As we increasingly come to understand our impact on the globe, more and more parents are looking for sustainable ways to potty train their wee ones. With most studies showing an average of 5000-6000 nappies in the landfill per baby, it’s no wonder more families are looking to reduce their contribution.
It can be difficult to find a starting point for sustainable potty training, so we’ve put together a little guide. From the basic essentials to the best eco-friendly diapers and
reusable training pants, we’ve got everything you need to approach sustainable toilet training.
Get The Essentials Sorted
The essentials are pretty straightforward when it comes to potty training. You’ll need to have a potty, or a step stool if you’re using training straight on the toilet—the step will help them sit comfortably while they go. Many little ones are scared of falling into the bowl, if this relates to your tot, a toilet seat insert will make them feel secure and more confident on the loo.
Wet wipes will be your best friend while you are toilet training. Always stay stocked up, as they’ll help clean your little one up if they run into an accident. When you’re out and about, wet wipes and sanitiser will help you keep any public bathroom surfaces safe too—while also helping teach your kids good hygiene practice. Just be sure to remember that wet wipes can’t be flushed, so you’ll need to dispose of them in the bin.
Daytime
While they’re getting used to the potty, we recommend investing in some
day training pants. These are some of the best, eco-friendly, diaper alternatives for the training process, or saving you from dealing with some unfortunate accidents in their big-kid undies. They’re not going to keep your child completely dry, instead, they’re designed to let them feel the dampness but give you enough time to get them to a bathroom when something unexpected occurs.
If you want to get them used to undies, reusable liners are a fabulous way to help the transition. They’ll feel like a big kid, but still be protected and not have to feel embarrassed when facing an accident.
Undie liners are designed to turn regular underwear into training pants, helping them feel when they’re wet and learning the signals of when it’s time to go.
Leaving them in traditional nappies while you’re toilet training is never the best idea, because conventional nappies can be expensive, won’t help you teach them when to go, and also contribute significantly to landfill. Once you ditch the disposables, you’ve already taken one of the biggest steps.
Night Time
Night time training pants are designed to make them feel grown-up—they’re big kids now so they want the cool undies, and these are definitely ones they’ll love. With 100ml absorbency over 4 hours, they’re perfect for those who aren’t filling a disposable throughout the night, saving plenty of wasted nappies. They’ll feel confident going to bed in their snazzy new bedtime undies and the option to add an extra booster pad can give you some confidence too (if you need it).
Think about the water that’s wasted when you have to strip the sheets and wash them in the middle of the night, just to have to do the same thing again the next night! And even if it doesn’t happen often, it can still be a big inconvenience. We recommend using waterproof mattress and pillow protectors to keep them clean, and save you from having to get replacements down the line. Brolly Sheets are waterproof and easy to wash, saving your actual sheets from taking the heat.
A bed pad will also save you many, many loads of laundry, meaning less wasted time, water, and power—the environment and your wallet will both be thanking you. A bed pad is comfortable to sleep on, and when an accident happens, having a spare one ready to swap in will help keep you sane. Just take off the bed pad, throw it in the laundry basket and put your new one on. You can do the washing when it suits you and when you’ve got more to wash; sustainability isn’t just about the products—it’s your habits of how you manage the accidents that pop up along the way.
Extra Tips & Tricks
1. Hold on to your products. If you’re planning on growing the family, hold onto all your products that are still in good condition. They may not be impressed with the hand-me-down at first, but one day they’ll be doing the same with their kids! Quality products are an investment and holding onto them will help you get ahead in sustainable potty training with your next one—plus it’ll reduce your overall waste. We’re so confident in the lasting quality of our products that they come with a one year warranty and twelve-month money-back guarantee.
2. Wet bags & sleeping bag liners. When you’ve out and about, a
wet bag is perfect for keeping a change of clothes in case of an accident. Just pop any wet clothing in once they’ve changed and you can deal with it when you’re home! If they’re almost trained but nervous for a sleepover or camp, or you’re nervous about a potentially ruined sleeping bag, a
waterproof sleeping bag liner can give both of you confidence.
3. Cold wash your Brolly Sheets. This will get the same results, leaving perfectly clean sheets, while consuming less electricity. Many washing machines have eco-wash settings too, taking advantage of these settings will take your sustainability further.
4. Make it fun! Rewards, activities,
books, sticker charts, and many other products can make the whole experience easier for you and your little one—they shouldn’t feel stressed—keep them encouraged. Lots of encouragement can even help speed the process up.
Brolly Sheets Make Sustainable Potty Training a Breeze
That’s it! Really, it’s not that scary. Sustainable potty training is all about investing in the right products and committing to the right habits. If you need some more advice, we’ve got plenty of
helpful resources for toilet training. Make the experience a breeze with Brolly Sheets—browse our collection of reusable baby products online—or
contact the lovely team behind brolly sheets to answer any other burning questions!
Good luck with your potty training journey!
