My daughter first showed interest in potty training around 17 months. So we bought her a little potty and let her sit on it if she wanted to. She got pretty good at it too. After a few weeks we thought she would also always poop on the potty and we would only be stuck changing wet diapers. We thought she was going to potty train early, saving us months of washing diapers. No such luck. For two months after that, she showed almost no interest in, if not an aversion to, the potty. Now at almost two she is headed toward being interested again. Last winter, when she was consistently using the potty at least once a day or so and I got tired of trying to put on and take off diapers in our tiny bathroom, I decided to buy some cloth training pants.
As a cloth diaper family, I really didn’t want to start using disposable pull-ups. But I couldn’t find many cloth trainers that I thought would work for us. I needed something that could be pulled up and down, but if it could unsnap that would be ideal. It also needed to be fully waterproof and fairly absorbent while still allowing her to feel wet. She wasn’t going to make it to the potty most of the time in the beginning and I wanted something that would save us from puddles on the floor. The reviews for most of the cloth trainers were sketchy. The really well reviewed ones, like Super Undies, were really expensive. I knew that cloth would ultimately save us money, but a stash of $20 each training pants was going to add up fast. So I bought a trainer here and there from several different brands until I assembled a reasonable stash. Below are my reviews:
Mama Bear One-Size Trainer
Mama Bear One-Size Training Pants (purchased from Mama Bear Baby Wear at Etsy.com)
$12 + shipping
These are my all time favorite trainers. I love that they snap off and are highly absorbent, though still not as much as a diaper. I think the key is in the inner absorbent core of Zorb ™. Zorb is made of a combination of bamboo, cotton and microfiber and claims to be four times more absorbent than cloth diaper flannel. I’ve been impressed by the adjustable snap system that will allow these trainers to grow with my daughter. They are the only one-size trainers I could find. My daughter, like many other children, has been potty training for a while. I like not having to worry about buying multiple stashes of sized trainers should she linger on the process for a very long time. I also bought a pair of Mama Bear’s petite one-size trainers that use a Gerber prefold as the absorbent core. It’s not as absorbent as the standard one-size trainer, but fits my skinny girl very well. If your child is thin for his or her age, ask her about custom petite trainers.
Blueberry Trainer
Blueberry Trainers (purchases from Kelly’s Closet and Amazon)
$15.95 (Size Medium)
These are adorable and fit just like underwear. Since they don’t snap they are a little annoying to take off if your child poops and they aren’t fully waterproof. But they honestly hold more than I anticipated and they will save you from a puddle on the floor. I recommend washing them inside out for easier cleaning. The color choices are more limited on Amazon, but they qualify for Amazon Prime free shipping.
QTBunns Potty Training Pants
QTBunns Potty Training Pants (purchased from QTBunns at Etsy.com)
$11 + shipping (Size Small)
These are also a pull-up only pant, but the soft flannel is wonderful. The stretchy sides will, I think, allow for some growth before having to size up. I found them to be quite absorbent and wash easily. This is also the only trainer from an Etsy seller than is currently featured on Diaperpin.com.
Now that Kelly’s Closet is selling Super Undies, I may finally purchase a pair if I can use a coupon and combine it with a large enough order to meet the free shipping threshold. I had a hard time finding anywhere that carried these that offered free shipping. I’m also considering purchasing a Prefold Trainer from Little Moose Diapers on Etsy since I like the idea of using a prefold that can pulled up and down like underwear, but is still waterproof, plus they have snaps. If I end up purchasing these or any other trainers I’ll make sure to review them as well.
Note: My daughter loves wearing her “big girl pants.” But she still doesn’t use the potty most of the time. When we use exclusively trainers we usually need to change her pants at least once a day when the trainer becomes oversaturated. She’s getting better so I’m hopeful.
I’m so glad I saw this blog. My son is 16 months now and we are planning to start towards the end of the summer. I haven’t even begun to look into cloth training pants but it was certainly on my to do list. Thank you!
I’m glad you found this helpful. I had a really hard time finding any training pants for the early potty training child so I wanted to highlight the few that worked for us.
This was very helpful. I have 3 pair that did cost $20 each (threw away all the cheap useless ones I bought) but can’t afford for more then that. So I mainly use them for night time and then use the Gerber cotton training pants w/plastic liner for day. Yes, no snaps is a pain but after 4 kids using them and into number 5 I’m kinda used to it. I do still by pullups for church and family outings where others will be responsible for changing. I have no room to stash extra changes of clothes! I do love the snaps though. I will bookmark this post under my cloth diaper bookmarks and remember for the next one coming into training!
The Mama Bear Trainer is the only one I can use when I’m out of the house. The others are too prone to leakage, at least with a child so early in the potty training process. I considered the Gerber pants but we’re not ready for that yet. I may opt to use the exterior of a pocket diaper with very little absorbency if any when we get far enough along that she usually gets to the potty.
I just got a note from a new customer that she read your review here and headed straight for my shop! I didn’t even know you had written this, but I’ve since linked it on my website. I hope that’s okay. Thank you so much and I’m glad you love your MamaBear Trainers!
That’s great! I wrote the review because I was really pleased with your product, one which I found to be unique and I couldn’t find anywhere else. I hoped other moms searching for a similar trainer would buy from you as well. I’m glad to hear the word is spreading.