Alternatives to Pullups?

[Heidi]

so, I haven't potty trained a kiddo for about 9 years now, and I've noticed a few new inventions since mine was little.

I have a child who is VERY interested in the potty, but by the time I get a diaper off of him, it's usually too late. His parents are on a tight budget, and don't want to buy expensive pullups if he's not really ready.

Are there any alternatives that you know of? Possibly washable but more absorbent than the old training pants and rubber pants over that?

[Truly Scrumptious]

They do make training pants for toddlers. Not sure if they are sold in stores, but I've seen them online from the same places that make the cloth diapers. You can just use regular underwear and plastic pants too. We've done that here and it works fine.

[Crazy8]

I trained my kids in real underwear but when I needed some extra protection I used the thick cotton training underwear. I think they feel the wetness more than a pull up (I am not a fan of pull ups at all).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UCP1IO/ref=s9_simh_gw_p75_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=105A8Z97PNSJ8K8P8178&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

they also make them where they have a plastic outer shell.

[cheerfuldom]

you can have him wear two pair of the thick trainer underwear at a time with a plastic cover. thats cheaper than pullups or actual trainers.

[Heidi]

Ok...so I did a little exploring too. Just wondering why no one makes a combo training (heavy cotton)/water proof (nylon outerlayer) pant at an affordable price. I found these: http://getantsy.com/ but the price is ridiculous! They are cute, though.

I think putting on rubber pants over trainers and then putting pants on top of that would be so much for my boys to manage. They can hardly get their pants up on their own. One has fine motor issues and he's trying, but it's a struggle. By the time he got all these layers off I'd be too late....

[Heidi]

How about cloth swim diapers? Would those work?

Or how about these...are they priced more like diapers? I haven't bought diapes in 8 years.

http://www.amazon.com/Huggies-Little-Movers-Slip-On-Diapers/dp/B005Q4JIQC/ref=sr_1_27?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1343757448&sr=1-27&keywords=diapers

I hate the commercials...like moms are incapable of just telling "baby" it diaper changing time. Now you have to "catch" them, because otherwise you might hurt their little self esteem by MAKING them comply.

Okay...never mind those. I just looked and the price/item is higher than the pullups...

[saved4always]

My friend used thick underwear and plastic pants over them in case of an accident. That way the child would feel the wetness but it wouldn't get all over her house. With my own kids, I did the pull ups to regular underwear but I waited to really train until they were totally ready so there was only an accident or 2 before they were accident free (all 3 of mine were just about 3 yo when they were fully trained).

[Crazy8]

I am not sure why you need all that???? I feel like a child should potty train in a matter of days - if they don't I don't feel they are ready for it.

I trained all 3 of my kids in regular underwear/those thick training underwear. I used pull ups only at night so it would cost me like $30 for a two months supply - surely the parents can afford that if they are currently buying diapers anyway?? But my kids were home with me, I always have my daycare families potty train over long weekends/vacations at home - when they come back to me after 3-4 days of "potty boot camp" they are able to keep their pull ups dry all day so we don't really go thru many - less than diapers for sure!

[MaritimeMummy]

How about cloth swim diapers? Would those work?

Cloth swim diapers do not actually hold any amount of liquid. they are just to contain the poops from floating around the pool. No absorbent core at all.

I trained my daughter and one DCG at the same time by using the bare-bum method. I brought the little potty in whatever room we were in at the time, the first day with each was a bit of a struggle but once they figured out that they could take themselves to the potty, by the second day they were doing it on their own. My daughter only ever had a handful of accidents. Both girls were fully trained in a matter of 2 weeks, it took 3 days of re-enforcing though to get there.

The good thing with bare bum is there is nothing to get in the way when they need to go. They just get the urge, sit down, and go. After a few days when they realized what the need to pee feels like and they were taking themselves to the potty accident-free, I then started putting just pants on them for a week or two. No underwear or diapers or pull ups. Underwear should be avoided for 3 months. They feel restrictive, not quite like a diaper but the same idea, to a toddler so they will revert with underwear.

[KBCsMommy]

I know of some providers on here that have the kids wear underwear UNDERNEATH the diaper. That way they feel the wetness and its caught in the diaper.