How often do you buy your kids new underwear?

Emily - posted on 01/22/2009

It totally depends. Personally, I would avoid Pull-ups as much as possible, except maybe for nighttime. Our kids were almost potty-trained, but then we went on vacation and brought pull-ups "just in case" and they totally regressed because they just thought they were back in diapers.

I do have the thicker training-underwear, which I do like for those times when they *almost* make it to the bathroom... they're a bit more absorbent so it doesn't immediately drip down to their socks. :) But, we do prefer the thinner regular panties. My girls are more willing to keep them clean because they have the fun characters on them (one has Minnie Mouse & Daisy Duck, the other has Tinkerbell). As long as you don't put the plastic pants on (which I HATE using... my kids sweat so much in them you can't tell if they're dry or not), it's still pretty easy to tell when a true accident has happened in the thicker underwear too.

Also, we switched to cloth diapers a couple years ago (there was no way we could afford 2, then 3 kids in disposables all at the same time), so if my kids do have accidents, I just throw everything in with the diaper laundry. I've never thrown away underwear for stains, and they all still look quite clean... just falling apart. This is even more surprising to me because my diaper load might be the longest cycle I do, but it's also one of the gentlest because the waterproof liner in the diapers is fairly delicate and can't stand bleach or oxi-clean, which is why I don't use them.

Amy - posted on 01/21/2009

Victoria, When I potty trained my son (at 3yrs) we threw away all the "diapers". But he was already dry at night. I tried the same thing with my daughter (6mo ago) and she doesn't seem to have the ability to stay dry through the night, so we went back to Pull Ups (for bedtime only). The thicker underwear might be a good compromise for nighttime, but for the day I would suggest going with the thin stuff so that it's very easy to tell when an accident has happened. :0)

Victoria - posted on 01/21/2009

I don't go through that much underwear because of the elastic worn out, but because of nasty stains, or ones I just don't want to wash. I am potty training my daughter right now, and saw those thicker cloth training pants...did you use them? or should I stick with the disposable pull-ups>? She thinks of them as diapers in a way though...
My son has been OK with his underwear, but now wants boxer briefs, kinda cute.

Amy - posted on 01/20/2009

Emily, in your case I would say take them back and try to exchange them. Underwear shouldn't be falling apart after only 6mo. My son wore his first training underpants for a year and then I kept them as backups for the training period of my daughter (they've basically lasted 18-24mo). Once the elastic starts buckling because it's been stretched out, or they've been soiled one too many times, I buy a few more. But I agree, once a year is what I remember when I was growing up. :)

Holly - posted on 01/20/2009

When they start to fall apart or grow out of them. I found it best not to put them in the dryer. It seems to goof with the elastic. I did notice more clothing that has stitching unraveling. They could be cutting corners with cheeper thread. Every one is trying to cut back some how. Can you tell if the kids are hard on them? Pulling, stretching, using them for other than general where? Some brands I do feel are a cheeper fabric. I tried to stick to the name brands. Hope this helps.