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Pros:

  • Comfortable, ergonomic design
  • Easy to remove
  • Only needs to adjust once to fit toilet seat
  • Inward-sloping splashguard for spills

Cons:

  • Some customers have a hard time securing it

Potty training isn’t fun, but the toilet trainer by BabyBjorn takes some of the stress out of it. The ergonomic design is easy for children to sit on. It features an inward-sloping splashguard, preventing spills outside the toilet. Best yet, it only needs to be adjusted once when installing.

Cathy Heid, a five-star reviewer, says her grandson loves this seat. “The little potty chair seat that I had would slide and scoot on my oblong toilet seat. This seat tightens to fit so that it doesn’t slide. He’s able to control the stream so that it doesn’t overshoot the front and he is able to climb off the seat without issues as well. Seat removal is quick and easy when an adult needs to use the toilet. So far I have not had to make any further adjustments after the seat has been removed. It quickly slides right back into place and stays firm. I highly recommend this product. It’s easy to clean too!”

What to Look for When Buying a Toilet Seat

Asking handymen this question generally provides smart-aleck answers, but common sense is a really good guide when it comes to toilet seats.

  • Fit: First and foremost, make sure the seat you buy fits your toilet. While manufacturers tend to offer “elongated” and “round” as their size options, the actual dimensions matter. Measure your existing seat’s dimensions—especially the opening—and then check the measurements on the toilet seat you’re considering.
  • Quality: Quality is another major consideration. Ask why you’re replacing the current seat. Did it crack, chip or have the hinges break after how much and what kind of use? Look for a seat that addresses those issues with more rugged construction so you’re not shopping for a replacement for the replacement anytime soon.
  • Features: Features may seem like a funny thing when you’re talking about something as unglamorous as a toilet, but if you would be happier sitting on a warm throne on a cold winter morning, or not having to turn on the lights to find the toilet in the middle of the night, heated or lighted (or both) seats might be an opportunity for you to not just replace, but upgrade.
  • Budget: Consider your budget. An extra $10 a seat adds up if you’re doing five bathrooms all at once. On the other hand, if you’re only doing one, that extra $10 could get you something that will last longer.
  • Reviews: Finally, read the reviews of the people who bought the toilet. If it’s as advertised, they’ll tell you. If it’s not, you better believe they’ll say so.
  • Installation: “If you’re not hiring someone to install your next toilet seat and DIYing it isn’t your strong suit, considering a seat with easy installation attributes can eliminate frustrations when putting in and tightening your new seat.” according to Biermeier.

Why You Should Trust Us

I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge as a journalist for 42 years, and I’ve learned where to go and how to research to get the most helpful results. I’ve lived in 13 homes or apartments in 50 years, and I’ve never had to replace a toilet seat (though writing this has me thinking twice about the one in the primary bath). Furthermore, I asked local handymen but relied on consumer-informed decisions based on real-life reviews. The choices in this piece are compiled from the ratings of people who spent their hard-earned money on a new toilet seat and, in the majority of the cases, installed it themselves.

Additionally, we tested several of the heated toilet seats in our testing lab. We looked at value, durability, performance and value. Perhaps more importantly we tested comfort and ease of use with the heated toilet seats and added them for your consideration. After all, what could be more important than comfort for the throne in your home?

How We Found the Best Toilet Seats

There are more than 6,000 toilet seats on the market today and nowhere near that many that you should seriously consider. We set a mandatory four-star Amazon customer review minimum, which took us down to 4,000. Only a few dozen of those had even 100 reviews behind that number. The products we chose in each category had between a 4.0 and a 4.7-star rating based on between 2,000 and 34,000 reviews. The best toilet seats had unique selling propositions.

Always looking for solutions for homeowners’ problems, we searched for ways to warm up a chilly bathroom. One obvious choice is a heated toilet seat. It may not warm up a room, but it will make your life more comfortable. We looked at proven brands and high customer satisfaction ratings—and then we tested them for ourselves. Lastly, we consulted with expert Deane Biermeier, who has over 30 years experience working in residential construction, contracting, remodeling, maintenance and home repair. 

FAQ

How to pick the right replacement toilet seat?

Begin by measuring the seat you want to replace, especially the opening. Dimensions of seats vary by manufacturer and an inch difference here or there matters a lot. Consider whether you want to replace what you have with something similar or if this is an opportunity to upgrade. The final consideration, of course, is your budget.

What are good toilet seats made of?

The two most common types of toilet seats are plastic and wood. You may have a preference based on feel or appearance, but both make high-quality seats.

How often should you change your toilet seat?

There’s a lot of disagreement on that topic. Five to seven years seems to be a rule of thumb, with dissenters saying if the seat is kept clean, isn’t cracked or chipped and if the hinges are in good working order, that’s simply wasteful. Given that the majority of modern toilet seats are made of plastic, the waste issue goes beyond money. As with most things, if you buy the highest-quality toilet seat you can afford, and care for it, it will outlast one that’s less well-made or less well-cared for.

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