Training Pants vs Underwear: Which Is Better for Potty Training?

When it's time to remove nappies, one question comes up again and again:

Should my toddler wear training pants or underwear?

With so many products available, it's easy to assume training pants are a necessary step between nappies and underwear and if you've already started researching potty training you've no doubt already been targeted by ads on training pants. 

In reality, they aren't the right choice for every family.

Understanding the difference between training pants and underwear can help you decide what will work best for your toddler.

What Are Training Pants?

Training pants are reusable pants with an absorbent layer built into them.

They're designed to absorb small accidents while still feeling more like underwear than a nappy.

Some are quite thin, while others have a thicker absorbent layer.

Unlike disposable pull-ups, training pants are made from fabric and are washed and reused.

What Is the Difference Between Training Pants and Underwear?

The biggest difference is absorbency.

Underwear offers little or no protection against accidents.

If your toddler wees, they'll quickly feel wet and the wee will usually soak through onto their clothes or the floor.

Training pants absorb some of the wee, reducing the mess and helping to protect clothing.

However, they are not designed to absorb a full bladder in the same way as a nappy. So if you toddler has more than a little dribble in them, they will still soak through to their clothes.

Are Training Pants Better Than Underwear?

Not necessarily.

Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Training pants may:

✓ reduce the amount of mess from small accidents

✓ help some parents feel more confident leaving the house

✓ can be a bridge between nappies and underwear when still potty training at childcare

✓ be useful for toddlers who dislike the feeling of wet clothing

However, because they absorb some of the wee, some children may not notice the sensation of becoming wet as clearly as they would in underwear.

For many toddlers, feeling the immediate wetness in underwear can help them begin connecting the sensation of weeing with what has happened.

Is Underwear Better for Potty Training?

For many families, underwear works perfectly well from the point nappies are removed.

It allows toddlers to:

• notice when they've had an accident

• experience the difference between being dry and wet

• practise managing real underwear from the beginning

That doesn't mean accidents disappear overnight.

Accidents are a normal part of learning, whatever your toddler wears.

Which Does Potty Pros Academy Recommend?

Within Potty Pros Academy, I don't recommend using training pants as part of the potty training process.

Instead, I recommend moving straight to underwear when it's time to remove nappies.

One reason for this is that underwear allows toddlers to fully experience the natural consequence of an accident. If they have a wee accident, they become completely wet. That change is usually very obvious, helping them begin to connect the feeling of weeing with the result.

Another reason is that training pants can be an expensive purchase for something many families only use for a few days or weeks before moving on to underwear anyway.

That said, there are situations where training pants can be a helpful temporary stepping stone.

For example:

• an older toddler (around 3 years or older) who is particularly resistant to potty training and may find training pants a less daunting transition than moving straight from nappies to underwear

• a toddler who is confidently using the toilet at home but needs a little more time to adjust to using the toilet at nursery or childcare

In these situations, training pants can sometimes provide a short-term bridge while your toddler builds confidence in a new environment.

Ultimately, though, the success of potty training isn't determined by what your toddler is wearing. It's determined by the skills they're developing. That's why Potty Pros Academy focuses on helping toddlers build awareness, confidence and routines before nappies come off, making the transition to underwear feel as straightforward as possible.

FAQs

Are training pants the same as pull-ups?

No.

Training pants are reusable fabric pants with a small absorbent layer.

Pull-ups are disposable and similar to nappies. Learn more about their differences in the blog post "Pull-Ups vs Nappies: What's the Difference?"

Do toddlers need training pants before underwear?

No.

Many toddlers move straight from nappies into underwear without using training pants at all.

Do training pants stop accidents?

No.

Training pants are designed to absorb small accidents, not prevent them.

Accidents remain a normal part of learning.

Does Potty Pros Academy recommend training pants?

Potty Pros Academy doesn't require training pants. However there are instances where potty training pants maybe useful in certain situations for certain families, but for the vast majority of families they are often not needed at all. 

The focus is on helping your toddler develop the skills they need, regardless of whether you choose training pants or underwear.

If You Haven't Started Yet 

Choosing between training pants and underwear can feel like an important decision, but it's only one small part of potty training.

Building your toddler's awareness, confidence and routines before nappies come off often has a much bigger impact than the clothing you choose.

That's exactly why I created my free guide: 5 Things to Do Before Starting Potty Training.

It explains the simple steps you can take before removing nappies, helping potty training feel calmer and more straightforward from the very beginning.