If you’re ready to start potty training, you may be wondering where and how to start. After all, the prospect of teaching a tiny human to ditch the diapers and go in the toilet can be daunting. All kids are different and all require an approach that works for them. Rushing is never a good idea, but if your child is showing signs of readiness for potty training, pull up diapers could be a great addition to your training repertoire.
Pull up diapers let them practice the basic mechanics of going to the restroom. They get to pull them up and down when it’s time to go, which builds confidence in their ability to do it on their own. And when they don’t quite make it to the potty in time, pull ups catch the mess and cut down on the work of cleaning up. Plus, many kids master daytime potty training before they get the hang of staying dry at night. So, even if they’re competent in daytime training, the best pull ups for toddlers could be helpful overnight.
That’s why we’ve examined the specs and features of some of the best pull up diapers on the market. We’ve looked at absorbency, comfort, and designs to rank them in our product roundup. So, if you’re ready to start planning for potty training, have a look below to see if any of our picks meet your little one’s needs.
The Best Pull Up Diapers – Our Picks
- Pampers Easy Ups – Best pull up diapers overall
- Huggies Pull-Ups – Best value pull up diapers with bulk buy choices
- Huggies New Leaf – Best pull up diapers for sensitive skin
- Pampers cruisers – Best pull up diaper for active kids
- Goodnites – Best pull up diapers for bedwetting
- Natural Blossom – Best natural choice – Incredibly soft
- Mama Koala Washable Reusable Pocket Cloth Diapers – Best reusable option (although not strictly a pull-up)
Note: Our individual reviews are below, but you can also click any of the links above to check current prices on Amazon and other retailers
Table of Contents
Pull Up Diaper Reviews
Pampers Easy Ups
These pulls ups start at size 4. That’s around 2T in terms of clothing. They offer a soft and stretchy waistband that goes around the entire waist for comfort at all times. Additionally, the pull up has absorption channels that cut down on leaks for daytime or nighttime wear.
When leaks or accidents do happen, the Pampers Easy Ups Training Pants have easy to tear away sides for hassle-free changes. These are made with soft cotton for cozy comfort and printed with PJ Masks cartoon characters that are sure to get your little one on board the potty train.
What we liked:
- Stretchable waistband for comfortable wear and easy maneuvering for toddlers during potty time
- Extra absorb channels and Dual Leak Guard barriers
- Soft cotton to feel like underwear
- PJ Masks print
What we didn’t:
- We didn’t run across any
Huggies Pull-Ups
These pull up diapers are tried and true favorites and have been potty training staples for decades. The sides are easy to open for necessary changes and refastenable. They’re also stretchy to make trips to the potty easy for toddlers as they learn to slide them up and down on their own.
In terms of absorbency, these pull ups offer extra absorbency and leak protection. The printed Minnie Mouse design fades when wet. So, your little one has some extra incentive to stay dry. For some added encouragement, you can even call the Pull-Ups voice assistant to “speak” with Disney characters that offer positive reinforcement.
What we liked:
- Soft and stretchy material
- Easy to pull up and down
- Print that fades when wet
- Extra absorbency
- Disney character hotline for encouragement
What we didn’t:
- We didn’t find any for these Huggies Pull-Ups
Huggies New Leaf
For those that love the ever faithful brand of Huggies, but want a pull up diaper that is healthy and safe for the environment, they now have Huggies New Leaf Pull-Ups. These are soft and constructed with plant-based materials.
They’re also hypoallergenic and lack harsh ingredients that can act as irritants on sensitive skin. Huggies New Leaf Pull-Ups offer 12 hours of leak protection as well, so they’ll stand up to night time use. These also feature a fading design when the pull up gets wet. Kids will love the Disney graphics too. Like the original Huggies, it has stretchy sides for easy maneuvering and are refastenable for easy checks and size adjustments.
What we liked:
- Easy to pull up and down
- Refastenable sides
- Disney graphics
- Fading design when it gets wet
- Plant-based materials
- Gentle on sensitive skin
What we didn’t:
- None that we could find!
Pampers Cruisers
Unlike other pull up slip on diapers, these are actual diapers with the same absorbency as traditional Pampers. They’re recommended for 22lbs and up for best fit and leak protection.
These Pampers Cruisers are also comfortable with a 360 degree waistband that stretches with movement. The cotton is soft on sensitive skin and the sides are easy to tear away when accidents or changes need to happen. These diapers are hypoallergenic, free of parabens, latex, and bleaching as well. If you have a little one that’s taken to tearing off their own diaper, these could be a good choice because they aren’t likely to figure out the breakaway sides.
What we liked:
- Diaper-level absorbency
- Soft, stretchy waistband all around
- Soft material
- Free of parabens, latex, and bleaching
- Cute, gender-neutral designs
What we didn’t:
- If you wanted to use these on smaller infants or toddlers, they may not fit as well because the sides are not adjustable
Goodnites
For older kids, these could be a good choice and answer to bed wetting. They look and feel like real underwear with a soft waistband. For older kids that don’t want to draw attention to their night time underwear, the packaging is discreet. They even have added protection for boys.
They have more absorbency than training pant underwear and do well to contain leaks as they have leg barriers to contain moisture. They also feature odor absorption for added discreteness. Goodnites also feature Superhero designs, making them feel more like real underwear.
What we liked:
- Extra absorption for night time wear
- Soft waistband with underwear like fit
- Discreet packaging
- Double leg barriers
- Superhero designs to look like underwear
- Odor absorption
What we didn’t:
- We didn’t find any. These could be a solid choice for overnight wear.
