ‘perfect for storing or trips away’.
+/- The toddlers testing the potties all took
a fancy to the Fisher Price Royal Potty which comes with a story book
and musical rewards. However, two mini testers soon worked out that the
fanfare could be ‘activated by putting hands in’ which caused ‘a bit of
confusion and mess!’
Comfort
This is essential if you want your child to use the potty regularly!
Look for padded, well-shaped seats that support your little one’s bottom.
A sturdy potty that sits firmly on the floor will also help to increase
confidence.
+ The Safety First Potty scored extra points for
its ‘handy grip handles that provide additional support’. Our panel also
felt that it offered ‘one of the most comfortable seats for baby – especially
when sitting on it for long periods’.
+ The Fisher Price Royal Potty was praised for
its ‘good back and side support’ and the toddlers ‘appeared to enjoy sitting
on it’.
+/-Our panel found that the Baby Bjorn potty worked
better for toddler’s with a slimmer build as it was ‘slightly narrower
than some of the other potties on test despite its ergonomic shape’. Ironically,
three of our testers found the Extra Comfortable Potty to be quite broad,
though 4 year old Imogen (assisting her mum and baby sister) found this
to be her ‘absolute favourite to sit on for comfort’.
- Some panel members noticed ‘potty marks’ on
their children’s bottoms when sitting on the Tommee Tippee and Extra Comfortable
Potty for a long time as they offered ‘less support than the other models
on test’.
Quality
If you’re thinking of buying a potty, check each of the categories
below to see how the different models scored under different criteria.
+ Our panel were impressed with the quality of
all of the seats on test and would expect all of them to ‘stand the test
of time’.
+/- The Safety First Potty and Toilet Trainer
was of ‘excellent quality apart from the loose lid and unstable locking
mechanism that secured the step’. Similarly our panel liked the quality
of the Fisher Price Royal Potty but felt that the ‘training seat needed
to be improved’.
Value for money
You get what you pay for in the world of potties, but if you’re on
a budget and want a few optional extras, a potty that will offer longevity
and lots of support for you and your child is essential.
+ Our panel felt the Baby Bjorn, Tommee Tippee
and Extra Comfortable Potty offered ‘great value for money’ and ‘quite
a few benefits at a reasonable cost’.
+ The Safety First was a clear winner in the value
for money category with our panel citing it as ‘excellent value for money’
- ‘the versatility of this product alone makes it a good value option’.
+/- The price tag of the Fisher Price Royal Potty
was ‘a tad excessive’ and ‘a bit off-putting’ though our panel agreed
that having tested the potty they would recommend it to others: ‘It’s
good value because it grows with the child, eventually converting to a
toilet seat and trainer’.
Results
|
Potties
|
Extra Comfortable Potty
with Footplates £6.99 |
Safety First Multi Stage
Potty & Toilet Trainer £16.99 |
Baby Bjorn Splash Proof
Potty £7.99 |
Fisher Price Royal Potty
£25.99 |
Tommee Tippee Potette Travel
Potty £6.99 |
| Ease of fit |
4
|
5
|
5
|
3.5
|
4
|
| Design
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
| Comfort
|
3
|
4
|
3.5
|
4.5
|
4
|
| Quality |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
| Value for money |
5
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
| Overall
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
| Total
score |
24/30
|
26/30
|
26.5/30
|
24/30
|
24/30
|
|
|
|
|
Got something to say? If you’re a long-term user of one of the potties
in our test and want to add your opinion, visit our individual parent
panel reviews using the links below and share your views with other babyworld
mums.
Where to next:
- Back to the Potties main
test page - Read the parent panel reviews:
- Visit the babyworld shop
- Become a parent panel member
- Add a review for your chance to win
a prize
