Training Underwear for Kids

Training underwear can help during the potty-training process.

Toilet training is a big step in a child's independence and development and can be a challenging time for both child and parent, according to the Mayo Clinic. Training underwear was developed to aid parents and kids in the potty-training process. Understanding the variety of training underwear available and the benefits of each can help make the potty-training process successful.

Function

Training underwear, sometimes referred to as potty-training underwear or training pants, is used when a child is in the process of being potty trained. Instead of moving directly from diapers to regular underpants, training underwear may be used to ease the transition, according to Kids Health. Training underwear is typically thicker than normal child's underwear to provide slight protection when a toileting accident occurs, but allows the child to feel the wet sensation as an accident is happening.

Fabric

Fabric training underwear is similar to regular kids underwear, with the exception of additional padding in the genital area, according to The Baby Department. Fabric underwear allows children to feel very wet if they urinate in them, which may aid in recognizing the urge to urinate and increase their awareness to avoid accidents. Fabric training underwear is more economical than disposable training underpants since they may be washed and reused until complete potty training is accomplished.

Vinyl

Vinyl training underwear may be beneficial during naps, at night or anytime when there will be a long time between potty breaks. This type of training pants include a fabric underwear layer with a separate vinyl cover on top. The fabric layer allows the child to feel the wet sensation when urination occurs, but the vinyl cover will prevent leaks that can result in wet clothing or bedding, according to The Baby Department. Children can pull vinyl underwear up and down like regular underwear.

Waterproof

Waterproof training underwear is similar to vinyl underwear except that the outer fabric is waterproof instead of vinyl. Also, the cloth fabric inside and waterproof fabric outside are sewn together into one undergarment, unlike vinyl training underwear, which may make them easier for children to use independently, according to Waterproof Training Pants. Waterproof training underwear may have Velcro closures or snaps on the sides to ease their removal in instances of potty emergencies.

Disposable

Disposable training underwear may be found in grocery stores near the diapers and are designed for one-time use. With no Velcro closures on the sides, disposable training pants are designed to be pulled up and pushed down by children while potty training. Some disposable pants have visual design indicators to show a child when they have had a potty accident, while others offer the feeling of wetness or coolness to help in recognizing when urination occurs. Disposable training pants may be more convenient, but are also more expensive over the long term.

References

• Kids Health: Toilet Teaching Your Child
• Mayo Clinic: Potty training: How to get the job done
• The Baby Department: Training Underpants
• Waterproof Training Pants: Cheap Waterproof Training Pants