Training Pants: Potty Training Help or Hindrance?

Whether or not you choose to use training pants when potty training your toddler is dependent on many factors. Most importantly, it depends on your individual child. While the choice is individual, training pants do have some pros and cons. (We’re talking here about disposable training pants, also known as pull-ups.)

To help you decide if training pants will be a help or a hindrance to your potty training efforts, here are some of the pros and cons regarding both training pants.

Pros of Training Pants

1. Mobility

Taking your potty training toddler on an outing is a daunting prospect, especially early in the game. Training pants offer some mobility in this respect. If you need to go on a day trip, out to eat, or even just to the grocery store, having training pants can help take away the trepidation you may feel about venturing out with your little one who isn’t fully trained.

2. Less laundry load

There’s no doubt that disposable training pants decrease your laundry volume. Laundry can pile up quickly when you have a toddler who’s having accidents often.

3. Less mess

There’s no doubt that training pants prevent messes. In large part, that’s what they’re for! Training pants mean fewer puddles on the floor.

4. Up and down

Learning the pull the training pants up and down is a key feature – that’s why they are called pull-ups. The intention is to get toddlers used to pulling pants up and down, one of the big milestones in potty training.

Cons of Training Pants

1. Waste

…and we’re not just talking about potty waste. Training pants (the disposable variety) generate a lot of waste that goes into the landfills. If you’re an eco-minded parent, then that may be a definite drawback.

2. Cost

Training pants tend to be more expensive than diapers. Some sources say that it takes more than $100 a month to keep your toddler in training pants. Even if the real numbers aren’t that high for you, there’s no doubt that having to purchase box after box of training pants can get pricey.

3. Lack of feedback

One of the things that experts say helps children potty train quickly is the feeling of wet underwear. Being able to feel the accident right away can be an incentive for learning to use the potty. With training pants, that sensation is gone and the child doesn’t feel the effects of the accident.