transitioning from diapers to pull-ups

[Anonymous]

hi, all. DS is almost 3, and for a few months has been using the potty to pee (not to poop, though). his daycare teachers suggested pull-ups for him.

I'm wondering what's the best way to transition him. just stop using diapers (including overnight)? phase out the diapers slowly?

also -- DH bought some huggies pull-ups with some strange feature... they turn cold when the toddler urinates to help with potty training. I think that's probably too intense for DS's first experience with pull-ups, but I don't know if I'm just being overly cautious.

I'd appreciate any advice.

[Anonymous]

I got the advice from several people (including daycare) to skip pull-ups and just go to cloth training pants. I wish wish wish I had listened. My daughter treated them just like diapers, albeit ones we could get off and on while she was standing. I think it delayed her for a good six months.

[Anonymous]

Totally depends on the child. For us, pull-ups gave that extra edge of self-sufficiency that our DD needed. She could then pull her pants up/down by herself and feel more comfortable using the potty "on her own" as she was really wanting. Cloth training pants might lead to lots of accidents/laundry from daycare, but if your child is already using the potty on his own before wetting diapers, they might be just fine. Sometimes daycares don't want cloth due to all the potential accidents and spreading of germs with kids peeing their pants around the classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, we had very little luck with pull ups at all. I'm going to go straight to underwear with #2. I think the pull ups that turn cold are actually good -- it helps your child realize that he's wetting his pants! If you do pull ups, use them for trips out of the house where "mommy might not be able to get you to the bathroom as soon as you tell her you need to go."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got the advice from several people (including daycare) to skip pull-ups and just go to cloth training pants. I wish wish wish I had listened. My daughter treated them just like diapers, albeit ones we could get off and on while she was standing. I think it delayed her for a good six months.

Agree. I think they're more convenient for daycares and they make profits for diaper companies, but they're generally damaging to the potty training process. With #s2 and 3 I basically didn't use them, just for emergencies. Some kids might be exceptions but in general I don't think they have a helpful place in training.

[Anonymous]

I just finished potty training my third child and I have to agree with the PPs who say skip the pull ups - except for overnight. As for how to do it, since he is already potty trained, buy him some cool underwear and then go cold turkey.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- Wow, I had no idea! Thanks for all of the advice. not sure what I will do. he still won't poop in the potty, so I'm hesitant about skipping the pull-ups.

[Anonymous]

The pooping will come eventually. If you go right to underwear, he might tell you when he has to poop. ("Can I have a diaper? I need to poop!") Then you bring him to the potty and give that a try. Or he could hold it in until he gets a pullup for nap/nighttime. I doled out the cool character underwear with a heads up that neither Lightning McQueen nor Mickey Mouse like to get pooped on. Seemed to give him something to think about!