Potty Training 101: The Pants

The world of potty training is one where every parent simultaneously wants to go yet dreads. Getting rid of diapers is a huge milestone for both the toddler and the parent. While the road to being diaper-free can be a challenging one, there are ways to make it easier for everyone. One of those ways is the potty training pants. There are several different types of pants to choose from for this important stage in life.

*Cloth training pants- these are both budget-friendly and environment-friendly, two things that appeal to most parents today. These are quite like plain underwear with the addition of padding in the middle. This padding does not really prevent leakage, but helps stem the flow somewhat. The advantage to this type of potty training pants is that the child being potty trained feels the wetness immediately. This can help speed up the child's grasp of the situation, of the need to prevent accidents in order to stay dry. When using cloth training pants, there is certainly an increase in laundry for the caregiver, but the instant wetness awareness is likely the best tactic for success.

*Waterproof underwear- another viable option in training pants for this adventure, these are basically underwear with some sort of protective covering, whether it be vinyl, plastic or tightly woven cloth. Typically, the all cloth versions are more comfortable and also tend to hold up better to endless washings over time. These, while just as cumbersome under the child's clothes as diapers are, do help reduce leakage in the event of an accident. These particular potty training pants are ideal when on the go or for naptime when leakage is likely. However, the double layer of the absorbent waterproof underwear can make them bulky and difficult for the child to remove in the event of going potty.

*Disposable training pants- this type is simply nothing more than diapers that are a little easier to remove, with the easy to tear sides. They can be pulled down and up like underwear, but are often too absorbent to allow the child to really feel wet. This can hamper the potty training process. However, disposables are handy when out of the house with the child for a few hours where it is difficult to change and store soiled underwear.

*Real, tiny-sized underwear- for a bona fide real training experience, there is nothing better than real underwear for toddlers. By putting tiny real underwear on the child, there is no cushion whatsoever when accidents occur. The child has no doubt about what has just happened and most of them do not like to be wet like that. It is really a matter of whether or not the parent or caregiver can tolerate the big messes and laundry involved until the child is fully trained.

Taking the child shopping for whatever type of potty training pants has been deemed appropriate, letting them choose colors or patterns that make them happy, can help enlist cooperation to get started. Once training has begun, the biggest boost to the process is when the child is actively engaged, when it clicks for them there is no stopping potty training success.