Are pull-ups effective in potty training?

Question

My son is 2 1/2. My father-in-law has decided that he needs to be in pull-ups. Although I know for a fact that my father-in-law has never partaken in potty training any of his children! I am not against working with my son on potty training, however, I believe that until he feels the urge and knows what it is this is only practice for him. On weekends when were home he's been using his underwear. I would think that pull-ups feel to much like a diaper for him to understand the difference. I am wanting to know if these are really just another marketing gimmick or if they do work in the potty training process. I am not against using them if they work I just want to know if they are anymore effective than what I am already doing? I appriciate any advice. Thanks

Answer 1

Pull ups are LOUSY. The best potty training method I've ever encountered was waiting until the CHILD was ready. And they let you know, first by sitting on the toilet and then they get the "hint" of what to do. If you are "open" about your toilet habits have you kid in there with you when YOU sit on the toilet, My daughter was just a bit over a year when she decided she wanted to sit on the toilet. We did that for a couple of weeks when one day the timing was right, I kept her in diapers though because of "accidents" and she hadn't mastered pooping, it took her another year for that. My advise is wait until the child is ready and then don't run out and purchase underpants just because the kid pees on the toilet a couple of times, wait until the child is COMPLETELY potty trained before you remove the diapers unless you enjoy washing out shitty underpants. As for the pullups, flush them.

Answer 2

Being a preschool teacher, I have seen first hand the pull-up battle. Some kids found that they worked great for them when they were COMPLETELY ready for underwear but just were finding it hard to have the pressure of making it on the toilet.
Other children who's parents put them in there who weren't ready and they still had accidents like they were in diapers.
I feel that when a child has mastered the potty situation enough that they just might want to use a pull-up like a "training wheel" on a bike, then I believe they are effective. Otherwise, just stick with diapers.
There is the occasional child that skips them all together and just goes straight into underwear. good luck!

Answer 3

For one I think potty training a 2 1/2 year old will be a lot of pain. It seems strange that your father-in-law is giving his opinions when he has no knowledge on potty training. As far as pull-ups I think it definitely depends. For the most part I think they're an expensive gimmick. I've actullay heard a parent who had a 5 year old in pull-ups verbally mocking a parent who had a 5 year old in a diaper. Pull-ups are diapers, and most children use them just like them. Pull-ups just seem to boost the self-esteem of the parents and the kids wearing them. They also seem to post-pone potty training indefinitely. Another parent was telling me the other day that she needed to buy some plastic pants to put over her 4 year old daughters pull-ups, because they weren't absorbent enough. If that's not being used as a diaper than what is....? Those Pampers Feal 'n Learn though can be effective. A lot of children who wear diapers longer can be potty trained rather quickly through these. They're usually in a little bigger sizes though, so I don't know if they'd work for your son yet? Good luck.

Answer 4

I have twin girls who are almost 6, and pull ups didn't work for us. I was starting them on the potty when they were almost 2, and had to go overseas. My sis took care of them and had them in pull ups, and a year later when i got back they weren't half as trained as when I left. True they could have been stressed about my not being there, but I think pull ups are the lazy approach to potty training. I was home for about 3 months and would not alllow pull ups whatsoever because they were well past 3 yrs at the time. Finally I began to see success, and when I say success I mean total success. Not only did they not wet during the day, but they had stopped night wetting as well. I can proudly and confidently say that I have yet to wake up to a wet bed after 3 years. Pull ups promote wetting your pants, and if you want your child to be trained they must first understand what it is to be wet. Sorry grandpa........you're wasting valuable time, and money as well as teaching your grandchild how to make excuses for not doing the right thing.

Answer 5

I used to use the pull ups only at night (i still do now), my son has been potty trained for 2 years. i started training him at 2 and by 2 1/2 he was a pro at it.
i didn't use the pull ups for the same reason you stated, it feels so much like a diaper. i didn't think he would understand the difference either, so we used either regular underwear or the training pants. they have these cool training pants that are very think, but it does not feel like a diaper so i would reccommend those. it can be messy

Answer 6

They really didn't work for us either. My son thought they were fun to put on and it gave him practice getting himself dressed. By him wearing pull-ups it will give him the ability to go potty if he decides when you are out of the house. Taking off a diaper to let him go to the potty at a restaurant is no fun. Pull-ups are not that much more expensive than diapers either. I think you are completely correct about waiting for him being ready though.

Answer 7

Ah ha, as a newly potty trained child, my son wore pull-ups on OUTINGS ONLY for the entire summer! I comprimised, I used the cheap brands! He caught on pretty well, he went pee without trouble, he really liked the idea of being able to stand up! It was the other part that was rough while in pull-ups...the bowel movements.
I put him in underwear and everyday for the month of August, he still went in his underwear.
Trust me, when your kid is ready to do what he wants, he will go in his pants no matter what is under them, pull ups or underwear. When he is ready to go on the potty, he will do so.
Since you already use underwear at home, keep it up. Use it at night too if no one is going anywhere. Ask your son off and on if he wants to go potty, if he says no, then drop it. This actually worked with my son. He just turned 3 at the end of August, and now he goes to a preschool program where he needed to be potty trained in order to attend. He feels VERY proud of himself, and when he first went number 2 on the potty, I let him pick out a pair of underwear. After a week, we officially called him a big boy. He is no longer the baby, he tells me.
I found the most important thing is always always encourage them when they do go on the potty. Let him no it is wrong to go in his pants.

Answer 8

I have tried pull-ups with my son, and they don't work for him. When I put him in underwear, he is more likely to notice and pay attention when he goes. Just keep trying with the underwear. From what my friend has told me, boys potty train faster with underwear. She is a mom of 3 boys, all potty trained by 3. She also said not to expect them to be fully trained until close to 3.

Answer 9

We tried the whole pull-up battle - - and you're right, they feel just like a diaper to them. We had no progress until we told him that diapers were for babies, and he's a big boy now. We put the diapers away and started putting him in underwear. It wasn't until then when we had progress. He could actually feel when he was wet and hated it. You'll probably be doing a lot of laundry for a week or so, but it's sooo worth it. Personally, I feel that pull-ups are a marketing gimmick.

Answer 10

no- pull ups are not the way to go! trust me!!! u're right they r diapers! it will only confuse ur child into thinking it's okay to just do his business in there. so here's my suggestion- to start off, put the little potty in the bathroom, don't give ur child too many beverages, keep him in little under wears and ask him several times a day if he has to go pee or poop. take him to the potty every 30 minutes and sit with him until he does pee or poop and if he doesn't- it's ok, but then ask him again within 10 min. repeat this technique and u will do fine- and he will get the point sooner or later- also, praise him for actually doing pee or poop, and do not punish him for "little accidents" explain that it's not right and have him help to clean it up. good luck!! hope my answer was of some help to u.