Tag Archives: potty

Product & Gear

My Pick for Overnight Diapers

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diapers

It’s finally that time of night where I have a moment to myself. The kids are in bed and I’m not quite ready to go…so what to do in my free time but write a new post on the blog! And as I’m thinking of what to write about, all that comes across my mind is diapers…and my choice for what works best at night.

I wish it wasn’t even an issue, or a situation I had come to know very well. Toddler boys who have wet the bed because their diaper didn’t last the advertised “12-hours” on the box. There are probably other solutions I could have tried to alleviate the pee problem – like nothing to drink after a certain time, but even still, my boys have tended to pee A LOT in the overnight hours!

I’m down to just one child in diapers, so I’ve had discussions with other boy moms who’ve run into the same problem over the past couple years, one even has used super maxi pads to soak up the excess and have a drier night! At the end of the day (or night in this case), a drier diaper quite possibly could result in undisturbed sleep, less laundry/cleanup and fewer (regular) diapers.

At any rate, for those of you who aren’t even aware…YES, there are “overnight diapers” that are extra absorbant and designed just for extended wear overnight. They are pricier than regular diapers and many of the brands offer overnight versions of their diapers. When you get to the “pull up” stage, those come in an overnight variety too! I’ve tried 4 different types of these diapers and I’ll rank them from least favorite to my #1 pick!

4. Pampers Baby Dry Extra Protection – I’m a big fan of pampers (and their Gifts to Grow Rewards program), but their “extra protection” aka overnight diapers, really didn’t cut it for me. Yes, they have the same softness you’d expect from Pampers and when it comes to regular diapers, Baby Dry is my first choice…but I’ve had one too many leaks and wet jammies/beds when using these, plus they’re at the highest price point of the bunch.

3. Parent’s Choice Overnight Diapers – Of the 4 brands I’ve tried, Parent’s Choice Overnight offers diapers at the lowest price point and in this case, pretty decent protection. Inevitably, there’s always a chance that the diaper simply can’t hold as much as your little one may need to “let go”…but overall I had pretty good luck using Parent’s Choice Overnight Diapers, and would recommend them.

2. Huggies OverNites – The Huggies brand OverNites could be my second pick for an overnight diaper, but it’s higher price point (compared to generic brands) pushed it to almost a tie with third place. Like I mentioned earlier, extra protection diapers come with an a little extra on the price tag. I’ve had better luck with my boys staying dry using these, but when it comes down to it, I’d rather save a few bucks and choose a cheaper option.

1. Up & Up Overnight Diapers – These are my favorite! These cost slightly more than my #2 selection, but I have had the best success (keeping everything dry) using the Up & Up brand for the overnight hours, and in my opinion they seem to hold the more pee as well, compared to the other 3 mentioned. They are soft, less bulky and have a cute polka dot pattern.

So there you have it, my list…no butts about it! 😉

Mommy 101

Potty Progress…But the Training Continues…

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There has been mucho potty (training) progress in my home over the past few weeks. I can confidently send my 3 year old to school or take him out for the day without having to worry about accidents or bringing pull-ups for just in case.

I’m not quite sure how it came together really…I had to be tough on him as far as diligently asking him to go and sometimes even physically taking him to go, but 9 times out of 10 these days he is taking the initiative to go himself. And — after a few weeks of seeing him stay pretty dry at school, one day I said let’s just go for it and leave him in his underwear. Thankfully it worked and since then I haven’t worried too much about his potty habits, he just KNOWS what to do.

I started potty training with him a while ago…first we got a potty so he would get used to seeing it in the bathroom, did that sometimes after he hit the 18 month mark. Then, we started a routine where he would use the potty everyday at least once before bedtime… When I really wanted to ramp it up, I semi-tried having a weekend where we stayed home and focused on just using the potty. That is easier said than done, especially since I have another younger toddler running around.

Then, with his 3 year birthday approaching, I thought to myself…when is this ever going to happen. I had enlightened “Potty Perspective,” but at this point he knew what it’s for and what he is supposed to do, but chalk it up to being lazy or whatever, he just wasn’t quite there. I will advocate for the experts who advise against forcing the issue and rather letting them take control when they are ready. Ready is so key…and potty training parents have to be careful because you truly do not want regression!

