First steps vs stage 4 diapers?

Is there any real benefit to going to the "First steps" or equivalent for a
young toddler? Alli lets me know when she has a messy diaper, but doesn't
seem to feel that she's wet at all, so I'm wondering if it would help
encourage potty readiness if we moved to something which is less absorbant

Sue...

Potty readiness will not come any faster on what type of diaper you use.
Potty readiness comes when they are mentally mature enough to know that they
have to go to the bathroom and get themselves there in time. As far as the
diaper, it only matters what fits for your child. If your current diaper
fits her and have no leaks, then leave things be. If the diaper doesn't fit
right and/or you have leaks, then make a switch to the next size. You seem
to be rushing your little one in life, how come?

private...

I actually came here looking for potty training info, so I am curious. I
know it depends on the child, and I know the signs of potty readiness, but
in your opinion, what is the youngest age to start potty training that will
be effective- I am not concerned with how early she actually succesfully
potty trains, I just don't want to push something on my daughter she is not
ready for. She is 21 months old. Is this about the right age to start or
have some actually started earlier? We have actually gotten her a potty and

Sue...

and > been trying to get her used to seeing it and sitting on it for a month
or

been trying to get her used to seeing it and sitting on it for a month or
two but we are not pushing and so far she likes to sit on it- she think's
it's a toy!- but she does not like to sit on it without her diaper. We
usually sit her on it for a second before we put her in the bathtub, and as
soon as she starts to fuss, we take her off.

Sue...

It really depends what your philosophy is about potty training. There is
child-led training, which is what I did and then there is parent-led
training, which I tried with DD1, but it was disastrous and became a huge
power struggle. When I let the kids train when they were ready, there were
no accidents and we didn't have to go bare-bottomed. DD1 trained at 3.5
(because I pushed her so badly), DD2 trained at 2.5 and DD2 trained at 2.
IMO, the training process depends on the child and if she/he is ready in
that they know when they have to go, have the ability to get themselves to
the potty on time, and take their pants off and go and clean up after
themselves. We had the potty chair in the bathroom and they were definitely
allowed to play on it, get on it, take their clothes off and sit on it, but
I just didn't push them and I definitely didn't keep reminding them to go
(if you have to do that, IMO they are not ready). Good luck.

dragonlady...

I'm not sure you'll find a single answer to THAT question, either.

There are folks who go for elimination training (I think that's what
it's called) that starts virtually at birth. Since many people used to
see two as the maximum age, I know folks used to start much earlier --
closer to one and a half. And I've heard some older folks claim that it
MUST start as soon as the child is walking.

It depends on what sort of approach you plan on using, and if you plan
on a child-led readiness thing, or a more parent led "training" thing.

Welches...

#1 trained at 22 months. We had a potty around for her to play with, and she
saw older children using the toilet. By 21 months she was asking for pants,
but I didn't try until she was 22 months. It took a 5 days of going bare
bottomed and then she was fine anywhere-we only once had an accidentl out of
the house.
She was keen, that was the big thing, and loved wearing pants. #2 wasn't
trained until 2, although she showed signs by 19 months (would tell me
before she wet from that age, and was dry at night at 21 months) but wasn't
keen, so any suggestion that she went on the potty was ignored.
Dh coined a phrase when #1 was learning, which described #2 perfectly: "You
can take a toddler to the potty, but you can't make them wee".
If she doesn't want to sit on it without her nappy on then I suspect you're
probably onto a losing battle.
Debbie

than a diaper.

Laura Faussone...

I found that the 'first steps' diapers just made diaper rash more
likely, since my kids didn't care when they were wet.