We had that delay effect with toilet training too, I think it's due to the Sensory Integration Disorder (SID). difficult child 3 simply couldn't 'feel' when he was wet, until we put him in cloth pants. There were no such things as Pull-ups with my older three, and no problem training them (apart from difficult child 1 totally refusing to do 'it' ANYWHERE, including in his nappy).
I probably qualify as a tree-hugger, I've been called it a number of times, but I happily used disposables. Even more happily after I read the study that as far as environmental concerns, they're much the same. So none of my 'greenie' mates ever tried to criticise. Well, never twice, anyway!
Marg
