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Tag Archives: potty training
Does Cloth Make Potty Training Easier?
When I first started cloth diapering, I heard over and over that using cloth would help with potty training later on. The reasons for this made sense: 1. Cloth feels wet, so toddlers are more aware of accidents. 2. Cloth has to be cleaned when soiled, so toddlers can be involved in the process, or at least observe what mama has to do when an accident happens. 3. Cloth offers more options as far as colors and prints are concerned. Toddlers can have fun choosing their trainers, and be encouraged to keep them clean and dry. 4. Cloth requires more time and effort for mama, so that may motivate her to facilitate potty training in whatever way she can. Since we started with cloth I’ve potty trained just one child – Benjamin. He showed readiness at age 3, but was not trained until a year had passed by. We used cloth trainers the entire time, yet for him it just didn’t seem to make a difference. He didn’t care if his pants were wet or soiled. He would gladly help me clean them, but this didn’t encourage him to avoid … Continue reading
Cloth Diapers are a Plus in Potty Training – Even if it Isn’t Earlier!
You may have heard that cloth diapered children potty train sooner. While I don’t doubt this is true with natural fibers (like cotton prefolds) it’s definitely not the case in our house. Pocket diapers with stay dry micro-fleece or suedecloth linings, and absorbent inserts keep my son’s tush nice and dry. When we get more serious about potty training/learning, I will probably stick to just diapers (or trainers) with natural fiber inners. This will help him feel when he’s wet, and is much less gross than disposable training pants with added chemicals to provide a “feel cool” sensation! I’ve written about potty training a few times, and I really believe that children do it when they’re ready. I can’t help but wonder if my son’s soft, squishy, minky diapers in all their pretty colors and prints (he has favorites) are harder to let go of than scratchy, crinkly paper diapers. I’ve gotten him some very cool trainers in equally awesome colors & prints, but he wants no part of them. He even gives all new fluff mail the “side-eye,” on the off chance I’m trying to slide some training pants … Continue reading
5 Steps to Successful Potty Training
Potty training: a cloth diapering mama’s worst nightmare. Why? Because you are nearing the end of your cloth diapering days. The solution? Have more kids! Sadly we’ve already ‘fixed’ that little issue and there will be no more babies in our house to swaddle with cloth diapers so our cloth days are numbered. Potty training can however be quite fun, especially for the cloth diapering mama who has seen all of the hip and modern reusable potty training pants on the market today. The choices are limitless and include adorable prints from Blueberry (Bloom is one of my favorites), trendy and organic trainers from EcoPosh, new Beeee’uties from FuzziBunz, and some new trainers from both bumGenius, Flip, and GroVia. 2011 was certainly the year for fun training pants in the cloth diaper industry. 5 Steps for Successful Potty Training: Introduce early and often. There really isn’t a perfect age to introduce potty training and there are several theories out there about when a child can successfully control their bladder. The key here is to get your child comfortable with the potty so they aren’t scared of the big white thrown when it’s time … Continue reading
Flip Training Pants Product Review
A few weeks ago Jenn Labit launched the news of the new Flip One-Size Training Pant along with the new bumGenius Free-time AIO and new color palette. I immediately placed my order for the Flip Trainers (as well as “Albert” Free-time AIO, 2-”Genius” ceramic coffee mugs, and 1-”Genius” T-shirt). On Monday my Flip Trainer came…I ordered the new color “Sassy”- and let me tell you it is ssssassssyyy! It is an unique orange-red (and orange is my FAVORITE color). The Flip Trainer Pants currently come in a kit with 1-trainer and 5-organic cotton inserts (essentially 5 changes). It was 4pm when I opened the package and I quickly threw the inserts in the wash to prep them (well sort of- I only prepped them once) Once they came out of the dryer it was time to get Riley (my 3 year old) to bed. Now Riley is fully trained during the day (well except on Halloween when he had an accident at nap-time at pre-school and got his costume soaked!LOL) Essentially I am really not going to be using the Flip Trainer as a trainer per-say; I am just going … Continue reading
Potty Training and Tantrums
Kay Green is an expert in the process of helping parents potty train their children. She recently contributed the “Potty Training 101″ blog post. In this post she gives advice on how to deal with tantrums when potty training. From Kay: I have been asked how to deal with children who refuse to sit on the potty. I deal with it like I would if they refuse to sit in the high chair, car seat or go to bed at night. As a parent we often have to require our children to do what is necessary for their well being. One on my Facebook fans had a great suggestion for tantrums. She simply says to them ” Well I will wait until you are finished with your tantrum and then you can go potty. And after potty we can go play with your toys.” This is a great response. It recognizes their feelings while still letting them know the expectation. I feel as a mom it is my job to help them do what is expected in a firm loving way. And i found signing or reading a book while … Continue reading
Potty Training 101 by Kay Green of My Precious Kid
I am Mama to 4 great children and Nana to 4 more amazing little ones. And somewhere in between these two achievements I became a potty training teacher. I am not really sure how it happened but do find I love the process of helping parents potty train their children. It probably started when I successfully trained all 4 of my children before their 2nd birthday (including one with special needs). I did not think too much about it. I simply took the time and energy to teach my children toilet skills in the same way I taught them to eat with silverware. I set the expectation by example, gave them opportunity and rewarded positive behavior. However if seemed others thought it a unique accomplishment. There are many styles and techniques to training. And I make no apologies about the fact that my system is parent led rather than child led. I believe that all children (without mental/physical special needs) can usually be trained by their 2nd birthday given the right training and opportunity. I trained my children this way and have helped dozens of mothers train their children the … Continue reading
Saying GoodBye To Cloth Diapers
The title of this post is a bit deceiving. I am saying goodbye to “using” cloth diapers. On Saturday, March 12th I put Riley’s cloth diapers into storage. HAVING ANXIETY attack. I know, I know some of you probably think I am crazy, nuts, obsessed…well I am. I LOVE cloth diapers and love to use them. Now I am not exiting the cloth diaper industry…no worries about that. Someone said to me a couple of weeks ago: “Kelly, you’ll be doing something with cloth diapers until the day that you —!” That sounds a bit odd and I didn’t want to spell out the three letter word that begins with a “d”. It just goes to show that I love cloth diapers; that’s all. I started potty training Riley on Sunday, March 6th. Everything that I have read is that once you start potty training you should put the diapers away and go straight into undies or training pants. I washed Riley’s last load of cloth diapers on Wednesday, March 9th. I took a picture (see right) of the last load. So Saturday my 11 year old and I prepared … Continue reading
Potty Training Week # 1
Today concludes Riley’s first week potty training. About 10 days ago I wasn’t even planning on potty training Riley. One afternoon I was talking with my friend Calley of The Eco Chic about cloth diapers (of course). We both have 2 year olds and were comparing notes on diapering and started to talk about potty training. When I heard the words come out of my mouth: “I think I have been holding off potty training Riley as I want to keep trying out new cloth diapers. Gosh, am I sick or what?” We actually laughed a bit once I said this. I started to really think about what I said and thought ok, lets be serious, I really need to start training Riley (he is 32 months). Day 1: I started the training process with no supplies at all. I had no cloth training pants (it was the weekend). I knew I had to wait until Monday came and I could swing over to DiaperShops.com (20 minutes away) and purchase some. I picked Sunday as the starting day. I decided to let Riley go naked for the entire day. Just … Continue reading