Squatty Potty The Original Bathroom Toilet Stool, 7 inch and 9 inch, White, (Pack of Two)
I used to gift this two-pack because everyone seems to have multiple bathrooms these days and you can try out both the 7" and the 9", but they have a 7" with a taller converter as well as many more attractive versions now.
Update: I now generally gift the bamboo one that can flip to be either 7” or 9”.
They have a ridiculous explainer video:
It's become really mainstream (I think the technical term is now “toilet stool”) and there are now travel versions and classy wooden versions, etc.
In general, there’s a rule of thumb that it should take you <5 min to do your business. If it hasn’t happened by the 5 min mark, you should probably quit and try again later. Sitting longer on the toilet (even without straining) increases hemorrhoid risk.
(I read a study where they linked smart phone use on the toilet with an almost 50% increased risk of hemorrhoids; 37% of respondents who brought their phones into the bathroom stayed longer than 5 min, whereas of those who left their phones, only 7% of respondents spent more than 5 minutes.)
Note: I have a friend who feels very strongly that the right squatty potty is one that really does tuck all the way under the toilet and just pulls out when you need it. I actually think that the manufacturers agree and the “original” is actually a slimmer, more petite, version than the one I sent around when I found out about it. So if you were an early adopter and you find it sort of “in the way,” it might be time to upgrade. (The bamboo flip one tucks nicely.)
See also:The best step-stool (that’s also great for gardening) it folds flat, and is perfect for helping little ones reach the sink for handwashing.