Get the Potty Started: BabyBjorn Potty Chair

Reviewed by Maura Keating

My son learned how to use the potty at eighteen months. I can’t take credit. It was his idea. All I did was provide the means and the inspiration. Part of what made the process so easy was the chair that we used. We are huge fans of the BabyBjörn Potty Chair.

In the beginning, our lives revolved around this simple piece of plastic. It could not be better designed. It is the perfect size for my son–large enough for him to feel comfortable but small enough for him to be able to move the seat from room to room. He also likes to “help” removing the inner seat to empty into the big potty. The BabyBjörn Potty Chair is seamless so it is easy to keep clean. Contents are easily transferred and a quick rinse in the sink with a squirt of dishwasher liquid is all that this seat needs to keep it clean. No scrubbing. A thin rubber bottom keeps the chair from slipping on hard surfaces. A perfectly placed splashguard at the front of the seat prevents messes from spreading but doesn’t get in the way. The plastic is durable and scratch resistant. It has withstood all types of use and abuse as it gets carried from room to room, to the car, on vacation–wherever my son goes or may need to “go.”

My only complaint is that my son may feel TOO comfortable in his potty seat. My friends are in awe that my son uses the potty at such a young age, but it has also become one of his favorite spots in the house. It must be a guy thing . . . My son loves to sit on the BabyBjörn potty for long stretches while reading book after book. It must be the chair’s ergonomic design that features a high back and arm rests. The chair’s simple design also means that it blends into any décor and yet, the Potty Chair is small enough to tuck neatly into the bathroom if you are lucky enough to have a toddler who will allow it to stay there. The chair comes in a variety of colors– bright red, ocean blue, spring green, sunflower (yellow), pink, and classic snow white. Best of all, the Potty Chair is free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and lead.

As we have traveled to friends’ houses, we have used other potties and potty arrangements. Some of the fancier chairs have baffled my son (and there was one that he absolutely refused to use). The BabyBjörn does not have the bells and whistles that other chairs might offer, but its simplicity is what has made it so effective in our house. It is a potty chair. It does exactly what it is supposed to do, it does it well, my son likes it, and I love it. When our days of using a small potty are over, the chair is 100 percent recyclable.

If a standalone potty isn’t for you, or when your toddler is ready for the next step up, BabyBjörn also makes a Toilet Trainer that adapts to any toilet seat with an adjustable dial. It feels solid when it is on the toilet, ensuring that your toddler feels safe and comfortable. Like the Potty Chair, the Toilet Trainer is easy to keep clean. It is made from the same plastic as the Potty Chair and has the same effective splash guard. A thin rubber bottom keeps the seat from sliding. A built-in rubber hook makes it easy to stash the seat when it is not in use.

I dreaded potty learning for eighteen months. With the help of the BabyBjörn Potty Chair, learning to use the potty was one of life’s easiest transitions for me, my son, and the whole family. If only everything were so easy!

The Details:
BabyBjörn Potty Chair, $27.95; BabyBjörn Toilet Trainer, $29.95.
To find a Baby Bjorn Potty Chair or Toilet Trainer near you, visit the BabyBjörn “Store Locator” link.