Well, after testing out almost all of the potty training pants on the market right now, I feel like I have figured out what to look for in them. Now, mind you, this is perhaps my own preference, but I figured it is worth sharing and I’d love for people to comment if they have different opinions or have additional things that they look for.

In my discussion of what I have liked for my kids, I’ve also included what many of the Padded Tush Stats  readers have liked based on responses to the Cloth Diaper Features survey. 137 of the respondents to that survey have tried training pants on their kids and indicated their preferences for different features.

So here we go…

Side-Snapping

I have found that this is key to a trainer. You have to have a way to get it off of the baby without dragging the poop down their legs. We’ve had this issue several times and it is MESSY. It doesn’t necessarily NEED to be side snapping, it could be hook and loop (although I find those look more like diapers than training pants).

Only 56% of survey respondents found this important. That still over half of the people, but that’s still not a relatively high number.

Some brands that have a closure system include GroVia, Flip, Snap EZ, EcaWare, SuperUndies, Kissa’s, and Sprout (you can find direct links to these products at the bottom of this page)

Absorbent enough for one big accident

A lot of the trainers on the market right now, at least in our house, only hold about half of my daughter’s accident. So they work great if she is saying, “Uh oh Mama, I gotta go pee pee” and I run her to the toilet, but that never happens. She tells me she has to go to the toilet, or goes in her pants. So I really need something that is absorbent enough for one accident. Now this may not be an issue if you have a light to normal wetter, but in my opinion, if you are going to drop the dough for training pants, then you probably would want to use it for future kids, and who knows if they will be heavy wetters. Or, who knows if your child will turn into a heavy wetter tomorrow!

This is something valued by 74% of survey respondents.

Some brands that are reasonably absorbent include: SnapEZ (my top choice), Sprout, Kawaii, GroVia, and then FuzziBunz gets pretty close  (you can find direct links to these products at the bottom of this page)

Quick Drying

One of the biggest issues I have had with training pants is that they take so long to dry. It’s a mild frustration, I just throw them in with the next load or I air dry them. But some take really long to dry! So I like to go for ones that are absorbent, but don’t take forever.

Some brands that are quick drying include: Flip, GroVia, Snap EZ, Best Bottom, FuzziBunz, Kissaluvs, and Kawaii  (you can find direct links to these products at the bottom of this page)

Pocket Opening

I have found that this has been GREAT for potty training. Having a pocket opening allows you a little flexibility with adding additional absorbency. This is helpful when you want to use the training pants for night time, or if you have a heavy wetter.

This features was valued by 63% of survey respondents.

Some brands that have the pocket opening include: Snap EZ Stuffable trainer, GroVia, Kissaluvs, and Super Undies  (you can find direct links to these products at the bottom of this page)

Waterproof

Now this may depend entirely on your method of potty training. Some people like it wet so they can see an accident and act quickly. But I can’t tell you how many times my daughter was sitting on my couch when it happened and soaked the cushions! So I think having a waterproof trainer is key.

This was something valued by 75% of survey respondents

Some brands that are waterproof include: Imse Vimse, Blueberry, GroVia, Flip, Best Bottom, Super Undies, FuzziBunz, Snap EZ, Kissaluvs, and Kawaii  (you can find direct links to these products at the bottom of this page)

Act like underwear

You want it to act like real underwear to help with the transition. This means your child should be able to pull it up and down easily, plus it should have cute prints (remember, you don’t want your diapers to be cuter than the underwear!).

69% of survey respondents found it important that a trainer have prints.

Some brands that act like real underwear include: Super Undies, Blueberry, and Imse Vimse  (you can find direct links to these products at the bottom of this page).

Building the Perfect Trainer

One thing about the training pants market that I like right now is that brands are looking into training pants that mimic an all in two. For example, Flip and Best Bottom Diapers both created a system where you can wipe down the cover and reuse the inserts. I still feel like that are a little difficult to get the inserts in, but I have to say, I like where the industry is heading there.

After trying several of the brands on the market right now, I have different favorites for different reasons, although I still feel like the perfect trainer still doesn’t exist.  Some brands get so stink in close, but are not quite there:

SnapEZ Stuffable Trainer: this one is hands down my favorite. I have never had a leak with it, and yet it is easy to get off and on. I just wish it had more prints and looked more like underwear

 

GroVia: this one is great too, but I am bummed that there are no prints! It has great functionality, plus I like that you an adjust the sizing.

Imse Vimse and Blueberry: both look the closest to underwear that I could get (love the prints on the outside), but they weren’t quite absorbent enough and weren’t side snapping.

 

Kawaii: Let’s cut to the chase. If I am putting a trainer on my baby and going out and about, I only trust my SnapEZ and my Kawaii. The downside of the Kawaii is it is pretty bulky and doesn’t have side snaps.

I hope this helps you in your attempts to cloth diaper your baby!

* Trainers I have tried include: Snap EZ stuffable, GroVia, Flip, Bububibi, Imse Vimse, Super Undies, Blueberry, Best Bottom, FuzziBunz, Sprout, Kawaii, Kissaluvs, Better for Babies, and EcoPosh

If you’ve tried out any cloth trainers, please head on over HERE to fill out a survey on them. That will contribute towards detailed statistical reviews (thanks in advance!).

Where to buy: You can buy any of these trainers by going to the Cloth Diaper Retailer Database (www.clothdiaperretailers.com) and type in the brand. You can see who carries it and compare things like shipping, location, and even specials going on.