Best Travel Potty Guide

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Alizabeth Swain

Editor at The Baby Swag

Alizabeth is a devoted mother to a 2-year-old toddler with Hemophilia B, which has brought on a unique set of challenges and opportunities as a parent. She believes that every child is unique and deserves to be celebrated for who they are.

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Are you deep in the stages of potty training your toddler? Are you helping to care for an elderly loved one who needs some help using the bathroom? Then I’m sure you’ve heard of travel potties. Travel potties make it convenient to go wherever you might be in case of an accident-emergency. I’ll walk you through the 8 best travel potties and what makes them amazing finds. Ready? Let’s start!

Bottom Line Upfront

Honestly, potty training sucks no matter what advice you follow. And when I was training my littlest, my oldest was only just out of the toddler phase.

So, when we traveled, went camping, took road trips, etc. juggling the two of them and a high maintenance dog in tow…I wanted something easy to use and super convenient. The OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty was a godsend, I can’t recommend it enough.

Top Picks at a Glance

After scouring the internet, I’ve found these are the 8 best travel potties you can get based on their overall use, convenience, quality, and price.

Each makes it significantly easier for toddlers to use the bathroom whenever they need to, and one can be used for adults. Check these out before learning more about what makes each of these products stand out!

Best Overall: Portable Potty Training Seat for Toddlers

This portable potty has a detachable toilet seat cover that can be used on most standard-sized toilet seats.

Best Design: Portable Potty for Kids

Your little one will feel like royalty atop this portable potty built like a throne with a crown on the front.

Best Price for Value: Folding Travel Potty Seat for Boys and Girls

You’ll pay less than $20 for this portable, easy-to-clean toilet seat cover for toddlers.

Best for Convenience: OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty – Gray

This 2-in-1 travel potty is perfect for emergencies on the go. Plastic liners create a convenient toilet bowl inside this travel potty whenever your child needs it.

Best for Potty Training at Home: Potty Training Seat for Boys and Girls

This nonslip potty training seat comes equipped with a splash guard.

Best Eco-Friendly Choice: My Carry Potty – Penguin Travel Potty

This portable potty doesn’t require plastic liners for your little one to use it.

Best Adults’ Portable Urinal: Unisex Potty Urinal for Car

This is perfect for preventing accidents on the go. Whether you have a bladder that’s hard to control or a long car ride ahead of you, pick up one of these.

Best Kids’ Portable Urinal: ONEDONE Portable Baby Child Potty Urinal

This small, portable urinal comes in a selection of fun animal designs.

What Is a Travel Potty?

The term “travel potty” can actually mean a few different things. I’ll walk you through the 3 main types of travel potties and what they’re for.

Portable Potties

These are plastic, portable potties that can be used when someone has to go to the bathroom where there isn’t a restroom around. They make tons of these in bright colors for toddlers. Some have disposable plastic liners that make clean-up easy, and some need to be cleaned by hand.

Toilet Seat Covers

These are covers you fit over a toilet seat to make the toilet seat opening smaller. They help little ones not fall into big toilet bowls, and they make using public restrooms with toddlers much easier.

2-in-1

Some travel potties are portable potties with a detachable toilet seat cover. This way, you can just use the cover if there is a restroom around. You could also have someone use this as a portable potty like normal.

Portable urinals, or “car potties,” are another type of car potty, but they’re only made to hold urine. The other 3 can hold solid and liquid waste.

Travel Potty vs. Regular Potty

The biggest difference between a travel potty and a regular potty is that a travel potty can’t be flushed. It isn’t screwed into the ground and attached to pipes, so you won’t have the luxury of running water.

The good news is that travel potties make it easier for people to go to the bathroom. If you’re potty training a toddler, sometimes they’re going to have to go at really inconvenient times (as we all know.)

A portable potty makes it so that they can go to the bathroom anywhere. A toilet seat cover makes it easy for toddlers to balance themselves on large toilet bowls, too.

Pros and Cons of a Travel Potty

This is the list of pros and cons to owning a travel potty, and you’ll notice there are more pros. Honestly, the convenience of a travel potty is hard to beat, especially if you’re traveling with someone who needs one. Glance through this list to see if a travel potty is something you’d be interested in.

Pros

• Keeps accidents in public to a minimum
• Easy to transport
• Easy to use
• Easy to clean
• Many are very inexpensive
• Most are very lightweight
• Keeps kids from falling in toilet bowls

Cons

• Very unsanitary if not properly cleaned with each use
• Some require plastic bags, which is bad for the environment
• Some don’t require plastic bags, so you’ll be cleaning them by hand

Things to Consider When Buying a Travel Potty

No 2 travel potties are exactly alike, which is why I’ve put together this section covering what to look for when you buy one. Taking a closer look at the fine print in the product description can make the difference between buying a great product and a not-so-great one.

Size

Travel potties are supposed to be convenient, so make sure to buy one that isn’t so big it can’t be folded up and transported around easily. Also, check to see how much weight the travel potty you’re interested in can hold, because some aren’t meant for kids over 50 lbs., 55lbs., etc.

