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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
ReallyTired · 12/07/2012 13:06

I think that pull ups are the work of the devil. Most children treat them as nappies and there is no moviation to actually use the toilet. There is no moviation for parents to actually toilet train their children properly. Parents, nurseries and schools are far less tolerant of accidents than twenty years ago.

Yes, true toilet training is messy, but unless a child has special needs most children can manage to be dry during the day by three years old. The odd accident is part of the learning process. It is unreasonable to expect every child to manage potty training in a week. Some children find it easier than others just like any other skills.

I think that constantly switching children between pants and pull ups is confusing for the child and unfair.

GinPalace · 12/07/2012 13:10

I use pull ups purely to evade the battle to get DS to lie down while I change him. Can't see them being useful for potty training as they aren't that easy to pull up/down so DS would probably struggle and that wouldn't help. Hoping he will show the inclination to potty train soon a we have bought Pirate pete's potty and he has started to tell us when he has done a No.2 though not before yet. still progress is progress.

PooPooInMyToes · 12/07/2012 13:14

worrywortisworrying 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.

What on earth do you mean by not letting them getting away with it!? Do you stick a cork in it or just beat them afterwards.

(That's not actually usually early by the way)

GnocchiGnocchiWhosThere · 12/07/2012 13:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wimblehorse · 12/07/2012 13:18

I started using pull ups when struggling to do nappy changes on a wriggly/runaway 18 month old.
When he was ready to potty train we just used them at night (and still do as he is not dry at night yet).
Didn't realise they were a "toilet training aide", a friend recommended them after she saw me struggling to change ds. I found them much easier to get on than a regular nappy and we could do nappy changes out and about much easier too - no need to find a baby change area, a regular toilet would do (and less worry if it wasn't as clean as would have liked).
Agree they are more expensive but we switched to supermarket own brand and wasn't much difference vs branded regular nappies.

Original poster
SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 12/07/2012 13:28

I don't/didn't let my DCs get away with weeing anywhere in the sense that if they had a wee on the floor I would tell them it was naughty and wee's should be done in the potty. I balanced that with lots of praise for using the potty, plus rewards in the form of stickers and sweets.

OP posts:
Sophisticatedknickers · 12/07/2012 13:45

Using pullups INSTEAD of regular nappies was not a waste of time for me with DD1. Like some others have posted, if you have a very wriggly toddler they can be a lot easier for changing, especially when you're out and about.

I'm lucky that DD1 took just 3 days to go from totally nappies/pullups to virtually accident free toilet/potty trained both day and night. We got her at exactly the right time and just let her run around the conservatory and garden without any kind of pants/nappies/pullups on. For her it was 2.9 years, for others it could be much earlier or later... Children develop at different times, you know!

GinPalace · 12/07/2012 13:49

Glad you said that sophisticatedknickers as my DS is miles behind my friends (24mo) in every department, talking, toilet etc and sometimes I catch myself comparing, even though I know it is silly. I do hope he catches up some day though. :) So to know your DD was 2.9yo is reassuring. :)

Sophisticatedknickers · 12/07/2012 13:51

If a child doesn't have full control of their bladder, how can it be naughty to wee on the floor? It's an accident...

nickelbarapasaurus · 12/07/2012 13:51

and huggies girl/boy designs are sexist.
i assume they have to be differently designed in shape because of direction of wee, which means the girl is forced to wear the fucking princess and cannot wear the cool cars design.

my poor DD.

nickelbarapasaurus · 12/07/2012 13:53

ahem...

"Teach boys to give their willy or penis a little shake"

willy or penis?! Shock
are they different things then? Shock

PooPooInMyToes · 12/07/2012 13:57

Its weird to say you don't let them get a away with it about something which is involuntary.

Sophisticatedknickers · 12/07/2012 14:00

I think boys tend to be a bit behind girls for both talking and bowel/bladder control so you shouldn't worry, GinPalace.

We did try her at 2.3 (a few months before DD2 was due) and she WAS physically capable of controlling her bladder but she didn't WANT to use the potty. She would hold everything in until we put her in a nappy at night and then fill it within minutes. She didn't do a poo at all over the 2 days of our first attempt at potty training so we just gave up and waited until the weather was better and we had a bank holiday weekend! I really didn't want the whole family to be stressed about it or do any damage to her body!

brettgirl2 · 12/07/2012 14:08

Pullups are just nappies with different attachments, like others I used them around 1. For potty training they are hopeless. Ginpalace I dont know any boys who were potty trained by 24 months. Most are nearer 3 tbh.

