Toddler Training Pants For most children, the link from infant diapers to independence comes in the form of toddler training pants. Both parents and children alike appreciate them for a risk-free training period and smooth transition out of the toddler years. What brand to use largely depends on your own needs, but how you use them is the most important consideration.

First of all, remember that these training pants are not as absorbent and reliable as a diabler/plastic pants combination, and are strictly for “emergencies,” or what some parents like to call “small accidents.” Your potty training boy or girl is learning to use the right combination of internal muscles to “hold it” until reaching the training potty. However, he or she may not yet have the coordination down yet and may let a little of the waste material slip before making it to the toilet. The toddler training pants act as a barrier so that the outer clothing is protected, but the child feels like a big kid (without the diapers) and yet will not show the results of the accident on the outside.

How do you make the best use of the pants? First of all, remember that any praise you give your child is an investment in his or her security. The transition to full toilet training is much easier when you child is secure, so when you see clean training pants and the child has used the potty, be sure and praise your potty training boy or girl liberally.

Some parents offer rewards to their children for developing good habits. This is a great way to reinforce good potty training, but make sure it is not a food reward. Food rewards have been shown by all research to lead to obesity and health problems very early in a child’s life and should be avoided.

There are other training aids as well, but some of the most useful are potty training videos. Children love to watch cartoons, and this gives you even more power for reinforcing good toilet habits. It may be helpful to choose a story where the character is wearing toddler training pants to give your child more of a connection to the character.

Although you can find special potty chairs, kits, dolls, charts, and books, the potty training videos can be played over and over. Repetition is something children that age enjoy–in fact, many parents know the whole script of their child’s favorite movie because of this trait. Use it to your advantage.

Even if you decide that potty training aids are not for you, consider toddler training pants. They are not just an aid, they will help the transition on several levels–use them for a positive potty training experience.