Price

The price of your travel potty is going to vary based on what kind of potty you want. For a toilet seat cover, you’ll usually pay between $10-$25.

For a portable potty, it will probably cost you $20-$35. A 2-in-1 is usually around the same price as a portable potty, but they can be a little more expensive since they offer dual functionality.

Quality

Make sure that a product is made with quality materials, has 5-star reviews, and is made by a reputable company before you buy it. By reading the fine print about what awards a product has won, what it’s made of, and what all of its functions are, you can decide if it’s worth the purchase.

Tips for Keeping a Travel Potty Clean and Sanitary

It is extremely important to thoroughly clean a travel potty with each use. Bacteria can fester without proper sanitation techniques. Here’s what I recommend:

• If you have a portable potty, buy plastic liners that cover the bowl of the inside
• Buy disposable toilet seat covers to put on the travel potty lid
• When cleaning the potty, take out the bowl or plastic liner
• If using a plastic liner, tie up the bag and dispose of it
• If no plastic liner, dump out the waste into the toilet and flush it
• Next, swirl hot water in the bowl and pour the water into the toilet, flushing it
• Thoroughly spray the bowl with disinfectant, letting it sit for a few minutes
• Using a paper towel, dry off the bowl before placing it back in the travel potty
• Every few days to a week, wipe down every surface of the potty with a disinfectant wipe

The Best Travel Potty for Your Needs

These are the 8 best travel potties on the internet right now, so be sure to check out each one. There are a variety of portable potties, toilet seat covers, and 2-in-1 potties on this list, so there’s one for everyone’s needs. If you’re potty training your toddler or you have an elderly person at home who has trouble controlling when they go to the bathroom, one of these travel potties on the list can be the solution.

OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty – Gray

Best for: Convenience

About

This 2-in-1 Go Potty is a stroke of genius. It not only works great as a toilet seat cover that will keep your toddler from falling into large toilet bowls but can also be used as a portable potty.

By attaching one of the bags that come with this travel potty to the latches on the sides, you can make a portable toilet for emergencies on the go. If you’re using this as a toilet seat cover, the side parts can help your kid keep themselves steady while seated.

Key Features

• Price Range: $16-$26
• Color: Gray, pink, or teal
• Type: 2-in-1 toilet seat cover and portable potty
• Best Feature: Functions as both types of travel potties

Helpful Tip

Make sure you’re stocked up on refill bags in case your little one has an emergency on the go. You can attach a bag to the toilet seat cover to create a portable toilet.

Pros

• Can be used as a toilet seat cover and a portable potty
• Very lightweight-just 1.5 lbs.
• 3 different colors to choose from

Cons

• You’ll have to keep buying refill bags until your kid is potty trained

Portable Potty-Training Seat for Toddlers

Best: Overall

About

You can choose between blue and pink for your little one’s 2-in-1 travel potty if you choose this one by MCGMITT. Like the travel potty before it, you can use this product as a toilet seat cover and as a portable potty with the plastic drawstring bags that come with it.

It’s easy to carry this portable potty around because it folds up and fits in a travel bag.  The nonslip TPR rubber foot pads make it less likely for your kid to wobble on the seat or fall. Its inventive splash guard prevents spills.

Key Features

• Price Range: $18-$28
• Color: Blue or pink
• Type: 2-in-1 folding portable potty and toilet seat cover
• Best Feature: Mess-free splash guard design

Helpful Tip

Make sure this travel potty is equipped with one of the drawstring plastic bags it comes with so that every use of the toilet is mess-free.

Pros

• Mess-free design and easy portability
• 20 packs of disposable drawstring potty bags
• Functions as a portable potty and a toilet seat cover

Cons

• Only 2 color choices

Folding Travel Potty Seat for Boys and Girls

Best: Portability

About

This travel potty is a toilet seat cover. You use the 8 super suction cups on the bottom of the cover to firmly attach it to the toilet seat. When it’s on, it makes it much easier for your toddler to sit on the toilet seat without falling in.

What’s more? Feel good about the fact that there isn’t any BPA in this product. You’ll get a 10-year warranty when you buy it, too.

Key Features

• Price Range: $10-$20
• Color: Aqua or pink
• Type: Toilet seat cover
• Best Feature: Non-slip design with 8 suction cups

Helpful Tip

The free travel bag makes it easy to take this travel potty with you wherever you need to go. Make sure you stock the travel bag with other items you might need in case your toddler has an accident.

Pros

• Very lightweight-just 9.9 oz.
• BPA-free
• 8 super suction cups keep the toilet seat cover sturdy

Cons

• Can’t be used as a portable potty

My Carry Potty – Penguin Travel Potty

Best: Eco-Friendly Choice

About

My Carry Potty made a comfortable portable potty for toddlers learning to use the bathroom on their own. This portable potty features an adorable penguin design, which little ones are sure to love.

The handle on top makes it easy to carry. The best part? My Carry Potty’s product is the only portable potty to have an airtight leak-proof lid on top. Since plastic liners aren’t used with this travel potty, it’s an eco-friendly choice.