Natural Blossom
Imported from the UK, the Natural Blossom variety of pull up diapers for potty training offer a soft, underwear-like wearing experience with a comfortable stretchy waistband. They feature a soft polyester material that won’t irritate skin or cut into your child’s waist or legs. They’re also hypoallergenic, dermatologist tested, and tested free of harmful chemicals, including phthalates.
Additionally, these are highly absorbent to prevent leaks while the leg holes fit snugly to prevent accidents from coming out. These are also less bulky than many other options on the market. Plus, they feature cute designs, complete with a handy wetness indicator. If your little one is already potty trained, this is a great choice.
What we liked:
- Soft polyester material
- Stretchy waistband
- Stretchy leg holes
- Hypoallergenic and dermatologist tested
- High absorbency
- Less bulky
- Animal designs with a wetness indicator
What we didn’t:
- We didn’t find any. These could be a solid choice.
Mama Koala Washable Reusable Pocket Cloth Diapers
If cloth diapers appeal to you, these reusable Mama Koala diapers could be a good choice. Cloth diapers have several advantages. For one, you know what you’re putting on your baby’s skin. They’re made from soft cotton that you can count on for being safe and gentle.
These are also made to grow with your child. So, while they are a bit of an investment, you get to reuse them for many months, if not years. They also reduce waste and decrease your carbon footprint. The Mama Koala diapers also promise no leaks. They fasten with easy-to-use snaps that adjust according to your little one’s size. These diapers also come with microfiber inserts for additional absorption.
If you’ve been on board with cloth diapers the entire time, these are an easy addition to your collection. However, if you’re just in search of potty training help, these cloth diapers could be a useful transition to less absorbent potty pull ups training pants as they feel more like underwear than diapers.
What we liked:
- Made with soft and safe material
- Microfiber insert for added absorption level
- Snaps that adjust based on size and weight of child
- Decreased impact on the environment
- Your child can reuse these for months, possibly years
- Helpful in transition to underwear
- Cute designs
What we didn’t:
- These don’t slide up and down. So, your child won’t gain practice pulling their underwear up or down for potty time.
How do pull ups help with potty training?
Pull up diapers help with potty training because they allow your toddler to practice the motions of using the bathroom by themselves. They can slide up and down easily, just like potty training pull up pants or underwear. The ability to complete that step themselves, is sometimes enough of a confidence boost to coax even the most reluctant potty trainers into giving it a try.
Aside from that, they’re disposable, you can sling them in the daper pail. So when accidents happen (and they will) it’s not as messy to clean up. Most feature breakaway sides made with sturdy Velcro too. That helps make stripping the dirty pull up off your toddler less messy and chaotic.
Are pull-up diapers a necessary step?
Pull up diapers are not necessarily a mandatory step in potty training, but they can be helpful in easing the transition. They provide a buffer that protects clothing and your house from messes, but they’re easy enough to pull down in a pinch.
For some children, the process of potty training is stressful and induces anxiety around the whole transition, including the toilet and underwear. Pull ups cut down on the amount of change they experience at once as they feel very similar to diapers.
Training pants vs pull-up diapers
Training pants can be an additional step in the potty training process or they can be the only step. They’re closer to cotton underwear, but have additional padding to absorb some liquid. Training pants are also not disposable and require washing.
Pull ups, on the other hand, are more absorbent. Any accidents will be safely soaked up and contained. They’re also disposable, which can be helpful for accidents when you’re away from home.
Are pull-up diapers good for overnight wear?
Pull ups are okay for night time wear. They absorb (almost) as well as diapers. However, most parents will attest to them being slightly more prone to leaking. The key is to assess how much your toddler is going at night.
If your toddler has started waking up with a dry diaper then they’re just a safeguard, and they’ll likely be fine. Additionally, some brands have pull ups designed specifically for overnight wear. They’re more absorbent and soft for comfortable sleeping.
When should I use pull-ups?
It’s a good idea to wait until your toddler shows signs of readiness for potty training and pull ups. Forcing the matter before they’re ready can be stressful and actually set them back in terms of readiness.
Signs to look for are fiddling with diapers, hiding to do their business, vocalizing that they need to do number 1 or 2, having a dry diaper for longer, and waking up dry. If you’re little one is displaying any of those signs, it could be a good time to introduce pull ups. However, if they resist, it might be a good idea to wait and try again later.
Every kid is different and while some might be ready at 18 months, others might not be physical or mentally ready until ages 2-3. It’s a good idea to let your child take the lead along with respectful and encouraging direction from their grown ups.
What to look for in good pull-up diapers
Absorbency
You obviously want a high quality blend of materials that soak up pee and poop. Ideally, the pull up will be absorbent enough to stand up to overnight use. If you want natural materials, try looking for pull ups that use premium cotton or bamboo. Some brands also eliminate bleaching and harmful chemicals.
Velcro
Look at the way the sides are fastened. Be sure they are secure and require effort to pull apart as you won’t want your little one to be able to do it easily. A pull up that unfastens too easily is a recipe for disaster and disgusting messes that no one wants to clean up.
Designs
While designs might not top the list of important factors, they may be good encouragement for getting your toddler to take the leap into potty training. If their pull up is adorned with their most beloved cartoon characters, they may be more likely to jump on board with the change.
Wetness Indicators
These are just as helpful and important in pull ups as they are traditional diapers. Plus, some pull ups are equipped with wetness indicators that reveal special pictures when wet.
