The final installment of the Ultimate Guide to Cloth Trainers. You can catch up on Part 1 and Part 2 for info on cloth trainers beginning in letters A-K.
As mentioned before, this is a work in progress that will be added to as reviews are discovered and experience is had.
Feel free to offer comments on trainers listed or not!
Super Undies. Super Undies are one of the most recommended trainers among experienced cloth diaper moms (as observed from forums and Facebook groups). Super Undies have a great size range. If you have a older, large or special needs child the size large will accommodate where most other brands don’t. I always recommend these when people ask about trainers. Here is my review.
Maria also wrote a great review of Super Undies Pocket Potty training pants that I highly recommend.
Super Undies pocket trainers are designed to look like big kid undies. They have snaps in the back to remove them in the case of a messy accident, but the front looks more like underwear than a diaper. There is just enough absorbency sewn in to catch a small accident, but you can add step up inserts to provide enough absorbency to last through a car ride or other extended wear. Three sizes with two waist settings each will fit even big kids. The trainers are fairly trim with the sewn in soaker only, but adding inserts gives them more of a fluffy, diaper-like look. ~Maria
Super Undies produced this video to show you how their pocket trainer works.
Snap-Ez Pocket Trainers. If you have a special needs older child or adult, Snap-Ez is the best option for you. Cloth diapers and trainers in adult sizes are much harder to come by. I get several inquiries a year for recommendations in this area. If you are shopping for an adult you will shop the Snap-Ez pocket diapers. This is because you are most likely looking for something with more absorbency than a “trainer”.
- Underwear. No absorbency, hard to clean up poop accidents. However, easy transition and cheapest. I’ve used underwear for potty training 4 children and, aside from 1 child who makes everything interesting, it has been a smooth experience. I’m sure I change sheets more than someone who uses cloth trainers but overall I have found the system to be successful.
Ellen says
Is there anywhere you can find Bum Unders any more?
I want something that’s good for nighttime but still looks like and feels like underwear.
I have some super undies, but they are too big still for my 2 year old. I wish the nighttime version of those came in smaller sizes.
Any tips or help. I want her out of pull ups for nap time and bedtime.
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Hi Ellen, I don’t see them for sale anymore either. I would say to try and contact the shop and see if she can make some for you. It couldn’t hurt to ask if you love them so much :) https://www.etsy.com/people/bumUnders#
Amy says
Where can you find the tinkle time trainers? Ladder Hill design no longer sells it.
Jennifer Reinhardt says
I checked into this and it looks like the download is no longer carried there. I was unable to find it anywhere else. I’m so sorry I couldn’t be more of a help.
Tamara says
Just thought I would let you know I just spent a lot of time and went through each and every one of these. They are almost all unavailable!!! They are either out of business, stopped making that particular product, or are “on leave”. It seems like most of them went out of business!
I COULD NOT find 1 pair that I liked that were available (or affordable. IMHO there needs to be some more affordable clothe diapers. I can buy a simple pair o Gerber trainers for real cheap, but the thing is i want side snaps. ChaChing!!! Something with side snaps suddenly becomes $15 to $30 a pair. I just want a simple pair of padded underwear with snaps; it shouldn’t cost me a small fortune! Okay rant done HAHA) anyways, I finally found these on amazon, which are the most affordable thus far: BubuBibi training pants. You should add them to your list! And whats better, you can get them from cheaper on the BubuBibi website. :-)
Jennifer Reinhardt says
Hi Tamara, You are right. It does need to be update. This post was written three years ago. I will get it on my to do list and check into Bububibi. Thanks!
Meg says
We have used several cloth trainers over the years and our favorites have been a few of those you have listed :)
– Snap-EZ (AIO & Stuffable)
– SuperUndies
– BumUnders
– TotWraps Transitions
– Potty Scotty/Patty (padded underwear, non-waterproof)
– Ladder HIll Designs Tinkle Time (daytime and nighttime pocket)
Mikki says
I’m looking for something for naps/overnights. My daughter is potty trained during the day. She pees alot during night time. I’m tired of buying disposables. I’ve cloth diapered her from the start.
Jennifer Reinhardt says
I would highly recommend super undies. They are very well made and you can customize the absorbency based on her needs.
Brooke says
Thanks for putting this together – I have friends that often ask me about trainers. While I have CDed all of my children, I have always switched to disposable trainers for potty training. For my first two children, there were no trainers available. For my third, there were just 3 kinds and I didn’t want to spend the $$$. With my current potty trainer, my issue is his escapist tendencies. He can get out of anything that snaps and then pulls it out of his britches . It is quite a treat to be walking through a store and have him suddenly hand his trainer to you! I do have two pull on only style Blueberry trainers that I really like, but poopy accidents are a nightmare. What works for us is Pampers Easy Ups. He can’t get them undone, but I can tear them off if I need too. I often just put him in very cheap undies then cut them off if the mess is really bad. :)