Best Toddler Portable Potty for Travel in 2023

Behind every majorly stressed-out parent, there’s a toddler they’re trying to potty train on the eve of a family vacation.

Let’s face it – potty training toddlers is difficult under the best of circumstances. When you throw the chaos of travelling in the mix, it becomes a whole other ball game altogether! Although I recommend leaving off attempting to potty train your toddler until after big trips, life doesn’t always cooperate with that advice!

Travelling with a toddler in the midst of potty training is possible, and a portable potty makes it much more convenient for your toddler when a standard toilet isn’t available. We’re no strangers to opening the side door of our car and letting our children wee out the side, but it’s certainly not the ideal scenario. We always took comfort in knowing that most passersby could relate to us on a deeply personal level.

This post is part of our best travel gear for toddlers series

A portable potty seat is a much more practical (and modest!) option for travelling with your toddler, especially those long car rides and camping trips. But which one will best suit your needs? There’s no need to stress because we’re going to take you through: 

Travel Potties vs. Potty Seats and Other Toilet Training Solutions

Not all portable potty seats are created equal, so we’ll break down the main options for you. In the end, the product you choose depends on your child. As we’ve previously mentioned in our guide How To Toilet Train While Travelling, each child is unique when it comes to toilet training. Some children enjoy having their own special loo to go in, while others want to be “just like Mum and Dad.” 

Travel Potties

Travel potties are a popular choice for road trips because they’re essentially just miniature toilets that you can insert disposable liners into for each use. This kind of portable potty for toddlers is great for those inevitable “emergencies” that tend to crop up when you’re 45 minutes from the nearest sign of civilization. 

A downside to this option is that you’re literally stuck “holding the bag” until you reach your next rest stop. However, if it’s between a stinky car ride or a soiled car seat, I’d take the smell over the mess!

Potty Seats

If your child has an aversion to a portable potty, a potty seat is a popular alternative. A travel potty seat provides an additional barrier between your toddler’s bum and the public toilet. These seats generally have anti-skid pads or some other material that prevents them from sliding around, and many can be folded down compactly so that you can slip them quickly into a diaper bag or backpack. 

A portable potty seat is an excellent way to put your toddler at ease when using adult toilets and prevent contact with bacteria and germs. However, you must wipe the seat down with an antibacterial wipe after each use, as it’s coming into contact with many more people than a travel potty would. These also aren’t much of a help if you have an emergency in transit. 

Disposable Toilet Seat Covers

Disposable toilet seat covers are a third option when travelling with a toddler “in training.” These work well anytime your toddler needs to use a public toilet, and you can simply toss them in the rubbish after each use. 

Each disposable cover is large enough to fit over the entire seat with room to spare since toddlers are notorious for touching more than they’re supposed to. The most significant drawback is that they don’t help those in-between stops, and you have to keep buying more. 

Portable Urinals

As a mum of two boys, I will admit that the ability to have your child stand up and whee can be both a blessing and a curse while on the go! If you’re the parent of a toddler boy and the idea of opening up the car door and pointing them outwards doesn’t appeal to you, a portable urinal is another way to go. 

Features to Look For in a Portable Potty

Most portable potties for toddlers are similar in design and intended use, but there are several features to look for in order to get the best one for your toddler. 

Size: Your kids’ portable potty should be the right size for your vehicle and child. For example, if you have a small sedan that’s already packed to the hilt, you’ll have to put the larger potty and your toddler outside the vehicle each time they have to go. That may not be a practical solution in rain or snow! Additionally, if you have a very petite child or one who is big for their age, choose a portable travel potty that best suits their size. 

Portability: Ease of transportation is another essential feature to look for in your travel potty for kids. A potty or seat that folds or collapses for storage is both convenient and space-saving. Sometimes it’s difficult for passengers to navigate their way around the portable potty if there’s no good place to put it while not in use. Look for one that comes with a travel-friendly carrying case or bag.

Easy to Clean: Let’s be honest for a second, and all just admit that no one actually likes cleaning portable potties. However, it’s a task that you must accomplish to avoid nasty germs and messes. Choose a travel potty or seat that has few, easy-to-clean components. Remember that you’ll also be attempting to wrangle your child while sanitising, so the quicker the process is, the better.

Comfort: You want your toddler’s potty training experience to be as positive as possible while travelling, so make sure to find a portable potty or seat that’s as comfortable and simple to use as possible. If your bub is getting pinched or falling in each time they have to go, everyone ends up frazzled. 

Durability: Even if you’re only going to use your portable potty for one child, you’ll more than likely be taking it out multiple times during your trip. Choose a sturdy travel potty or folding seat that won’t crack or break after a few trips to the public restroom. You’ll be glad you did!

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