[mom2ewc]

When my babe comes in Jan, we're doing all cloth dipes and wipes. So, I was thinking that it would make sense to CD my 3-year old (who shows NO signs of being interested in potty training).

I wanted to switch to CD earlier, but other moms warned me that he wouldn't potty train well if I switched to cloth, because he would mistake real underwear for cloth dipes... and pee and poop in them.

I'm not so sure they're right... I feel like he needs to feel being wet and poopy and bit more than he does, in order to feel the need for the potty.

But I have NO idea where to begin! Has anyone tried switching at such a late age?

And if so, what would be my best bet for dipes/covers? I can't imagine getting prefolds on him... so, AIOs or pockets, I would assume? He's a 38-pounder... with pretty chunky thighs... a BIG boy!

I don't think he's ready for those "cloth training pants" because he won't pee or poop on the potty yet at all.

Any suggestions or real life experience would be greatly appreciated. I have to place one final CD order for my babe in the next week or so... and want to add my 3-year old's stash to the order, if it makes sense.

Can't wait to hear your words of wisdom!

 

[schreiberwriter]

My 3 year old who is similar to yours does well with FuzziBunz larges for day, medium Bummis pull ups if I'm sure he won't poo, and Thirsties large All in ones for night. I add a microfiber to the Thirsties and put on fleece pants just in case he pees a lot. The fleece came from http://www.diaperswappers.com/forum/...d.php?t=370693

You can justify anything you do for the 3 year old with the fact that you can use it for the baby eventually.

 

[emmaegbert]

My 4yo wears diapers at night. He's 75 percentile weight for his age- over 40 lbs. Prefolds fit fine. He can actually put them on and take them off himself, using the pins, lol. FWIW, He also still fits into his motherease Sandy's large, which he started wearing at about 8 mos. Personally I wouldn't buy too much that really won't work for the little one, because even if it seems a million years off, chances are your son will actually not be in full-time diapers for that much longer.

As my son has grown up I love the prefolds more and more. He's still wearing the same ones I bought before he was born. I'm getting more for baby #2. They might not be as snazzy as all the special dipes, but they sure are versatile, cheap, and simple.

I don't think that cd delays toilet learning at all. Not sure if it speeds it up either though (which is what I'd heard). Of the kids in my circle of friends who wore CD and whose toilet learning I knew about: my son stopped daytime dipes at 21 mos, another right at 24, another at 30, another two around 36. Seems to me a lot of that has to do with emotional, cognitive and physical readiness of the child more than anything.

 

[mom2ewc]

Thanks, ladies, this is helpful. I'd love to hear what other moms use on their 3-year old, "stocky" boys. I don't want to waste a lot of money on dipes that won't fit my guy, since I"ll be using them (hopefully) for such a short time..

I just had a thought - maybe I'll put a CPF or a doubler inside his disposables before my new covers get here. To see how much absorbency he needs... and to start the process slowly. Is there any problem with using the disposable as a cover temporarily?

I just started using the cloth wipes I got for the baby on my DS, so the switch has already started. I may just get 1 or 2 covers and some larger CPFs for him (although he HATES diaper changes as it is, not sure I could get a PF on him, we'll see)... and perhaps some pocket dipes (Fuzzi Bunz would fit a 38-pound kid with big thighs?) with inserts.

I'm assuming pocket dipes would be better than AIOs for a 3-year old, since I could stuff them to get enough absorbency?

We've only been doing 3-4 diaper changes a day with the disposables... how many should we expect to do for cloth? I'm assuming a couple more... yikes. He HATES diaper changes.

 

[rmzbm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by schreiberwriter You can justify anything you do for the 3 year old with the fact that you can use it for the baby eventually.

 

[J.J.]

I had hoped to switch DS2 when DS3 was born (he was 2) and while dry during the day, he's still diapered at night. He completely refused the cloth...might have been better if I'd switched him before the new baby, I think part of the issue was because he thought the CD's were the baby's and he was the big kid. He also doesn't like change. So it might depend on the receptiveness of you LO. Good news is I can still use everything on DS3, and all he knows is cloth.

 

[3lilpunkins]

I can't really give any advice as to what will fit your lil guy, I'm CDing for the 1st time, on my 3rd kid. But I can tell ya, I think it will really potty training along. He'll feel the wetness (and the dirtiness...)and he will NOT like the feeling. So when he wears "big boy" undies, why would go potty in them? In fact, you might just CD at night. with my 1st 2, I put them in real undies during the day, that helped push them into potty training like super speed. They start to associate "that feeling" with "uh oh, I'm about to get all wet and nasty again!"

Also, since he's a boy, throw fruit loops in the toilet, its fun, and it teaches aiming skills!

 

[jr'smom]

Interesting...
Same boat for me. Cding for the first time with baby due in January. My 2 yr old is still in disposables and really not interested in potty training. It doesn't make any sense to me to be using CDs on baby and sposies on DS!

As soon as we get all the CDs that we just bought washed, I think I'm going to start DS2 in them. We got lots of BG3.0's pocket dipes. They should fit him and give us some practice before DD comes in January.

Good tip on starting sooner so he doesn't associate the CDs only with the new baby!

 

[schreiberwriter]

FuzziBunz sells an x-large that looks pretty good. You could go to their site to see where their retailers are so you could check them out before buying.

I don't see any problem with using disposables as a cover. An interesting solution.

 

[mom2ewc]

I tried my Bum Genius OS on my almost 3-year old (before washing) and it fit, but without the insert... and without pre-washing... so I'm pretty sure it won't fit him around the waist once those two things have happened.

I'll check out some of the larger covers to see what might work. I'll need it for an almost-40 pounder!

 

[g&a]

I wished I'd done that! If I'd only known that Dd would still be in disposables at night when the baby is almost a year old. It's just wierd to have one kid in disposables and one in cloth, not to mention having separate diaper pails for them.

g.

 

[Michaels-Mommy]

My almost 3 year old, 40 pound son has outgrow his large diapers. I acually just started putting him in underware today. He wet almost every pair but I am jsut hoping that he gets it soon. He refuses to go on the potty too. I won't buy xlg diapers. I do have toddler prefolds that I can use if needed. those might be the best way for you to go money wise since he most likley won't be in diapers much longer.

 

[amis2girls]

I would do it if I could. I considered it when my youngest was just over 1 and never did.

 

[mom2ewc]

For a 3-year old, does it make more sense to buy a training pant version like one of these:
http://nickisdiapers.com/catalog.php?category=16

... or an actual cover like a Fuzzi Bunz or Thirsties cover?

And would you ladies try to start these on him before or after the baby comes? I'm assuming before...

 

[schreiberwriter]

Training pants make sense when your child is using the potty regularly. Otherwise, they're a pain because poop in training pants doesn't come out easily.

I like the Imse Vmse ones. My favorite are the bummis. I bought a medium for my very large son, they run big. I put them on him when we go shopping or out for playdates, etc. They'll catch a pee, not much more.

Naked works best I think.

But really, the kid has to be self motivated.