The Potty Seat Conundrum - Soft or Simple?

The first thing you might want to consider when choosing a potty seat insert that fits on your regular toilet is if you want a soft cushy one or not. Once you figure that out, then you can ponder all the other features that will determine which specific seat you settle on.

Soft potty seats are very popular because they are nice and comfy for little bottoms that are getting used to sitting on the potty. This is so important, because as we know, these little Mr. and Miss independents often do only what they feel like doing! Should the would-be-potty-trainer deem that it is scary or uncomfortable to engage in this new thing called "going potty", then potty training could be out the window until further notice!

An added benefit of the soft potty seats is that most of them are offered with an appealing array of popular kid-friendly characters tattooed all over them. Perfect for catching the fancy of discerning little toddlers and for tackying up mom's pretty powder room!

So what's the decision factor, you might be asking? Unfortunately, a rather notable downside to the soft potty seat is the issue of getting it clean and keeping it that way. With soft potty seats that are all one piece, that intersection where soft seat meets hard plastic base is a collection crack for whatever comes it's way. Washing it off in the tub or wiping it down with Chlorox wipes goes a long way in keeping the seat clean and sanitary, but over time you may really start to wonder about those cracks...

Some of the soft seats come apart into two pieces, so they are easier to get in there and give them a thorough cleaning. This is fine, except for the fact that there is now an even bigger crevis between the soft seat and the hard plastic base, and you really need to be conscientious about taking it apart and cleaning both pieces after every use. You really want to do that anyway with any seat, it's just an extra step to take the soft seat apart, clean it and put it back together.

The other issue here is that over time and with repeated washing (e.g. in the tub), water can get inside the soft seat, soak the cushy material inside, and sometimes cause cracking in the soft plastic material covering the seat. This has been the experience of some parents who have used the soft potty seat.

My personal experience with the soft seat has  been great. We had an Elmo one at our house that lasted through two kids potty training and we had a Dora one at the grandparents' house that also lasted really well. The one we used at home even doubled as a travel potty seat that we carried around in a diaper bag for use in public restrooms.

The non-cushy potty seats are also a good alternative. Many come in one molded plastic piece that are a cinch to clean. The downside is that some parents complain about a red ring on their child's bottom after the child sits on these harder potty seats. They also don't tend to come with popular animated characters plastered all over them (which some parents may consider a plus!).

Maybe the soft seat is not for you if you're hoping it will last through hard use of four children, but to help get a little one comfortable on the potty it can be great. These seats are well-priced and appealing to kids. The trick is to wipe it down the cushy part as opposed to submerging it in hot water all the time to avoid serious long term wear and tear. My five-year-old still takes it out occasionally at his Mamma and Papa's house even though he hasn't needed it in years - it's like another little luxury that he enjoys there! [See top 10 potty seats rated by Just for Parents Expert Panel]

What do you think about the soft seats, yay or nay? We would love to hear about your experience with them!