Reaching A Toddler Milestone With “Character” (NAPSA)—When it comes to training a toddler, it can take a lot of character—oris it characters? In a recent survey on potty training by Hanes, 70 percent of the parents who responded said they used underwear featuring their child’s favorite characters as an incentive for potty training. “Character underwear is an incredibly fun yet amazingly practical reward for using the potty and keeping their underweardry,” said Dudley Gentry, director of marketing for Hanes children’s underwear. Close to 50 percent of parents surveyed said it took a month to several months before their child was trained. In line with popular thinking, the majority of parents said girls are easier to train than boys. Age also is an important factor for potty training. Close to 80 percent of parents surveyed trained their children between 18 months andthree yearsof age. “Compared to other toddler milestones, like first steps and drinking from a cup, potty training often generates more concerns and questions from parents,” said Dr. Cyndy Lively, a pediatrician and mother of two. “We advise parents to look for signs their child is ready and willing to be potty trained. A commonfirst sign is when your child knows and acknowledges that he has to use the bathroom. When they do use the potty, encourage your child with lots of praise. Treat accidents with sym- Before starting potty training, parents should plan a special underwear shopping expedition with their toddler. pathy and avoid scolding.” Although 70 percent of parents surveyed said they used character underwear as an actual incentive for potty training, an even greater number, said character underwear plays an important role throughout the entire training process. As an incentive or a reward, charac- ter underwear can help but there is one important guideline— choose the right character. Nearly half of the parents surveyed said their children want to wear only certain favorite characters. Hanes offers a complete array of the latest character underwear from movies such as Star Wars and Harry Potter, along with perennial favorites, such as Barbie, Winniethe-Pooh, Hot Wheels and Blue’s Clues. For more information, visit www.Hanes.com.