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BTW..I also invested in a potty watch which was great for the first 24 hours, but after that he just loved hearing it sound off as a reminder, but he wouldn’t follow it’s guideline for going to the potty. I think it’s an excellent device for a child that will adhere to the rule of going potty when the “alarm” goes off..but that is not my child.

Now, in the end it’s all about teaching them and guiding them to the potty, but not pushing them too hard. The past few nights he’s stayed dry all night – using an overnight diaper, so my next step will be to take the plunge and let him go commando while he sleeps…eek!! It’ll be fine though, right? I should expect some cleanup and off course cover the mattress with waterproof protectors and even pad it with an extra overnight pad….hehe!

The point is, I can say with confidence my boy is potty trained and there’s no turning back! The focus now shifts to making sure he doesn’t “wait” to go. Disney’s “Nina Needs to Go” is really cute for getting that point across to the kids, he’ll also have to learn how to wipe and then hopefully controlling his aim!! LOL!! And — of course there’s lil bro who still needs to learn, but it’ll be easy, right? He’ll just copy big brother…wish me luck!

Mommy 101

Potty Perspective: The Things I Didn’t Expect

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Potty training is like this unknown beast for a first-timer and with two toddlers, it seems like I’m trying to hit both birds with one stone. However, who knows how long this “training” will be going on and while I find joy in the little accomplishments where we celebrate with a potty dance, IT IS WORK!!!

So, for those of you who’ve been through it, are going through it or are completely clueless, this is what I’m finding and you may have to look forward to:

Monkey See, Monkey Do – Since my almost 2 year old wants to do everything his almost 3 year old big bro is doing, he has also started to pee pee in the potty. I appreciate the “early” start!

Competition – We only have one potty and they both want to use it at the same time.

Bribes – I started with stickers and then I offered M&Ms for #1 and little Hot Wheel cars for #2…they could care less.

Port A Potty – Yeah, so we went to an outdoor festival over the weekend, and while my older toddler never tells me he wants to go at home, he tells me when the only available “restrooms” are the portable kind. I was faced with telling him to go in his diaper or taking him to the oh so fragrant portable one…he got to use a Port A Potty! LOL!

Public Restrooms – And pretty much the only time he has taken the initiative and actually told me he needs to go is when we’re out and about. Like at the water park, the mall and at the park… it’s not always convenient, especially when one decides to go, then we all have to “pack up” and head for a stall, no matter where it is…near OR far!

Potty Party – My older toddler has a good friend who is also learning to use the potty, so on play dates it’s like, “Everyone’s doing it, so I’m going to do it too!”

Sweet Little Lies – Sometimes because everyone’s doing it or it just seems like the cool thing to do, they’ll say they need to go and you may trek to who knows where to find the potty, only to have them tinkle a couple drops!

Waste Disposal – For whatever reason, my kids both get a kick out of watching their waste get flushed down the toilet – which I guess is a good thing, but I’m not a fan of when they attempt to remove the receptacle from their smaller potty and dump it into the “grown-up” one…on their own! eek! It makes for bleach-able moments…

Butt Wipes – Fortunately for me, both of my boys have no problem doing a #2 in the potty (telling me they need to is another story). But, now when they are able to “drop it” in the potty, I have to chase em down to wipe their behinds!

Night Time Training – The other night I was dead tired from a LONG day and once they were all settled down and in bed, the younger toddler is having a fit because now he wants to potty, I had no desire to get up and take him…BUT I DID – because the alternative of telling him it’s okay to use the diaper would be regression, right?

Holding It – And on the night time subject, my older toddler is able to hold his all night because for the last couple weeks he’s had a dry diaper in the morning, but when I ask him to go first thing, he refuses and then completely wets his diaper! Ay yi yi…

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So, I’m about a month or so “IN,” you know consciously trying to enforce and make the diapers go away, and I’m sure there’s more to come because of course boys are (typically) more difficult to train than girls, right?

Any tips, tricks or sure fire success tactics you want to share? If not, just tell me the most horrific laughable moment you’ve encountered while potty training…because we might as well all get to laugh about it.