[kannanvijayan]

We used cloth diapers for our son for about 8 months, and then it just got to be too much of a hectic nightmare washing the poop cloths between work and other issues. So we did disposables for about two years. We were having a hard time getting him trained off of the diapers, until one day we just decided to follow some advice we'd heard and took them off and let him go diaperless on the floors (thankfully wooden).. and he trained in a couple days.

Just thought I'd pass along the one training suggestion I have. Cloth or disposable.. when you're ready for them to move off it - it really helps if they're able to see and associate their bowel and bladder movements with the physical artifacts.

I suspect it helps it click faster that yes, "this is the stuff that needs to go into the potty and not pooling around my legs in a clammy cold puddle".

[apexalpha]

>Just thought I'd pass along the one training suggestion I have. Cloth or disposable.. when you're ready for them to move off it - it really helps if they're able to see and associate their bowel and bladder movements with the physical artifacts.

Cloth diapers help a lot with this. It's one of the reasons kids on cloth diapers are usually much earlier trained.

Modern diapers are so good there's essentially no feedback.

[kannanvijayan]

That's why we started with cloth. We just didn't have the tenacity to pull through and gave in within a year.

I agree that the modern diaper is so good that it effectively disconnects the feeling of evacuation from the consequence of it.

I think the other thing kids pick up on when you're mopping up their floor leavings is the grossness aspect, which is a bit more learned. They see you grimacing every time you touch it - they see you taking care to ensure that it doesn't get on other parts of your body. Toddlers watch body language and reactions a lot to understand how they should relate to things.

[abustamam]

> let him go diaperless on the floors (thankfully wooden).. and he trained in a couple days.

This terrifies me! We have carpets. Some tile, but also some carpets. I guess it's not too different from when the cats have an "accident" though, just bigger messes.

[beAbU]

Just get a carpet washer. Your kids will make a mess on the carpet sooner or later. Regardless of your potty training regime.

[abustamam]

That sounds like a good investment.

[kannanvijayan]

If you're considering it for real and the carpet issue a real concern, the solution I've seen is one of those large plastic/rubber/foam playmats.