According to Vicki Lansky, author of "Toilet Training" and contributing editor to "Family Circle Magazine," 98 percent of children are potty trained by age 4. Despite this high success rate of toddlers transitioning from diapers to potty independence, the thought of potty training can seem an "insurmountable hurdle," writes "Potty Pro" Teri Crane, author of "Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day." Add in an overwhelming variety of products and methods to pick from, and it's no wonder potty training seems daunting. Deciding what type of underpants to use--underwear versus disposable training pants--can be helpful as you put together your child's potty-training strategy.
Benefits of Underwear
Children benefit from immediate feedback on their behavior. When they wear underwear during potty training, an accident will be immediately felt by the child and noticed by parents. According to Linda Sonna, a psychology teacher at the University of New Mexico and author of "The Everything Potty Training Book," the uncomfortable cold, wet feeling provides a teachable moment as they feel the immediate effects of eliminating and begin to be aware of controlling it.
Sonna suggests using underwear as a motivator. Parents can make it a special trip to go to the store with their child and pick out "big boy" underwear in a favorite color or character. Having on a favorite character will often serve as an incentive to stay dry and clean.
After wearing diapers for the first couple years of their life, the decreased bulk of a diaper and the constant sense of having underwear on can serve as a reminder to stay dry.
Cons of Underwear
Children are not initially able to stay dry during nap and bedtimes. Using underwear will not only make for a lot of time spent on laundry, but also create a sense of failure for the child. A new potty trainer does not always have the skill to "hold it." This makes for sticky situations for child and parent on outings (zoo, amusement park, a string of errands) where bathrooms are not convenient.
Benefits of Disposable Training Pants
Using disposable training pants allows parents to travel on outings without the worry of an "accident." Crane, "The "Potty Pro," writes that it is inevitable that there will be "accidents," especially early on in the training process. The use of disposable training pants takes away any possibility that you are going to have puddles on your carpet. The training pants also help keep the already mounting heaps of laundry in a manageable state.
Sonna points out that disposable training pants do allow the child to pull up and down their own pants, which is part of the learning process. By getting the child away from diapers, into something they can pull on and off, it takes away any mixed messages.
Cons of Disposable Training Pants
As of 2006, according to Crane, a six-month supply of disposable training pants can cost $800.
Parents with a strong eco conscience may be champing at the bit to get their child out of anything disposable and into cloth underwear.
Lansky points out that a child who is using disposable training pants around the clock is shielded from the discomfort of a wet/cold sensation. It could be all too tempting for them to fall into old habits and begin using the training pants as a fancy diaper. While the disposable training pants are able to be pulled up, they still have the bulk of a diaper and can send a mixed message to the child.
And the Winner Is...Both
When deciding between disposable training pants and cloth underwear during potty training, several experts suggest that a combination of both approaches may be ideal. The "Potty Pro" Teri Crane suggests using disposable training pants at night, at nap time, during outings "just in case" and during backslides that occur because of illness or emotional stress. As the parent, you are the expert in your child, his behavior and your situation. Listen to your gut, balance that with the information from experts, and you will most likely settle on a strategy that will have your child doing the "I'm a big girl potty dance" and allowing you to take a sigh of relief before she begins to sail on to her next milestone...the first day of kindergarten.
References
- "Toilet Training, A Practical Guide to Daytime and Nighttime Training"; Vicki Lansky; 2002
- "The Everything Potty Training Book"; Linda Sonna, Ph.D.; 2003
- "Potty Train Your Child In Just One Day, Proven Secrets Of The Potty Pro"; Teri Crane; 2006
