Switching to washables to encourage a 3-year-old to toilet train: any advice?

[policywonk]

DS2 is 3.1 and happy in his disposables. I cocked up DS1's potty training really badly by putting too much pressure on him, so def. don't want to do that again. I was thinking that I could switch to washables to encourage DS2 to train - it might make him think it is his own decision, hopefully.

Obviously if all goes well he wouldn't be in washables for long, so I don't want to spend hundreds.

Has anyone done anything similar, or does anyone have any advice? I used Cotton Bottoms wraps and prefolds many moons ago and I blardy hated them, which is why DS2 ended up in disposables.

I think Motherease Toddlease (ex-large Sandy's) are good nappies for potty training because they can be pulled up and down as well as poppered on and off when required. They could be worn with Motherease Airflow wraps over the top, which could probably also be pulled up/down.

I just wish I could get hold of some more Toddlease nappies 2nd hand - no-one ever seems to be selling.

Ta Washersaurus. Are they very bulky?

They aren't really bulky at all, but they aren't as absorbant as some of my other nappies (bulky tots bots ones), but for potty training absorbancy isn't the main priority is it really?

DS1 is 2.7yo and am feeling like I should be gently pursuading him to move from nappies now and I would love love love more of these nappies to use.

Just had a look on nappylady - they're a tenner each. How few could I get away with? And how many wraps? Don't mind doing a wash every other day.

What about poppered stuffables. You can stuff with whatever- literally anything at all - e.g. old towels cut up/floor cloths etc. And if you popper them loose enough Dc can pull them up and down. I used them as nighttime pants for a bit with DD. Then once she got the hang of it, went for some of hte potty training pants (thick towelling pants with a waterproof layer) from Boots or mothercare. These only catch a dribble not a full on wee - i.e as a nappy replacement.

Why not wait til summer when it's not such a big deal - all the layers right now are a real faff for little hands. And in summer he can wee wherever too (until he gets the hang of it).

Ooh that sounds good PotPourri - appeals to my tight-fisted side.

Why d'ya think I've been holding out for 2nd hand ones?

Seriously, I'm gonna wait until it gets warmer before commencing potty training I think, I'm currently considering trying EC'ing with both my boys in the meantime(after looking at BabiesEverywhere's blog)

Umm how many nappies you would need would depend on your success rate with the potty really, you could get away with using 1 wrap per day though.

Do you have a link for the blog, Washer?

Thanks for all the advice. Where's the best place to get second-hand nappies?

I put ds1 into reuseables at night to train him, got him a couple of ellas house bumhuggers and a minki wrap with lightning mcqueen to persuade him! Worked really well as the cheeky sod was peeing his nappy before he went to sleep! Tried reuseables to train in the day, got a couple of the motherease toilet training pull up pants but we didn't really get on with them, ds1 carried on merrily peeing away! In the end I left him to wander around half naked for the summer (while I lay on the sofa with morning sickness!), although that's maybe not the best idea if you have carpets!!

Thanks redclover! One thing I realised about myself while training DS1 is that I get really, REALLY anxious about wee and poo on the floor - don't mind it in nappies, but can't stand it on my floor/furniture. So I'm hoping to find some way of training DS2 that involves the minimum number of accidents, even if it means leaving it until he's 14.

Oh I knew you would ask me that, I should have posted it...BabiesEverywhere's blog

Sorry should have posted this link

Ta!