Yes, I think disposable diapers make potty training difficult. If you look at the average age a child is potty-trained, even just a generation ago, you can see that it now takes much longer for children to wean themselves from their diapers in exchange for using the potty. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why modern disposable diapers make it harder for your child to potty train and what she can do to make it easier for him or her.
One of the biggest improvements that have been made in the disposable diaper industry over the past decade is how quickly diapers absorb moisture. The obvious benefit of this is that it keeps the baby’s skin healthy and prevents diaper rash. The downside is that your child doesn’t feel when he gets wet. There isn’t any uncomfortable wet and squishy stuff hanging around your bottom. Everything is perfectly dry and comfortable. So why should your child bother going to the bathroom if there’s nothing wrong with peeing and pooping in their diaper?
The disposable diaper industry, of course, has realized this fact and is not catering to parents of 3-5 year olds. We see pictures of children in this age group on diaper packages, baby and parenting magazines, and, of course, in diaper company advertisements. Which brings us to reason number two why children are potty trained later.
It has become socially acceptable for an older child to wear diapers. Preschools and day care centers are now catering to the parents of these children by allowing children who are not fully potty trained to attend. There is no social pressure on parents to potty train their children. Combined with the fact that diapers no longer feel wet, it’s easy for parents to miss the moment when their child is ready to try the potty.
So what other options do you have as a parent? You can wear cloth diapers for a while to make sure your child feels wet, or let him wear regular underwear with a pair of plastic panty liners over it. If the weather permits, let him run around bare bottom outside, or do the same thing inside, keeping a close eye on him so you can drag him to the bathroom when necessary.
Other than that, try potty training once in a while. Sooner or later you will reach the right time and potty train your little one.