Thrifty parenting leads to sagging diaper sales

For Kimberly-Clark Corp. (KMB) and Procter & Gamble Co. (PG), the business of potty training is getting messier.

Not only do these companies sell diapers, such as Huggies and Pampers, but they try to push parents of toddlers -- like myself -- to buy "training pants," underwear-like diapers that a child can easily remove when going to the bathroom. Commercials for these products -- also called pull-ups -- seem to be ubiquitous on television shows aimed at very young children. Interestingly, the message is not getting through.