Can Cloth Diapering Really Help With Potty Training?

So what’s the deal with the claim that using cloth diapers during infancy can help a toddler potty-train more easily?

It’s (mostly) true!

Disposable diapers and some modern cloth diapers pull moisture away from the skin to keep babies comfortable after they have used their diapers. This can certainly have its advantages, and there’s a reason we offer Stay-Dry products! When my own babies are going to be in the car or in a busy situation, I like to use Stay-Dry Soaker Pads.

But natural fibers like organic cotton don’t do this. When your baby uses his diaper, it feels wet.

Why is this a good thing? Because your baby can learn, from a very early age, to connect the sensation of a full bladder to the soon-to-follow sensation of wetness in his diaper. And if this sensation is uncomfortable to him, he will cry, you will change him, and his preference for a dry bottom is reinforced. Guess what! Making that ‘potty-awareness’ connection is half the work of potty-learning right there!

Can we make the claim that all cloth diapered babies—or even all babies diapered with cotton—will transition from diapers to the potty early or easily? Unfortunately, we can’t. But the parents on our team and MANY of our fans agree, anecdotally, that they’ve noticed a difference between their cotton-diapered and disposable-diapered or Stay-Dry cloth-diapered children’s potty-learning trajectories.

What about in your family? Share your experiences with potty-training! Do you think the type of fibers against your baby’s skin made a difference in the speed or ease of your child’s transition to using the toilet?