Potty training takes an average of 13 months if a parent begins intensive training -- asking a toddler to use the potty at least three times a day -- between 18 and 21 months, according to a 2003 study in "Pediatrics." During the months that you may spend potty-training your toddler, you can use Pull-Ups in a number of ways to aid the process.
Benefits of Pull-Ups
Pull-Ups are intended to ease the transition from diapers to underwear, according to their manufacturer Huggies. Pull-Ups look more like underwear than diapers. They feature some of toddlers' favorite characters just like underwear do, and a toddler can pull them up or down himself. By appealing to a toddler's desire to be a big kid, Pull-Ups encourage toddlers to want to potty-train. Some Pull-Ups also contain a special material that lets a toddler feel wet or cool if he has an accident. This can help him learn recognize when he needs to use the potty.
Easy Removal
Potty-training requires many trips to the potty chair with your toddler. If you put her in Pull-Ups full-time, it can aid these frequent trips. Since Pull-Ups can be easily pulled up and down, they can be taken off -- and put back on -- faster than a diaper can. When your toddler becomes more adept at using the potty chair, she won't require your help to go, since she can get a Pull-Up on and off herself. Also, since accidents are inevitable with potty training, Pull-Ups help you avoid some of the mess you would have if your toddler wore underwear full-time while potty training.
Out and About
Even if you don't want to use Pull-Ups all the time during potty training, they can provide reassurance when you leave your home. You can put your accident-prone toddler in Pull-Ups while you run errands so that you don't have to worry about him having an accident at the grocery store or bank. If your toddler isn't fully potty-trained, Pull-Ups can also allow him to participate in an outside activity that would be difficult to do in diapers. Parents often feel pressured to get their toddlers fully potty trained for preschool, according to Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Shu. However, she points out that Pull-Ups can help children in preschool finish the potty training process and reduce parents' worry about accidents during class.
Naps and Bedtime
You can also use Pull-Ups to protect against accidents while your toddler sleeps. Toddlers reach the milestone of staying dry during the day earlier than staying dry overnight, according to a 2002 study in "Pediatrics." Even if your toddler is ready for underwear during her waking hours, you can use Pull-Ups as a back up until she stays dry all the time during naps and bedtime. However, you should allow your toddler to sleep without Pull-Ups some of the time once she starts staying dry regularly. Pediatrician Dr. Wendy Swanson warns that always putting a toddler in Pull-Ups may reduce her motivation to learn how to stay dry through the night.
References
- Pediatrics: Relationship Between Age at Initiation of Toilet Training and Duration of Training -- A Prospective Study
- Huggies Australia: Pull-Ups
- Pull-Ups: FAQ
- Pull-Ups: Potty Training Crunch Time
- Pediatrics: Sequential Acquisition of Toilet-Training Skills: A Descriptive Study of Gender and Age Differences in Normal Children
- Seattle Children's: Pull Ups and Potty Training
