Using Pull-ups when Potty Training

Karen - posted on 09/22/2011

just my opinion, but i HATE pull ups! i'm a daycare provider so i have potty trained many many children..last year i had one parent want their child trained with pull ups...6 months later we still weren't trained because it got used as a diaper. i convinced the mom to let me use real underwear and in two days we were completely trained. i now refuse to let my "trainers" use them at my house. i find without them we're pretty closed to trained within a week - just the odd accident here and there and within two weeks we're done with accidents. i think they're potentially a good back up for outings but for day to day at home use i think they're a waste of money

Sherri - posted on 09/22/2011

NO NO NO if you are potty training diapers go 100% except at night and it is underwear only all day long no matter how many accidents he has.



I am also a daycare provider for the past 15yrs and honestly I wish they were never invented.

Michelle - posted on 11/02/2011

The idea of pull-ups is to get them used to the idea of pulling their underwear down to use the toilet and back up when they've finished. I think it's a good idea as it makes them feel a bit more grown up. I certainly never had a problem with them. They worked with my girls.

Jodi - posted on 09/22/2011

Nope, pull ups are really just expensive diapers. I only used them at night, and a few times where we had long trips when first toilet training my kids. Other than that, underwear all the way..... Because they were both about 3 when I trained them, they ended up having very few accidents because it was uncomfortable. If they'd had pull ups on, I may as well put them in diapers because it wouldn't have the same effect and can allow a child to be lazy.

[deleted account]

Would you keep your kid in a diaper while potty training? Probably not.

Pull ups are diapers without the sticky tab things.

Karen - posted on 05/05/2013

I was taking care of a little girl who was 2. Her parents say she was potty trained but for 3 months this child have been having accidents. The accidents are geting my carpets wet. Her parents refuse to put her in pull-ups. I have been shampooing my carpets constantly. I also watch 2 other children. Is it unreasonable of me to ask them to put this child in pull-ups? I understand what they are saying but I'm trying to make them see that the accidents on my carpet are unsanitary for everyone else in this house. What should they or I do? I take her to the potty every hour and a half and she is still having accidents. Did I mention that this has been happening for 3 months. I have her 9 hours a day. Help.

Patricia - posted on 11/11/2011

PS My son is almost 13 now......

Patricia - posted on 11/11/2011

Oh I remember those days all too well! To be honest with you, I never used them. A friend I used to work with has 2 boys and outgrew their "unnerwears" so she gave them to me. (She didn't use pull ups either) So I was given over 50 pairs of "unnerwears". If they got "too messy"(poopy), I would toss them. The only time I had him in a diaper was at night. I think the feeling of being "wet" isn't too pleasant and the kids get potty trained quicker(IMHO). Yes, you have those bad "blow out days"(He had the flu for a few days and I used diapers for that, but still kept putting him on the potty).
BUT What worked for me, may or may not work for you. I simply could not afford the pull ups.
I wish you the best of luck on this mama!

Staci - posted on 11/06/2011

I used Pull ups at night time for both my kids. Not during the day as that is confusing, in my opinion. My oldest was potty trained at 3.5 on the 3 day method and my daughter at 2.5 same method, straight to undies. Night is tough, their bladders take awhile to adjust to not peeing all the time, even in the beginning of potty training they can go every hour. My son, now 5 came off night pullups at 4ish when he finally woke up dry in the mornings. We have had only 1 accident. My daughter has been in night pull ups 9 months, and when she wakes up dry I will do the same. I don't believe in pushing my kids to grow up too quickly they do that enough on their own. My son was 4.5 before he moved into a twin bed, daughter was 3 before getting in their twin bed. Everyone potty trained in plenty of time for preschool. Whatever works for your children is the best way!!

Imamom2 - posted on 11/05/2011

I used cloth panties with the old fashion plastic pull up over it, for day time the wet trainers quickly resulted in day time success also the magic water trick helped too. (blue food coloring in water changes color when t-ting) for boys try sink the cheerio which helps with aim too. Unfortunately had to do pm diapers bc sometimes kids bladders mature at different rates and pm accidents will happen no matter what you do until those reflexes & bladder matures.

[deleted account]

@ Kathy King ~ No, you aren't the only one who didn't have a problem using Pull Ups. We've had great success with them.

M33 - posted on 11/01/2011

My son just turned 2 and he is potty trained ..I would say he was good after a week..And he loves the toilet. And hr won't let you put a pamper or a pull up. He never wore pull ups.

M33 - posted on 11/01/2011

My son just turned 2 and he is potty trained ..I would say he was good after a week..And he loves the toilet. And hr won't let you put a pamper or a pull up. He never wore pull ups.

