Do you have to use proper pants to succeed at potty training?

[Gangle]

We're in the process of potty training DS1, 2.5. We've taken a softly softly approach and he's going fairly well - asks for potty sometimes for poos and wees although still has a fair number of accidents. Thing is, I've been keeping him in pull-up training pants rather than big boy pants, which he keeps asking for. I've let him wear them a few times around the house and it's not made a difference in terms of him remembering when he needs to go, and have put him back in pull ups when we go out. Am now wondering if he needs to be in big boy pants ALL the time in order to make any real progress. I do think he is ready and that I'm holding him back a bit by not really knowing how to train!

[alarkaspree]

Yes. Put him in pants all the time, take a few changes of clothes when you go out but honestly it will be fine. Take him to the loo frequently at first especially when you're out because it's easy to forget.

Pull-ups are nappies, from a child's point of view. You can have an accident and not even notice. I think if you leave him in pull-ups you're not really sending him the message that he's meant to use the potty now.

[Gangle]

thanks alarkaspree. Take it you're abroad as well???

[spiderlight]

I agree - he needs big-boy pants or a bare bum, as pull-ups are basically just a nappy.