Potty training does not need a long shopping list. A few items get used every day, a few are useful in some households, and many can wait until you know your child needs them. This guide sorts gear into buy once, buy as you go and skip for now.
The few things used every day
The items below carry most of the load. Everything else depends on your child and your home.
| Buy once | Buy as you go | Skip for now |
|---|---|---|
| A potty chair or a toilet seat reducer | Pull-on pants | Matching sets and themed extras |
| A sturdy step stool | Wipes and toilet paper | A second potty |
| A few spare outfits | Extra washable pants, a few at a time | Gadgets you are not sure you will use |
Buying once means the item can serve you through the whole training period, and perhaps another child later. Buying as you go means the item is used up and replaced, so you can adjust the quantity as you learn how your child is doing.
One potty or one seat, not both at first
A potty chair and a toilet seat reducer do the same job, so buying both on day one doubles one line of the budget before you know which your child will use. Count what each choice brings with it:
- Potty chair: one item for sitting. The sink still needs a stool for handwashing.
- Seat reducer: the reducer and a stool to climb up and rest feet on. If you already own a steady stool, the reducer is the only purchase.
Pick the route that needs fewer new items in your home, and leave the other until a second bathroom, a grandparent's house or travel makes the case for it. If you borrow or are given a used one, look it over for cracks, wash it well and look up the maker's instructions.
Reusable vs disposable: where the spending goes
Disposable pull-on training pants are a buy-as-you-go cost. The spending is spread across the weeks, and you can compare the size and count in each product title. Prices change, so see the current price on the product page. One option is Pull-Ups Girls' Training Pants, 4T–5T, 99 Count, and the training pants collection lists other sizes.
Reusable options, such as washable underwear with a waterproof cover over it, are paid for up front and washed rather than thrown away. Covers and underwear may be sold separately, so check what each product includes. One listed product is Joyo Roy Waterproof Covers for Potty Training Underwear, Boys, 3T, 4 Pack, and its product page has the material and care details. Washing has its own costs: water, detergent, drying and your time.
Whether reusable works out cheaper depends on how long your child needs them, whether you will use them again for another child, and what your laundry costs. You can also start with disposable pants and add washable ones later if you find you want them.
The same trade-off applies to the bed. Washable bed pads are bought once and laundered, while disposable ones are used up and replaced. One washable option is Utopia Bedding Washable Incontinence Bed Pads, 34 x 36 in, Blue, 4 Pack, and the washable underpads and bed pads collection has more.
Things you may already own
Look around before you buy:
- A sturdy stool or step, if it does not wobble or slide
- A basket or bin for spare clothes
- Old towels for wiping up, kept just for that
- Elastic-waist pants your child already wears
- A kitchen timer or a phone reminder for routine sits
- Picture books about bodies and bathrooms, from your shelf or the library
- A small lidded bin for wipes
What can wait until you know you need it
Some items make sense only once you see how things go:
- A full set of night protection, until you know whether nights are part of the plan yet
- Waterproof layers for every bed and chair, until a few leaks show where you need them
- The next size up in a big pack, because children move between sizes
- A travel seat or second potty, until you see how often you are away from home
- Sticker charts and rewards, if you do not think your child will use them
Shop this guide
- Toddler Potty Training Toilet, 3-in-1 Potty Chair, Purple (ships via Amazon)
- Upairy Reusable Cotton Potty Training Underwear, Large, 8 Pieces (ships via Amazon)
- Pampers Easy Ups Training Pants (Bluey), 5T–6T, 46 Count (ships via Amazon)
- Waterproof Washable Incontinence Bed Pads, 34 in x 36 in, 4 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Potty Training
- See all: Reusable Training Pants
- See all: Training Pants
- See all: Washable Underpads & Bed Pads
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Shipping costs and planning your order
We ship within Canada only. Items tagged Ships via Amazon are delivered by Amazon, and other items ship from our own suppliers, so one order can arrive in two boxes on different days. Look for the Ships via Amazon tag on each product.
Planning one order instead of several is a simple way to keep shipping costs down. Before you check out, look at the current shipping rate and the order value at which shipping becomes free. If you are close to that value, top up with things you will certainly use, such as wipes or the next pack of pants in the current size, rather than extras. Order early enough that you are not making a last-minute trip to a shop for one missing item.
Common questions
Is cloth always cheaper than disposable?
Not always. It depends on how many pairs you buy, how long they stay in use, whether another child will wear them and what a load of laundry costs you. Starting with a few washable pairs lets you find out before you commit to more.
Should I buy the biggest pack?
Only if your child will use the whole pack before outgrowing the size. Check the size and the count in the title, and consider a smaller pack until you know how your child responds.
Can I use hand-me-downs?
Yes, for items such as stools and potties, if they are clean and undamaged. Look up the maker's instructions if none came with the item, and wash washable items before use.
Is a multi-pack of washable bed pads worth it?
It lets one pad sit on the bed while another is in the wash, which matters most if you launder only once or twice a week. Check the pack count and size in the title. For questions about wet beds themselves, your doctor or public health nurse is the person to ask.
If you want help trimming an order down to the essentials, the contact page reaches our team, and we reply within one business day.