How to Choose the Best Potty Training Pants for Your Child
One of the most important item that you need to include in your potty training shopping list is the right potty training underwear. Unfortunately, some parents easily confuse a diaper for one of those - which is not good as the diaper is exactly what were trying to get rid of through the potty training process...
The thing is - toilet training pants can also be used as diapers, but unlike a regular diapers, they allow fewer leaks. This might not be ideal for everyday use thats why potty training pants are usually worn during night time potty training, where the offending behavior is usually only done once.
Potty training pants can make the transition from wearing a diaper to using a real toilet much easier for your child. The problem is that sometimes parents dont know how to choose the right underwear, or how to tell the difference between the types available. As with a lot of things in life - the right choice can mean the difference between failure and success.
So in order to make it easier for you to choose, here are some basic tips to guide you:
1. Type of Underwear
There are many kinds of potty training underwear on the market - disposable, cloth, etc. Your main concern should be your childs needs.
Disposable pants are very easy to use so your child would not have a hard time pulling them down whenever he has to use the potty. But the downside to using one is that some children are sensitive to harsh materials. If your child is one of them, avoid using disposable training pants or simply choose ones for sensitive skin types.
Clothing pants are your other option. Although cloth underwear is wallet-friendly and reusable, it would take more time for you to wash and dry it. In addition, it hardly masks the feeling of wetness so your child might suffer from rashes or skin irritation again. If you choose to go for those - pick natural fabrics - like cotton, as these are more absorbent and less likely to cause a rash.
NOTE: During the first stage of potty training, it is better to use disposable underwear, because youre likely to be dealing with a few more leaks than later on in the training process. If you choose to switch to cloth pants later - then that would be a little more stressful.
2. Comfort
Does it fit snugly? Can your child walk around comfortable while wearing it? If the underwear is too big for his size, expect accidental leaks. If its too small, your child would have a hard time removing it when he needs to, so expect accidents too. Tight underwear can cause skin irritation problems and can cause problems with blood circulation.
Think of it as if you were choosing pants for yourself - you would want comfort and functionality, right?
NOTE:It is highly recommended to pick one with wide elastic bands. Your child would not find it hard to pull up / down his training pants because he would have a better grip.
3. Environment Friendly
This may not be a major consideration for you, but it would be nice if you select a brand that does not harm the environment. I feel it is important to do our bit whenever possible. Fortunately, popular brands also include organic training pants in their product lines - plus organic is always better on your toddlers bottom...
4. Design
Children are more stimulated visually. There are a lot of brands that might include your childs favorite cartoon character. He would have more fun wearing the pants and listening to what you have to associate with them, if he sees his favorite character on them.
Again, the key is to make learning (toilet training) as fun and as game-like as possible. That will increase the likelihood of an easy transition from smelly diapers to potty training pants, and then normal underwear.
The best way to go about choosing the right ones for your child, is to get a feel for what other moms are saying about different brands and types of pants. Sites like GetPottyTrained.com would give you thorough, objective, and most importantly unbiased reviews on popular brands.
Ultimately, your decision lies in your childs needs. Make him an active part of the decision-making process. Your childs comfort should always be your number one priority.