Training Pants Reviews - XP from AP/EFF

I've posted this in response to a few questions here and there, but I've updated it with more fit into and a more more brands. The post from AP was geared towards using on a kid smaller than the average PL'er, hence the references to tiny's. Anyhow, hopefully somebody finds this info useful!

For reference, DD is now 22#, 33" tall, 16" waist, ~11" thighs. When we started PL she was about 2# lighter (her weight gainer meds are working, yay!) and her waist/legs were a bit smaller but I don't know by how much. She is consistently a size smaller than size charts suggest because of her build.

A lot of the CD's she fits into are a size small still, and a few mediums if that gives you an idea. She's nowhere NEAR outgrowing any OS diapers and most are snapped down still. Here's a review of the trainers we've tried (size small unless otherwise noted), a few of which I carry in my store but not all and none are actually listed yet anyway.

At home, I want to be able to see and feel easily if she's wet so I go with non waterproof ones. Outside the house I want to prevent leaks on the carseat, on me, etc but for her to still know she's wet.

My reviews-

Blue Penguin: non-waterproof, cotton with a sewn in soaker in the wet zone, higher rise, no snaps, work very well, DD LOVES the dinosaur embroidered one. Fits well, with a higher rise than others.

ImseVimse: hidden PUL in wet zone only, cotton, no snaps, they don't prevent leaks 100% but are good for short trips out of the house because of the PUL. i like that you can't tell the PUL is there so they are more panty-like. Slightly big, but workable.

Little Beetle: cotton, non-waterproof, side snaps, a little puffy under clothes due to construction and snaps. I rec these for kids with rare accidents, not ones early in the process. Good tiny fit.

SuperUndies Day: waterproof, very stretchy and easy to pull up/down, side snaps in the back of the pants, PUL outer everywhere except side stretch panels, 1 layer microfiber under non-wicking synthetic fabric, pocket for adding absorbency. I like these a lot, but I do wish they came in a smaller size (I'm working with the owner on this) because DD is seriously TINY and that there was a snap-free version.

SuperUndies Night: same as above, but no snaps, waterproof all over, and has 3 layers microfiber with no pocket. These are great for when we're going out and I'd really like to put a diaper on her but don't want to backtrack, since they have a lot of absorbency. We do still use diapers at night though we could probably switch at this point and use these.

Tiny Birds OBV training pants: organic cotton outer, OBV inner, non-waterproof. Easy to pull on and off, but on the bulkier side due to construction. Plenty of absorbency, very soft.Very low cut, better for big belly babies because of this and not as small as others.

Potty Patty: They have 3 kinds. There are the nighttime trainers, which I don't like because they have microfiber against the skin . They are PUL outers with side snaps (and the smallest are too big for my mini). Then there are the 2-in-1 trainers with cotton inner and PUL outer and FOE on the legs/waist (bigger than the all cotton ones, slightly puffy due to full PUL, but still good. they fit better after DD gained just 1#). Then there are the regular cotton ones, which I really like. They are similar to the Gerber training pants, but are a nicer, softer, thicker cotton and the quality is much better. They do come small enough for H and I like them.

Potty Praiser: These are interesting. They are a thin stretchy cotton underpant, with a snap in hemp soaker. The soaker is backed in PUL so it is waterproof in the wet zone only. They are okay, but the soaker tends to get bunched so DD doesn't like them. I think if there was an extra set of snaps in between the legs they would be better, so I may add some to mine. I do like the cut of the underpants though, so I may use it to draft a pattern to make my own. They fit well in the waist, but the leg holes are roomier than I would like.

Happy Heinys trainers, no snaps (they also come with snaps on one or both sides): They are fairly puffy, but easy to pull up and down. They are waterproof with an outer layer of PUL, stay dry microfleece pocket, and no absorbency on their own (you add an insert if you need it, otherwise it is waterproof underwear). HH will make custom sizes for you.

Hanna Andersson Training Pants: They are non-waterproof, organic cotton, 4 layers in the wet zone. Similar to the Potty Patty/Potty Scotty. but much larger and slightly less absorbent and I would not rec them for an early trainer or tiny kid- DD is solidly within the size chart rec, but they are loose on her. I do like them alot though, and DD loves the prints.

Under The Nile: Almost identical to Hanna Andersson.

Gerber: Don't waste your money. Not small enough, thin flimsy cheap fabric.

Luvable Friends: Somewhere between Gerber and PP/PS as far as quality and absorbency, good for tiny ones, esp kids with a small waist.

Blueberry Trainers (the new ones not the minky, because their cust. service sucks and every time I've tried to order the minky trainers they've "forgotten" to pack them yet still charge me...): These are near identical to the ones I designed for my store. Great fit, easy to pull up and down, soft, cute, lined in OBV, section of PUL in the wet zone, trim under clothes. These are DD's favourite by far (even over the dinosaur ones!) and she tries really hard to keep them dry. They are one of my faves too, although I still think the design I'm working on is better.

Milano: Not small enough to give a good review yet, but they have terry inner, extra padding and a waterproof layer in the wet zone. Too crinkly for PUL, maybe nylon? Not very absorbent, so probably better for the end of PL.

 

 

Umm, I think that's all of them.