A toilet seat reducer is a smaller, child-sized seat that sits on the family toilet so your toddler is not facing an adult-sized opening. Whether it feels steady or wobbly comes down to fit. Check your toilet's shape, take a few measurements and read how the reducer grips before you order.
Round vs elongated toilet bowls
A round bowl is close to a circle when you look down on it. An elongated bowl is longer from front to back, so it looks more like an oval. A home can have both, for example a round bowl in a powder room and an elongated one in the main bathroom.
Reducers are made for one shape or for both, and the listing should say which. Look at every toilet your child will use and note its shape, because a reducer made for one shape may sit crooked on the other.
What to measure before you order
Lift the adult seat and lid and measure the bowl itself, then lower the seat and measure its opening. Note each number in centimetres or inches so you can hold it against the sizes on the product page.
- Width: the widest point of the bowl, side to side.
- Length: from the seat hinge bolts at the back to the outer front edge of the bowl.
- Adult seat opening: the inside width and length of the hole in the adult seat, since some reducers sit on top of that seat and have to match it.
- Rim shape: whether the rim is flat or curved, and how wide it is, since some reducers rest on it.
- Clearance: whether the tank, a wall or a cabinet sits close behind the bowl and could get in the way.
How reducers stay in place
Designs differ, and the listing should show which one you are buying. Some sit on top of the adult seat. Others rest on the bowl rim with the adult seat lifted. Some have rubber grips, tabs or brackets that press against the bowl to hold the seat steady.
Whichever design you choose, follow the instructions that come with it for fitting. Then test it before each use: hold both sides and push the seat gently forward, back and sideways. It should not slide. If your design needs the adult seat or lid lifted, make sure they stay up on their own, since one that drops could startle or hurt your child.
Handles, splash guards and padded vs hard seats
These are the features that change how the reducer feels day to day.
- Handles: give a small child something to hold while sitting down and getting up. Check that they are firmly attached.
- Splash guard: a front shield that helps direct the stream down into the bowl. Check whether it is fixed or removable and whether it presses against the legs.
- Padded seats: soft to sit on and may feel less cold on a winter morning. Seams and fabric need to be wiped dry, so read the cover material and cleaning notes.
- Hard seats: a smooth surface with few seams that wipes clean quickly, though it can feel cold.
Where to store the seat between uses
In a one-bathroom home the reducer has to get out of the way when an adult needs the toilet. Look for a hanging loop or hole in the listing, which lets you hook it on a wall or on the back of the bathroom door. A cabinet, a basket beside the toilet or the gap behind the door can also work.
Wipe it dry before it goes away so moisture is not trapped, and keep it where it cannot slide off onto someone's foot. If you use a basket, it can also hold spare toilet paper and a pack of baby wipes, so everything for a toilet trip sits in one place.
Some families leave the reducer on the toilet all day. If you do, check that the lid still closes and that the rest of the household can use the toilet comfortably, especially at night.
Pairing a reducer with a step stool
A reducer makes the opening smaller, but it does not get your toddler up there or give their feet somewhere to rest. A sturdy step stool does both. Measure from the floor to the top of the reducer seat and compare it with the step height of the stool.
Put the stool on a dry, flat floor and check that it sits next to the toilet base without rocking on the edge of a pipe or tile. Feet that rest on the stool also make sitting steadier.
What to check on the product page
- Which bowl shapes it fits, and the width and length range it covers
- How it attaches: on top of the adult seat, on the rim, or clipped to the bowl
- Handles, splash guard and a hanging loop, if you want them
- Padded or hard, and how the listing says to clean it
- The maximum weight and the size range stated by the maker
Shop this guide
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- PUTSKA Potty Training Chart, 35 Stickers, Crown, Firefighter (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Potty Training
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
Can one reducer fit every toilet in the house?
Only if the listing says it fits the shape and size of each toilet. If you have a round bowl and an elongated bowl, look for a reducer listed for both, or keep a separate one at each toilet.
Do we still need a potty chair?
Not necessarily. Some families start on the toilet with a reducer from day one, and others use both: a chair near the play area and the reducer in the bathroom.
Does moving to the toilet mean we are done with diapers?
The two do not have to happen together. Daytime toilet trips, naps, nights and outings can each go at their own pace, and some families keep using baby diapers and training pants for some of those. The diaper sizing guide helps if a size change comes up along the way.
What if my child is nervous about the big toilet?
Some toddlers need time to feel comfortable sitting up high. Handles on the seat, a stool under the feet and an adult standing close can help. If your child seems afraid or in pain, ask your doctor or nurse.
If you are unsure which seat suits your bathroom, send your toilet's measurements through our contact page and we will help you choose.