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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in thinking pull-ups are a bit of a con.

100 replies

SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 12/07/2012 12:34

They're more expensive than regular nappies of the same size (at least they are in the supermarket I usually shop at), but they don't actually help with potty training at all.

I've been using pull-ups but I've just started potty training DS2 and we've abandoned them because they're just useless.

OP posts:

worrywortisworrying · 12/07/2012 12:36

I agree.

I think pull ups are terrible.

As soon as my children were dry in the day, they were out of pull ups, day and night. AFAIK, my kids are out of night nappies WAY earlier than other kids (DS was 3.5 and DD was 2.0) because I just refused to let them wee and get away with it.

It's either nappies or nothing.

YANBU

Mrsjay · 12/07/2012 12:36

pull ups came out when dd2 was potty training (i think) and they were a new craze so i bought them she peed them i used them as nappies till they were finished,

BertieBotts · 12/07/2012 12:38

That's because they're not for potty training, they're for when your one year old has just learned to stand and absolutely will not be persuaded to lie down for anything.

If you want special nappies for potty training then you want training pants - they're waterproof (in theory) so save washing a whole set of clothes, but feel wet against the child's skin so they associate the feeling of weeing with wetness and it makes them more aware of what is happening.

Mrsjay · 12/07/2012 12:39

bertie they were marketed when I bought them as a potty training aid,

Rubirosa · 12/07/2012 12:40

I am finding them useful as ds isn't quite ready for full-on potty training yet but generally prefers to wee in the potty/toilet - I use them if we are out so if he asks to use a toilet it's easy to pull them up and down quickly, but if he doesn't then it doesn't matter.

ladyintheradiator · 12/07/2012 12:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 12/07/2012 12:42

I never used pull ups to pooty train - I used them when it became impossible to put a nappy on DS without breaking out into a hideous sweat and then feeling very murderous - for that they were bloody brilliant and brought my blood pressure right down!

Once I started potty training we didnt use nappies at all..I think thats give them mixed messages.

pumpkinsweetie · 12/07/2012 12:42

I agree, the do nothing but interfere with potty training as they confuse the child.
That being said i do use them at night for my 3yo who still bed wets as she won't wear a normal nappy.
They are ridiculously priced for what you get though and i buy as many as i can when on special offer or buy supermarket own brand

Rubirosa · 12/07/2012 12:42

I think they are aimed at potty training Bertie - training pants don't really hold any amount of liquid. And surely you can just change a standing child in a normal nappy?

Tee2072 · 12/07/2012 12:43

See, that wet argument doesn't work around here. I have a son who never notices he's wet or done a poo. He never has.

OneLittleBabyTerror · 12/07/2012 12:44

I thought pull ups are for much younger toddlers. A few mummy friends have switched to pull ups because their LOs won't lie down to get their nappy changed. With pull ups, they only have to lie down if they have a soiled nappy. These are 1yos btw. No where near potty training age.

Original poster

SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 12/07/2012 12:45

Huggies advertise their pull-ups as potty training pants. According to the website kids can 'tell' when they're wet because their nappies will fade in colour .

www.pottytraining.co.uk/why-pull-ups

OP posts:

PrincessScrumpy · 12/07/2012 12:45

They are fab if you have a baby who crawls off from nappy changes as I struggled to get dd to lay still but she would stand. Nothing to do with potty training.

dc are dry at night when they are ready not because you tell them to be ready! dd was dry before she was 3 but that was luck not my amazing parenting!

Declutterbug · 12/07/2012 12:48

YANBU

They are a product designed by companies who wish to make profits from parents of toddlers. They have been marketed at such parents as suitable for potty training, but it's actually not in the manufacturer's interests if you think about it for them to aid potty training quickly, as then customers would stop buying the product.

Where do you think all the guff about 'waiting for the right time' and 'windows of opportunity' for potty training came from? If 3 year olds are in nappies, nappy manufacturers make more money. Hence why their info always stresses to wait for potty training until the time is 'right'. Simple.

BertieBotts · 12/07/2012 12:51

Ah, okay, perhaps it's changed then. When DS was younger you could get normal pull ups which hold as much as normal nappies and "feel n learn" pants which were supposed to be like training pants. I bought a couple of washable training pants but you're right - they don't hold much. I think the idea is if they start going and then stop while they run to the toilet, but DS never did that. He'd either get there in time or start weeing, freeze and scream while it went everywhere!

Rubirosa you can but it takes some practice - I switched to doing this when pull ups were too expensive.

Mrsjay · 12/07/2012 12:52

my kids were out of day and night nappies by 2.5 do i win nearly 4 isnt that early tbh

Declutterbug · 12/07/2012 12:53

I think the market they are aimed at is parents (and children) who have got so used to bone dry disposable nappies that they are squeamish about the inevitable spills involved in potty training and want everything fully contained until the day the child is able to annouce they need a wee and take themselves to the toilet without much fuss and no risk of an accident.

I find people who use reusables have much more balanced attitudes to potty training in general, expect some accidents and don't leave their children in nappies until they are nearly ready for school, or until nursery does the job for them.

Mrsjay · 12/07/2012 12:53

god yes it has moved on since mine were in nappies bertie

Quenelle · 12/07/2012 12:54

We abandoned our recent potty training attempt and went back to nappies. But DS has started taking himself to the toilet at preschool now and they have asked for him to go in pull-ups because it's easier for them.

Declutterbug, that advice isn't exclusive to nappy manufacturers, my mum advised us to wait with DS, as she did with us, because it's easier and quicker if you wait until they're ready. And we're in our 40s.

paradisechick · 12/07/2012 12:57

They are a marketing ploy and nothing else.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 12/07/2012 12:58

Quenelle - I tried a few time to potty train my son and gave up as he wasnt ready - just before he turned 3 he turned to his cm and said dont want to wear a nappy I want to wear pants and that was that...done and dusted!

Your mum is spot on :)

TheSpokenNerd · 12/07/2012 13:02

Lol at a busy todler seeing the change in colour of their pull up TeenStrop

Quenelle · 12/07/2012 13:02

Thanks Betty. I like the Do Nothing Immediately approach

Kaluki · 12/07/2012 13:02

I agree they are a huge marketing con!
My DS used to think they were nappies anyway. If they feel padded out they will pee. If they pee their pants it feels uncomfortable and they don't like it.
I only ever found them useful at night as I didn't want the hasssle of wet bedding but both of mine were pretty much dry day and night anyway.

bassingtonffrench · 12/07/2012 13:04

I'm with you declutterbug

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