Which Diapers for Potty Training? How to Support the Diaper Weaning Process.

 

As the mother of a 16-month-old, I am slowly starting to grapple with the topic of “potty training.” It can be overwhelming and confusing to understand which type of diaper is the right one for potty training. And there are many questions that come up when you try to help your baby become dry: How long will it take? What should I expect during this time? Are cloth diapers, disposable diapers, or special training pants necessary?

Which diapers for potty training? During the potty-training phase, the best options are either the combination of regular underwear and a diaper cover, potty-training pants or (disposable) pull-up diapers.

This article gives you an overview of the process of transitioning your baby out of diapers. I explain what you as parents need to know to help your child become dry, how you can wean them off diapers, and which diapers are best suited for potty training. This article is designed to help you master the potty-training process together with your child and on equal footing. The most important thing is that you always meet your child with patience and understanding. That way you will be well prepared to successfully guide your child through the process.

What does “being dry” mean?

First and foremost, it is important to understand what we define as being dry. People have different definitions of what it means for their child to be "dry." Some say the child is dry when it has only one “accident” per week and can otherwise manage the entire toilet routine independently. According to Elternkompass, researchers define being dry as follows: “If there are more successful actions than ‘accidents,’ the child is considered successful” (Source: Der Elternkompass (GU Erziehung). These “accidents” are completely normal, especially at night and up to the age of 7. In addition, there can be times in between when your child wants to go back to diapers. That is not a big deal at all, and you should convey that to your child as well.

Photo by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

When is the right time for the potty?

It is important to know that there is no single right time in the process of becoming diaper-free. According to research, the ideal time for toilet training for most children seems to be between 22 and 30 months. Children who are diapered with disposable diapers tend to become dry later than children who are diapered with cloth diapers (as our study shows). However, every child is different, and you should primarily look for your child’s signs of readiness:

• Your child can sit independently and steadily

• Your child can walk (to the toilet)

• Your child imitates your behavior

• Your child notices/lets you know (with words or gestures) that there is something in the diaper and wants to be changed

• Your child stays dry for longer periods (around 2 hours)

• Your child feels discomfort with soiled diapers

• Your child shows interest in the toilet and in using it

• Your child can follow simple instructions

Your child does not have to meet all the points; they are only a guideline. In the end, you know your child best and will recognize when it is ready to practice with the potty.

The results of this study suggest that the convenience of disposable diapers and training pants leads some parents to delay toilet training. That is of course partly understandable, because in the stress of everyday life, putting off toilet training can initially seem tempting. However, it is important that you catch the right moment and start early enough to pay attention to your child’s signals, so that you can gradually leave the diaper off. If the moment is missed, it often becomes more difficult again for the child to wean off the diaper.

 

Potty or toilet seat insert?

If you want to start toilet training, the question arises as to which is better, a potty or a toilet seat insert. Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages. The toilet seat insert requires less effort, because you do not have to rinse it out after every bowel movement; you can simply flush everything away. However, you can always place the potty within reach and react more quickly when your child needs to go. The toilet seat insert has the advantage that you have everything you need for wiping and handwashing right within reach. Also, the ultimate end goal is for your child to use the toilet, so no further adjustment is necessary. The decision for a potty or a toilet seat insert (or both) is ultimately up to you and your child. By the way, there are also foldable toilet seat inserts, which make toilet training on the go much easier.

Photo by @isabelplett

Which diapers are best for potty training?

Your choice of diaper can influence the later potty-training process right from the start. According to a study on Natural Parenting, children can control their elimination very early. If you pay attention your child's signals, they could complete toilet training between 6 months and 2 years. In other words, your baby will already be aware of their elimination, or at least that process, before potty training begins. 

