We Tested the Squatty Potty and Other Footstools for Your Toilet

There are a bunch of reasons why someone might be constipated, either chronically or occasionally: not enough fluids, not enough fiber, not enough exercise, traveling, being pregnant, or (ugh) getting old. And though treating constipation probably requires a few different solutions, an aptly named toilet stool (or footstool) might help. “A footstool is something that many people can adopt and may find some potential benefit,” says Yuying Luo, MD, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at Mt. Sinai West in New York City. And it’s relatively budget-friendly as far as wellness interventions are concerned. The least expensive toilet stool we tested cost only $23 when this was written. Not bad for what just might be the solution to your pooping problem. 

My fearless colleague Jodhaira Rodriguez and I tried five toilet stools to find the one that made using the toilet the easiest (without attracting too much pet hair, which was an unexpected and odd disadvantage of a couple of them). Read on for a rundown of our favorites (including why even the ones we didn’t like as much aren’t that bad), as well as some details about why you might want to consider a toilet stool in the first place.