Jebecka - posted on 10/31/2011

The best way to go is cold turkey. Ditch the diapers during the day and never look back. It will be two hard weeks with lots of mess, but then it will be done.

User - posted on 10/31/2011

Another mom said Pull-ups are expensive diapers, and I agree 100%. My daughter was close to 2.5 when we started potty training, and we just taught her how to take her diaper off. We tried pull ups for about a week, but she took them off like diapers, defeating the whole purpose! She does, however, wear pull ups while sleeping, She's a really big girl and diapers became too uncomfortable. Right at 2.5 her teachers told us to bring big girl underwear to school and we never looked back! When they are really ready, I agree with the other moms and say to go straight to underwear!! Good luck.

Cara - posted on 10/26/2011

didn't have any pullup issues until my last child who simply refused to be trained until we stopped using the pullups. One thing I don't see mentioned is how hard and gross it is when they poop in a pullup, cus if it is runny at all you will have it all up and down their legs. And it is really expensive! Save yourself some money and a lot of time and frustration and stick it out with regular underwear

Veronica - posted on 10/25/2011

Forget the pull-ups. Go with regular underwear. Find some with their favorite characters or let them pick them out. The pullups are too much like diapers and your toddler won't feel like trying to use the potty. Try spending at least two whole days at home with your child in just a shirt and underwear. It's amazing how fast they will learn. Oh and get plenty of underwear before you start. You will go through a pack really fast while you are training.

Joslin Irene - posted on 10/23/2011

I'm going to be candid with you, we started with the "pull-ups" and it wasn't until I went and let my daugher pick out her own underwear that we had success! she didnt want to pee on max and ruby and we just excelled... I kept the pull-ups for like long car rides or if were going to an event and eventually she told me, "MUM do more diapers I"m a big GIRL"... so.. in the long runs he thought of them more as diapers then a useful too! Good Luck!

[deleted account]

we used cloth pull ups in the daytime and disposable pull ups at night!

Kellie - posted on 10/23/2011

ditch the pull ups and buy him cloth underwear. It will be messy for a little while but once he feels the wetness he will not like it and there ya go problem solved.

Danielle - posted on 10/22/2011

You are better off doing underwear. My son was in pull up but once we changed him to the underwear he stopped peeing his pants.

[deleted account]

Am I the only one who didn't have a problem using Pull Ups?

Fiona Louise - posted on 10/21/2011

I just feel a pull up is the same as a nappy if you are going to potty train use wee pants and have plenty of patience !! and Dettol lol !!! good luck !!!

Mercedes - posted on 10/20/2011

me personally i have 2 yr old twins that will be 3 in feb...and i use panties because they think the pull ups are diapers so they still go in them....they rele like thier panties cuz they fl like big grls in them...

Mercedes - posted on 10/20/2011

me personally i have 2 yr old twins that will be 3 in feb...and i use panties because they think the pull ups are diapers so they still go in them....they rele like thier panties cuz they fl like big grls in them...

Ashley - posted on 10/19/2011

We followed the 3 day potty training guide. It really works. You throw away all diapers and pull ups and strictly use underwear. My son was potty trained at 2 1/2 :) Happy potty training days.

[deleted account]

Pull ups for me were not helpful for potty training
Disadvantages: Whenever she had a pullup she peed. She did not feel the need to use the potty because she in essence had a diaper on. Therefore, it did not help with potty training. However:
Advantages: still helpful in car rides when it is difficult to pull over every 5 mintues ;0) or if you are out and about and don't want to worry about accidents when they first start potty training and have many accidents. But not later. Or in a long car ride to get somewhere for vacation or when you know they are going to fall asleep on the way home from somewhere because it is late and may pee while asleep. They are easier to get off if they actually do want to go potty while wearing them.

Jessie - posted on 10/17/2011

It took us 1 weekend to get my 1 & 1/2 yr old son trained - straight to underwear - no pull-ups. You just stay home and make alot of trips to the potty to practice. read books in there and maybe offer a treat after they go. Worked great for me and our daycare recommended no pull-ups. That's not to say there were never accidents but - accidents happen and thats how they learn to recognize the urge and feel that it's uncomfortable to have wet pants. Pull-ups wick away moisture just like a diaper.

Abbie - posted on 10/17/2011

my daughter just turned two in may and has been wearing undies for the last two weeks, her own decision, i hate pull ups. i run a home daycare and the little girl i watched was in them for nearly a year before i convinced her parents to just put her in undies and she was then fully potty trained three days later!