Cloth diapers for getting dry

If you diaper your baby with cloth diapers, they feel it straight away when they go in the diaper. This gives them very natural bio-feedback: through this immediate sequence of cause and effect, even a baby can recognize this “if-then” connection and thus gain a (subconscious) understanding of it. This understanding benefits your child when weaning off diapers, as they already know their body’s signals. At Judes, we have therefore deliberately designed our cloth diapers so that your baby can feel that they are getting wet when they pee in the diaper. This way, your baby can make this important connection. Our own study also shows that children who were diapered with cloth diapers became diaper-free about 8 months earlier than children who were diapered with disposable diapers.

Judes cloth diapers consist of an absorbent inner diaper and a waterproof yet breathable diaper cover and are just as easy to use as disposable diapers. And when the right time has come and you decide to leave the diaper off, the cover can still be used for the transition period (when things can still end up in the pants) and at night. During this time, you can already switch to regular underwear and use the cover to protect the rest of the clothing. This allows your child to get used to the new feeling of normal underwear, but does not have to be completely changed after every pee accident. 

Disposable diapers for potty training

Many parents diaper their children with disposable diapers from the very beginning because they assume these are cheaper and easier than cloth diapers (in this article we took a closer look at this aspect). The problem with that is that these diapers, with their super-absorbers, make the child feel as if they are always dry, thereby preventing them from learning the connection between peeing and a wet diaper.

This meta-study establishes a link between disposable diapers and delayed continence in children. With every day that a child remains in diapers, the revenue of the disposable diaper industry increases. So it is of course no surprise that manufacturers have an interest in children staying in disposable diapers for as long as possible.

If you still want to use disposable diapers for the transition to potty training, pull-up diapers (pants) are suitable, as they can be pulled on like underwear.

What are potty training pants good for?

Potty training pants are special pull-up diapers to support the transition out of diapers. They look almost like regular underwear but are lined with absorbent fabric. These pants are particularly suitable for nighttime or when your child, when distracted, for example while playing, occasionally forgets to go to the toilet or the potty. Potty training pants are not as absorbent as a (cloth) diaper and need to be changed as soon as your child pees. Training pants can be helpful during the transition period. However, they are an additional purchase, which, as mentioned above, can also be bridged with the combination of a Judes diaper cover and regular underwear. The washing effort would be the same, without having to make an extra purchase.

How to support your baby during potty training

Every child learns at their own pace and in their own way to recognize their bodily signals and to go to the toilet. Your role as a mother or father is to support your child through this process. The most important thing during potty training is to remove all pressure and approach it calmly and without expectations. Stress and disappointment are (subconsciously) passed on to your child and make things more difficult.

Please refrain (even during the diapering stage) from describing your child’s pee and poop as gross or making disparaging comments about them. Your child should see bodily functions as something normal and nothing to be ashamed of. It can be helpful to consistently use the same words for them, for example “pee” and “poop,” so your child can make the connection.

How do I start with potty training?

There is no single fixed time at which you should start potty training with your child. As already mentioned, even the choice of diaper has an effect on the later process of getting dry. You can also start early by talking to your baby while changing and explaining what is happening. If your child goes in the diaper and you recognize the signals, it also helps to draw your child’s attention to what is happening at that moment (e.g., by asking: “Are you pooping right now?”).

You probably know it: as soon as the baby is there, you are rarely alone in the bathroom. At some point your child will probably show active interest in what is happening on the toilet. You can explain to your child what the toilet is for, show them the flush, and even just sit them on the toilet with their clothes on. This way they get to know the environment and are not startled by the loud flushing sound. You can also take a playful approach and act out going to the toilet with a stuffed animal or a doll. This way your child already understands the principle and develops an interest in the process.

Little by little, you can respond to your child’s signals and actively sit them on the toilet or the potty. Then it is simply a matter of patiently waiting for the first successful trips to the toilet. Explain the individual steps to your child and try it several times a day. Important: Of course, you can also actively ask the child whether they need to go and put them on the toilet in between. But do not be uptight about it and do not try too often. That only leads to your own frustration and, as a result, to your child’s reluctance to keep trying.

