From self-powered vacuums to electric baby wipe warmers, life as we know it is becoming easier and easier. Since 1989, when Kimberly-Clark invented PULL-UPS® brand training pants, parents have had the luxury of throwing out soiled disposable pants that in the past required a plastic bag for the trip home and plenty of bleach in the wash.

Now the company has taken its creation to the next level by offering training pants with what they call "Easy Open Sides." The new design features quick, tear-away removal on the sides of the pants, or they can also slip on and off like underwear. The Big Kid® Learning Designs® keep Disney images bright when dry, faded when wet.

"Potty training is a significant milestone in every child's life," says Maggie Dugan, a preschool teacher and member of PULL-UPS® Potty Training Partners, a group comprised of parents, pediatricians and childcare professionals. "It's important to keep potty training as effortless and routine as possible, because we all know potty training doesn't happen in a day. Using PULL-UPS® Training Pants with Easy Open Sides not only makes kids feel more grown up but can help make the process a little easier because they have Easy Open Sides, just in case."

In this age of convenience, it is no surprise that disposable training pants are all the rage with consumers. According to a PULL-UPS® Potty Training Survey conducted in 2003, one out of three parents agree that potty training is more time consuming than anticipated.

"PULL-UPS® most definitely helped out a lot when I was potty training my son, Luke," says Konnie Krahn-Prosence of Glenwood Springs, Colo. "The nighttime was hard because he was and is such a sound sleeper, so they came in handy."

With different options for potty training including cloth training pants, in addition to the popular disposables, the question on most parents' minds remains, "Do training pants help?"

Child rearing experts warn that switching from diapers to training pants is not an overnight process that will lead to instant potty training. Some toddlers may mistake the disposable pants for diapers and continue having accidents since they are made from similar materials.

However, many experts agree that disposable and cloth training pants help provide a sense of independence since toddlers can remove the pants by themselves.

However, parents must remain consistent with the use of diapers versus training pants. Just heed the advice of Dr. Timothy R. Schum, associate professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and lead researcher of the Fundamentals of Toilet Training Study: "We found that children who switch back to diapers from training pants or underwear can lose ground in the toilet training process."