Brianna - posted on 10/17/2011

update.

about a week ago i decide it was time to get serious about potty training with my daughter. now my daughter is almost fully daytime potty trained using pullups (the only problem we have is that she gets scared of her poop when she sees it in the potty lol) she is 23 months old

Janet - posted on 10/17/2011

pull ups should only be used at night....use underwear during the day no matter how many accidents there are.... he'll catch on

Vicki - posted on 10/13/2011

I've only glanced at the replies but marketing ploy is what springs to mind. If they slow toilet training then then disposable nappies need to be bought for much longer than before. Big $$$$ for the manufacturers.

At night fine I guess but we use cloth anyway. Since he's been trained (only a few weeks) he's been using a pocket cloth nappy at night. I do up the tabs loosely so he can step into it like his undies and then tighten them up. He won't let me put it on like a normal nappy anymore! It's dry most mornings but I'll be putting them on him until he's been dry at night for at least a month.

Dusty - posted on 10/12/2011

I tried pull-ups with my son & I really think it made it harder on him to potty train. Once I started putting him in underwear, he was trained within 2 weeks. I use pull ups ONLY at night, & if we are gone from the house for a trip out of state,

Vanessa - posted on 10/12/2011

My son is 2.10 he is potty trained uses underwear all day & pull ups at night . There are Ocassionally poop accidents which is completely normal. I would have him w/ no bottoms on at home. I never rushed him. One day about a month ago his daycarE teacher said no more pull ups b/c he's staying dry during tHe day. I have to say its worked. Pulls Ups are only used at night. Almost wish I would have done it earlier but chose not to so that he wouldn't feel forced. (I did start the use of potty & toilet at about 20months so the would know what its for & be comfortable around it). Hope that helps.

Melissa - posted on 10/10/2011

A pull up draws the liquid away from the skin, so he won't feel the sensation of wetness and learn when to head to the toilet.....

Missi - posted on 10/10/2011

my personal opinion is do NOT. i trained my 2 year old son in one week in underwear. everytime he would go take them off clean him up put on new ones. he will not like it. make it a huge deal when the go on the potty. i bought mine the singing potty and when he would go i would sing and dance and he got stickers to put on his potty to decorate. pull ups are expensive diapers.

Laurie - posted on 10/07/2011

If I had it to do over, I would not use pull-ups. It's still a diaper and it just prolongs potty training in my opinion. Good luck!

Dee - posted on 10/07/2011

I used cloth diapers and they seem to help with training. My boys didn't like feeling wet. They were eager to get out of diapers, especially my youngest.

Perdita - posted on 10/06/2011

my daughter started using potty at age of one.but pees at nite when she drinks lots of water so i use pull-ups for her a nite.she is now five and still uses pull-ups at nite.

Otillua - posted on 10/06/2011

my son was 2 and fully day trained himself he did better with real underwear he still wears pullup to bed but only wets them occasionly which the only reason i still put them on him cuz he always ends up in my bed and dont wont wet lol

Jessica - posted on 10/05/2011

I don't think pullps are a good idea......it is a crutch for the child to pee in just like diapers. Need to use undies and no turning back. If they have an issue like bedwetting then nighttime is ok....but truthfully i think they are a waste of money and don't help with potty training. Check out The Potty Training Express website. It will help you potty train in less than 3 days. All the best and stay positive :)

Alexis - posted on 10/05/2011

I worked in daycare and at one point I had 12 children 18 months - 2yrs training at one time..I did not allow the use of pullups, instead, if the parent wanted, I used the diaper itself unfastening one side to permit the 'pulling down' of the undergarment for the children to go potty... we got the entire class trained within a 2 week period and any 'accidents' were much easier to clean up. After a few days, we transitioned those who were ready to underwear and by the end, the entire class was diaper free.

Colleen - posted on 10/05/2011

We started our son on pull-ups, but the fact I was throwing so many away (he treated them like diapers), I grew uncomfortable with all the trash. So I went online and ordered some cloth trainers and some waterproof covers. While at homewe let him run around w/ no pants, and put him in the trainers at night or when we went out. We also had him sit on the potty every hour or so, to get him in the habit and made a big deal when he made a deposit:) Now he wears regular underpants all day and trainers at night. He even uses the regular toilet. He's a little over three.

Stephanie - posted on 10/04/2011

I just bought pull ups for my nearly 3 yr. old boy, but only plan on using them at night or for a LONG car ride... They are basically just a diaper and I do not think they successfully aid kids in potty training, but can be convenient on occasion when a wet car seat would make for an uncomfortable and long road trip in the early days of PT!!!.

