Transitioning to training pants

Transitioning to training undies or training pants will happen at different times for different families and will depend on whether your little one is both physically and emotionally ready to begin toilet training. The average age for toilet training is 27 months and it’s common for children to work on this anywhere from 18 months onwards (1). There are a number of readiness signs that you can watch for, to know when your little one may be ready to start their toilet training journey.

So what are the readiness signs for Toilet Training (1):

• Your little one is between 18 months and 2.5 years old
• Their nappy is dry for up to 2 hours
• They can pull their pants up and down
• They can sit for a few minutes
• They can follow simple instructions
• They want their nappy taken off when they have soiled it
• They know about poo and wee and are interested in watching others use the toilet. They may even simulate going to the toilet.

It is common for children to go through periods of interest and disinterest with toilet training. It is important to follow your little one’s cues. Some complications that may emerge are refusing to do poo on the toilet, withholding poo, and hiding to do poo (1). Poo refusal is often associated with a later start to toilet training but will generally resolve on its own as will withholding and hiding behaviours. If they persist you may want to seek the help of a medical professional for further investigation.

As a parent or caregiver you can set yourself up for success by setting realistic expectations around your approach and the environment that you want to create. Some things to keep in mind for your journey:

• Toilet training doesn’t happen overnight
• There are a number of different ways that you can approach toilet training with no ‘best’ approach
• Choose an approach that suits your family and your child
• Any method chosen should use positive reinforcement

Using reusable training pants can provide your little one with valuable feedback on wetness to support them in their transition. Wetness feedback has been shown to speed up the toilet training transition (2). A pull up style is recommended because it mimics wearing underpants and gives them the chance to model their behaviour on what they have already seen occurring. Designer Bums Reusable Training Pants can help your little one to transition from nappies through to toileting independence with our easy-to-use pull up style. Being able to pull their own underwear up and down can make it easier for them to take themselves to the toilet and foster independence.

Designer Bums Training Pants are designed to catch accidents and small leaks and also provide your little one with a sense of wetness, giving them valuable feedback on when they need to go to the toilet. Whilst at the same time they allow for any accidents to be caught before they soak into clothing or furniture. They are made with natural and organic materials that are absorbent and gentle on skin giving you a low tox option for toileting.

Supporting your little one on this journey may seem a little daunting. Being clear on your approach, looking for the readiness signs, and giving your little one a sense of ownership and control can ease the journey for you both. Keep your eyes out for the upcoming launch of the Designer Bums Toilet Training pants/undies!

References (1) Baird, D. C., Bybel, M., & Kowalski, A. W. (2019). Toilet Training: Common Questions and Answers. American Family Physician, 100(8), 468–474. (2) Yuni Sufyanti Arief, Nuzul Qur’aniati, & Wahyuning Hidayati. (2017). Disposable Diaper Impact the Toddler’s Toilet Training Readiness. Jurnal Ners, 4(1), 36–42. https://doi.org/10.20473/jn.v4i1.5011

Article supplied by Designer Bums