On our very first “new friends playdate” with a family from Cleo’s zoo class, the mom hard sold us on this potty. Like, passionate. Cleo was still months away from potty training, but this woman was so convincing we bought it that night and stuck it in the garage. It sat there for months. Then the day came, we pulled it out, and it was so immediately life-changing that I texted her mid-pee to say she was right. We now own three. I give them as gifts.
Bottom Line Up Front
We own three of these and if one broke tomorrow we’d order a replacement before lunch.
Who This Is (and Isn’t) For
If you are potty training a kid and you ever leave your house, this is for you. That’s it. That’s the qualifier.
If your kid is fully trained and comfortable using public restrooms on their own, you probably don’t need this anymore. But honestly, Cleo has been trained for well over a year and we still keep them in the cars because rest stop bathrooms exist and they are a nightmare.
What We Actually Did
After that first one proved itself, we bought a second within the week for the other car. Then a third for the stroller bag — parks, playgrounds, anywhere without a reliable bathroom. We’re now using all three for Mouse too. They’ve survived two kids, countless car trips, and at least one incident in a Costco parking lot that I won’t describe further. That mom from zoo class has become a dear friend, and this potty recommendation is a non-trivial part of why.
The Case For / The Case Against
The thing that makes this potty work is that it’s genuinely two products. At home or near the car, it’s a standalone potty — pop in a bag, kid sits, done. In a public restroom, the top folds out into a seat reducer that sits on a regular toilet. So you’re covered in both scenarios with one thing in your bag.
It’s compact enough to actually bring places. This matters more than you think. If it’s bulky or annoying to carry, you stop bringing it, and then you’re back to the prayer method. The OXO folds flat enough that it lives in the car door pocket.
The bags are a recurring cost, which is mildly annoying. We buy them in bulk and don’t think about it. You can also use regular grocery bags in a pinch — not as clean, but it works.
The only real knock is that bigger toddlers (3.5+) start to look a little silly on it as a standalone potty. It’s small. But by that point they’re usually fine with a regular toilet and the seat reducer anyway, so it works itself out.
Our Pick
The One Thing Nobody Tells You
You will use this in a parking lot. You will use this on the side of the road. You will use this at a playground where the nearest bathroom is a porta-potty you wouldn’t enter yourself. And every single time, you will think “this was the best $14 I ever spent.” It’s not a product you love because it’s great — it’s a product you love because the alternative is so, so much worse.