Angel - posted on 10/04/2011

We did the are bottom training, and DD was trained in a week. She rarely has accidents, and now she even wakes up dry. I never used pull-ups, and highly recommend bare bottom, with a long shirt or dress.

Brook - posted on 10/04/2011

We used them with our oldest only because they were required at his daycare but he did much better when we moved him to another daycare and he could just wear underwear. In the last few weeks, we have put underwear on our January '09 baby and he is already refusing to potty in a diaper at night and has had three successful dry nights and a whole week of dry nap times!!! He still struggles with pooping, but we are making quick headway. Good luck!!

Kari - posted on 10/04/2011

My daughter was also potty trained within 3 days thanks to a great relationship with our awesome daycare provider who definitely did NOT believe in pullups! It doesn't teach the child anything when there is no difference in sensation between a diaper and pullup!

Between her provider and us, we ensured she was in big girl underwear and taken to the bathroom every 30 min. At daycare she had huge encouragement from her peers and at home, my husband and I also positively (but not overenthusiastically) praised her.

She was totally potty trained in 3 days, including nights and has never used a pullup in the process.

Every child is different but I for one will not use pullups with our son either!! Good luck to all!

Ruby - posted on 10/04/2011

No dont use them we used them with our eldest who is now 4 and still frequently gets herself but our 2 yr old girl is just wearing knickers during the day and is doing brilliantly and hardly has any accidents at all

Shaq - posted on 10/04/2011

My daugther is turning 1 years old on thursday, and the funny thing is she walks around pulling off her pamper, she actually says potty i think ists because they lady that keeps her has a 2 year old going to the potty, should i go ahead and train her or should i wait till shes atleast 2 years old?

Shelly - posted on 10/04/2011

The best potty training advice I could give you is to get a hold of this book: Toilet training in less than a day / by Nathan H. Azrin and Richard M. Foxx.
It's an older book, but it works! I did it with all three of my kids around their second birthday. I ditched the diapers after that, and used pull ups at night till they were able to stay dry through the night.

Rebecca - posted on 10/04/2011

I used Potty Patty trainers with my daughter often w/out pants around the house. They are pretty absorbent so not a total flood on the carpet. Or you can use the plastic pants, but she was more apt to wet herself the more it felt like a diaper. Using diapers or pull-ups seemed the same to us. She would just go and not say anything. They wick the moisture away and she was perfectly comfortable wearing wet pull-ups. I wish they made pull-ups that made them feel wet and maybe even have a slight burning sensation... to encourage them to not want to wet. Also they should have smiley faces that turn to frowns on the front of them. We used a sticker chart and/or jellybeans or candy corn as successful potty rewards.

Rebecca - posted on 10/04/2011

Hi Lori.
We are using them with my daughter (20 months) during the day as well as actual panties here and there and she has started taking the pull up off and going potty when she needs to. I'm trying both but everyones been telling me they pick up if they are in panties or underwear because it doesn't absorb their pee like diapers and pull ups. My daughter has picked up pretty well still has some accidents but also depends what we give her to drink with how many accidents she has and if she goes pee in her pull up she takes it right off cause she's not likeing the wet feeling. Wish you the best of luck

Megan - posted on 10/04/2011

Hi Lori,

My son has been potty trained since he was 2½. We first began by using pull ups but found that this did not work. He thought that they were still diapers and would use them. What we found effective was "going cold turkey". We bought Cole thick training underwear from wal mart so that when he would go pee he would feel it. We were encouraging and never got upset for accidents, just supported the idea of "We go pee in the toilet". (We also skipped using a potty because he likes to do what Mom and Dad do which is go in the toilet). It took about a week of accidents slowly tapering off but then he got it! We would reward him with 1 mini mm for a pee and 2 mini mm's for a poo. He would also get to choose a special sticker to put in his potty book so he could see his accomplishments. It was a bit more work (definitely invest in Lysol wipes and/or carpet cleaner) but it made the process go quickly!!

I think it's also important that your son is sounding that he's ready to make the transition. Good luck!!

Steph - posted on 10/04/2011

I found this trick to be most helpful....put underwear underneath the pull up so they are still able to feel the wetness! Without the underwear they are unable to feel wet. I hope this is helpful.

Ami - posted on 10/04/2011

If you do go the route of plastic pants, be sure to find the right fit...if it's not snug enough around the legs, you can still end up with leaking a mess to clean up, but if they're too snug, it'll irritate the little leg crease. Pull-ups just absorb it all. Luckily, we never experienced any confusion issues...daughter was potty trained in about a week, but we used the Pull-ups at night for awhile until we knew she could wake herself up to go to the bathroom at night.