Key Features

• Price Range: $30-$40
• Color: Penguin design
• Type: Portable Potty
• Best Feature: Leak-proof seal on the lid

Helpful Tip

Since this product doesn’t come with any plastic liners and isn’t intended to be used with any, make sure you bring cleaning supplies to keep the potty sanitary.

Pros

• Cute penguin design that’s easy to transport
• Lid comes with a leak-proof seal
• Comfortable seat and non-slip feet

Cons

• Can’t be used as a toilet seat cover

Potty Training Seat for Boys and Girls

Best for: Potty Training at Home

About

This toilet seat cover is perfect for helping your toddler understand how to use the toilet correctly. The splash guard in the front prevents urine from getting on the rest of the seat. It’s super easy to wipe this toilet seat down and keep it sanitary, which I’m a fan of.

The best part is the teal non-slip grip at the bottom. This non-slip grip keeps the toilet seat cover locked in place, providing your toddler with the stability they need.

Key Features

• Price Range: $12-$21
• Color: White and teal
• Type: Toilet seat cover
• Best Feature: Non-slip rubber grip on the bottom

Helpful Tip

Make sure to wipe down this toilet seat cover whenever you can to keep it as sanitary as possible!

Pros

• Non-slip rubber bottom keeps the seat cover in place
• Built-in splash guard
• Very easy to clean

Cons

• Can’t be used as a portable potty, too

ONEDONE Portable Baby Child Potty Urinal

Best: Kids’ Portable Urinal

About

Long car ride or road trip coming up? If you’re going to have a toddler in the backseat, consider picking up this kids’ portable urinal.

The nozzle at the top makes it easy for kids to pee into the container, and then close the lid shut so urine doesn’t splash out again. There are 4 fun animal designs to choose from, so there’s something for every kid!

Key Features

• Price Range: $6-$16
• Color: Blue and gray, blue and yellow, pink and gray, or yellow and green
• Type: Portable urinal
• Best Feature: Fun animal designs

Helpful Tip

Thoroughly disinfect your portable urinal each time you clean it, making sure to get into every nook and cranny inside the lid.

Pros

• Super easy to use
• Very low price
• Compact enough to fit in a bag

Cons

• 2 designs are only meant for boys

Unisex Potty Urinal for Car

Best: Adults’ Portable Urinal

About

This portable urinal is lightweight and built for travel. It’s small and compact, so it’s easy to take with you and use in the car. The lid on top of the nozzle, which is made for both men and women, keeps urine from splashing out and causing odor. Another plus? This container is very easy to clean.

Key Features

• Price Range: $13-$23
• Color: Blue
• Type: Portable urinal
• Best Feature: The funnel makes it usable for men and women

Helpful Tip

With a long road trip coming up, this portable urinal is a must.

Pros

• Nozzle is built for men and women
• Lid keeps urine from splashing out and prevents odor
• Lightweight and easy to clean

Cons

• It’s a transparent container, so you can see the urine inside

Portable Potty for Kids

Best: Design

About

This travel potty comes with loads of accessories, such as a travel bag, disposable plastic liners, and disposable toilet seat covers. You’ll have a 6-month warranty on this product, and lifelong customer service support.

Key Features

• Price Range: $22-$32
• Color: Navy blue and yellow
• Type: Portable potty
• Best Feature: Cool design

Helpful Tip

Make sure to stock up on liner bags so you always have enough!

Pros

• Easy to unfold and clean
• Cool crown design on throne-like portable potty
• Extra accessories, including a travel bag

Cons

• No detachable toilet seat cover

FAQs

Your most frequently asked questions about travel potties will be answered here! There are so many kinds of travel potties nowadays, it’s no wonder folks have questions about them.

Question: What is a Car Potty?

Answer: A car potty is a portable urinal for kids or adults who have trouble controlling their bladder. These are especially useful for long car rides.

They’re essentially a large cup with a nozzle at the top that’s a convenient shape to pee into. They make unisex car potties and boys’/mens’ car potties. The lid at the top of the nozzle prevents urine from splashing back out.

Question: How Does a Travel Potty Work?

Answer: A toilet seat covers works by attaching the cover firmly to the lid of the toilet seat. This is usually done with suction cups or clasps. A portable potty is usually a foldable plastic suitcase-like toilet. Some come with plastic liners to put on the inside, and some opt not to.

By opening the lid and putting a plastic liner in, your toddler or the person you’re caring for can use the bathroom in a throwaway bag. The travel potties without throwaway bags must be cleaned by hand.

Question: Can You Take a Potty on a Plane?

Answer: You can’t let your child use a portable potty on the plane, no. What you can do is buy a toilet seat cover so it’s easier for your toddler to sit on the toilet in the airplane.

If your little one has an accident in the seat, please don’t fret. Ask a flight attendant for assistance and they’ll help sort it out. I promise you wouldn’t be the first parent they’ve seen that happen to.

FAQs

Best Travel Potty Guide: In the End

Was it helpful to learn about the different types of travel potties and what they’re used for? After learning about the 8 best travel potties, is there a product you’re thinking of picking up?

I highly recommend the OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty if you do a lot of traveling or camping. If you’re searching for even more great tips and recs, check out our list of the best toddler and baby mattresses.