GinPalace · 12/07/2012 14:10

Thanks Brettgirl think my friends ds is a bit of a genius, he's lovely... and he was prem which is encouraging for any mums of prems who worry their dc might be behind. I will remind myself to relax. :)

PooPooInMyToes · 12/07/2012 14:16

Ginpalace. Don't worry, they vary so much. People who boast about how early their dcs are potty trained or whatever aren't usually worth bothering with. Just ignore.

FunnysInLaJardin · 12/07/2012 14:20

I have never used them for potty training. They are easier to change that normal nappies thats all. Training pants are for potty training

AThingInYourLife · 12/07/2012 14:59

DD1 was 2.11. We had tried many times before but she just didn't get it.

When she was ready it was a breeze.

DD2 is 2.5 and we haven't attempted it yet. I had DD3 nearly 2 weeks ago, so it's not really a priority.

I don't really get why people think it's that important that it is done early.

festivalwidow · 12/07/2012 15:12

I would add one caveat to this - they are useful when you've successfully potty trained your toddler, take them on an hour and a half's train journey a week later and stupidly assume that the train will have a functioning loo.
The train was crowded and for the sake of our fellow passengers I slid a pull-up on over DD's knickers, rather than risking her peeing over everyone's feet or whipping out a potty (that I didn't have with me anyway).
Expecting a two-year-old to hold on for 50 minutes seemed too much to hope for, and I was bloody grateful for the emergency pull-up in the circumstances.
So - they have their place: it's possibly rare, but they have their place.

vess · 12/07/2012 15:27

They are just nappies. Totally agree re: marketing ploy. Companies want people to buy and use nappies for as long as possible.

worrywortisworrying · 12/07/2012 15:40

Sorry to annoy all of the posters who have jumped to (incorrect) conclusions. My DS was not dry in the day till way after 3. Not trying to imply he was early at all. He also has autism.
My point is when a child is physiologically dry then they can become psychologically dry quickly. If they don't (and using pull ups at night IMHO can cause this) they can become reliant on night nappies.
I invested in good, washable, matress protectors. I do not make a fuss about any accidents that might occur.

I still believe that pull ups do more harm than good.

Seona1973 · 12/07/2012 15:52

I found pull ups useful but it wasnt the potty training ones just the pampers easy up pants which are like nappies but you can pull them up and down.

I did use them when ds started potty training as he was just under the age of 2 (he was showing signs of being ready so we went with it). When he started telling me he needed the toilet while wearing the pull up and managed to hold it in until we got to the toilet then we switched to pants. He was day trained by 2 and stopped wearing a nappy at night at 2½ years as his morning nappies were dry. DD (pfb) was 2½ when she was day trained and out of night nappies by 3 years.

1stMrsF · 12/07/2012 15:56

I think the idea that they are a potty training aid is a complete con - the nappy manufacturers are just looking for a market for their (more expensive) product line. And on this basis i am very irritated by the current radio ads to the tune of The Grand Old Duke of York....

However, I do find them useful as nappies in different circumstances e.g. When mine were potty training and we needed to put on a nappy for car journeys where they were likely to fall asleep, and DTD2 still needs a nappy for a daytime sleep but won't admit to it, so when she falls asleep in the car or on the sofa I can swap pants for a nappy without waking her! Also I discovered them while on holiday, when they were the only nappies available in the size I wanted (unless I wanted to buy a months supply for a weeks stay ) and then they actually turned out useful as I could never find changing facilities but could change standing up in a toilet cubicle with the pull-ups.

Seona1973 · 12/07/2012 15:58

there are pull ups than are like pants but have the absorbency of a nappy e.g. little walkers or easy up pants. You then get the potty training ones e.g. pull ups. They dont seem to do the pampers feel and learn ones any more

PooPooInMyToes · 12/07/2012 16:02

Athing. I don't really get why people think it's that important that it is done early.

To be competitive, because some people think having your toddlers potty trained earlier means they are better parents and their children are more advanced and intelligent. It gives them something to boast about Hmm

Mine were both around 3. It wasn't pushed, rushed or stressful, it was just when they were both ready so it happened easily.