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Making the Big Switch
Transitioning from Diapers to Training Pants
By Katherine Bontrager
One of the first steps parents take as they face potty training is determining if their little one is really ready to begin working toward real underwear. And for many, the next step is helping their child transition from diapers to training pants. But how should parents encourage their child to make this switch?
A good way to start is to build on your child's excitement and interest in potty training (if your child is there yet!). "I used PULL-UPSŪ Training Pants to transition my son, George, into potty training," says Garden Logan, a Philadelphia mom. "He knew the difference between training pants and diapers and loved the characters ... And he has older cousins who wore PULL-UPSŪ Training Pants, so he was excited to start wearing what they had."
Dr. Christopher Cooper, an associate professor at the University of Iowa and director of pediatric urology for the Children's Hospital of Iowa, thinks this sort of excitement or curiosity is important for introducing training pants to a child.
"When the child is showing interest in toileting and starting to stay dry, it's a good time to start using training pants," Dr. Cooper says. "It may be easiest to introduce them at bedtime and then, if needed, during the day ... Again, the key is to wait until the child is interested in toilet training."
Once your child is interested, it's a good idea to help him become familiar with training pants. For example, the PULL-UPSŪ brand recommends having your child practice pulling her training pants on and off by herself before starting to use them. This way, your toddler will be familiar with the routine. Once the up-and-down movement has been mastered, consider giving your child a chance to sit on the toilet first with the pants on and later with them off. Then explain to your child exactly how the training pants work.
And remember, once you've made the big transition to training pants, try not to confuse your child by switching back to regular diapers. Accidents and setbacks will happen, but don't let them discourage you or your toddler!