Little tip: Put yourself in your child’s shoes from time to time. Imagine someone constantly asking you if you need to use the toilet and, when you say no, that is dismissed and you are sent to the bathroom anyway. Or someone constantly comments on and judges the quality of your pee and poop. Remember, sometimes less is more. 🙂

Rewards and praise during potty training

Many parents reward their child for successful trips to the toilet with rewards such as sweets or praise. At Judes Family, we are not in favor of this. While a reward may initially seem positive, the child may find the absence of praise or reward discouraging and even perceive it as a punishment. Bladder and bowel control is a developmental milestone that cannot be influenced, so it does not make sense to reward or punish it. It can also lead to your child wanting to go to the toilet for every little drop just to receive a reward. We believe more in your child’s intrinsic interest in wanting to do it like the big role models: the parents. Therefore, reward and punishment are not necessary.

Tip: Let your child feel the consequences of “wetting oneself” by putting them in underwear (or alternatively a cloth diaper). This way your child feels what happens when they wet their pants. This will intrinsically and thus naturally strengthen their interest in going to the toilet.

Photo by @isabelplett

When do children stay dry at night?

Nighttime dryness is a different matter than during the day. During the day, your child can actively respond to their signals, and even then it can happen that they do not notice them when distracted. At night, your child's bladder, so to speak, has to learn to signal the body to wake up when it needs to be emptied. Your child will master this as well, but the process often takes longer. The frequency of nighttime wetting can be reduced by having your child go to the toilet again before going to bed. The prerequisite for this, of course, is that they can already use the potty reliably. Additionally, make sure that your child drinks enough throughout the day so that they do not drink their entire daily requirement all at once in the evening. If your child still does not make it through the whole night, you can try waking them again after a few hours so that they have another chance to go to the toilet. 

How long does potty training take?

Even if this may not be the answer you are hoping for: There is no set period of time it takes for a child to become dry. Every child is unique, and every process of weaning off diapers is different. Some children are fully dry at 2 years old, others only at 5 years old, and both are completely normal. Please do not let advertising unsettle you that promises dryness after just a few days; those are often unrealistic timeframes. If you are unsure, you can always consult your pediatrician.

What to do in case of setbacks?

The process of becoming dry has constant ups and downs. That also includes “setbacks.” It is quite possible that your child will still have the occasional accident even after being diaper-free for a longer time, or may even rely completely on a diaper again for a few weeks. That is all normal, and as always, it is important to stay calm. Keep in mind that your child never wets their pants on purpose. Be positive and understanding and make sure your child knows there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Photo by @katharinawooo

These tips will help you and your child during potty training

• Trust your child!

• Stay calm

• Do not put on pressure - do not scold your child and support them positively

• Do not keep asking over and over

• Pay attention to clothing your child can take off by themselves without much help

  • Switch from bodysuits to undershirts

  • Pants/skirts with an elastic waistband

• Potty-training bag for on the go:

  • Foldable toilet seat

  • Change of clothes

  • Change for public toilets

  • Disinfectant spray

  • Toilet paper

  • Wet bag or diaper sack for wet clothing

• Consider placing a bag with a change of clothes in several places, e.g., car, stroller, etc.

• Offer the toilet or potty regularly

• Free access to the potty or to the toilet with a seat insert and a step stool

• Switch to cloth diapers → bio-feedback

• Let your child go without a diaper more often in summer

• Have your child pee again before bedtime

• Please do not withhold drinks from your child in the evening

• Buy a liner for the child car seat

• For stress-free changing of bed linen at night, make your bed with two sheets and place a towel in between - that way at night you only need to remove the sheet and towel and you will have a fresh sheet underneath.

Conclusion

Always tailor your potty training strategies to your child and try to remain relaxed and understanding. Every child becomes dry at their own pace, and even if it does not always feel that way, your child will get there. Promise! 🙂 If you do feel that something is not right, address your concerns with your pediatrician.

What are your experiences with potty training? Have you already weaned your child off diapers, or do you have experience with siblings? If you have any additional tips for potty training, feel free to let us know in the comments! For more input, you can also follow us on Instagram.