Have you heard about the “potty train in 3 days” method that’s so popular with parents everywhere? It actually works!
Even better, it’s not difficult.
You need lots and lots of patience, love, and the ability to give your child your complete attention for 3 days.
Expect some accidents and remember that they aren’t the end of the world. Learning to use the potty by themselves is a big deal for kids. Don’t give the accidents a spotlight but focus instead on every little win.
How to Potty Train in 3 Days…
Prepare to Potty Train
1. Block off 3 days that can be devoted entirely to your child and to potty training. Lots of parents set aside a weekend.
2. Get your head in a positive, calm space and make up your mind that the next 3 days are going to produce amazing results.
3. Shop for a few things that’ll make everything easier.
Plenty of your child’s favorite drinks.
Rewards – stickers, inexpensive little toys, bubbles. Anything small little treasure they’ll like is perfect.
Fun books. You’ll be reading books to them while they’re on the potty, so if they don’t have many, get some from the library.
Big kid underwear with their favorite characters on them.
A brand new potty – of course!
Potty Train – Day One
Taking off the diaper is the first step to the 3-day potty training method. Your little one is going to love walking around with nothing on their bottom!
Your constant attention is needed, and I do mean constant. We don’t want your kiddo peeing on the floor if you can help it.
Show them the awesome new potty they have and put it somewhere that’s easy for both of you to see, quick to get to, and easy to access.
Bring it out into the living room!
Give them plenty to drink. After all, that’s the key to having to go to the bathroom a lot, and that’s what you want.
Your job today is to watch them closely and every time they show any sign of possibly needing to go to the bathroom, take them to their potty. You’re going to have to move fast, which is why you need their potty to be close by.
Potty Train – Day Two
Start the day the same way as day one, with no diaper or pants. Offer lots of praise about how well they did yesterday.
On day two, you’ll be using a timer. Take them to their potty every 30 minutes whether they need to go or not.
Give them a fun book and read to them while they’re sitting there.
This will not be a “short sit.” They need to be on the potty a while, and you’ll want to make that a fun experience for them.
When they use the potty, make sure they get a reward and lots and lots of praise.
Remember, they’re going to have some accidents. Whatever you do, don’t chastise them for it.
An accident will give them the opportunity to know how uncomfortable it is to feel wet.
It’s not the same sensation as having a wet diaper. It’s good for them to feel the difference.
Potty Train – Day 3
Today you’ll let them go to the potty by themselves, but continue to watch them closely.
Pile on the praises and give a reward when they go to the potty by themselves.
Provide encouragement and a little bit of guidance when they need it.
That’s the 3-day potty training method!
If it takes a little longer than 3 days, that’s okay!
Their little brains are learning and just as important, they are getting lots of attention and accolades from Mom and Dad. That can only be a good thing, right?
I can’t wait to hear how the potty train in 3 days goes for you. If you’ve potty trained your kiddo, pretty please tell me about it. Comment with your ups, downs, and tips that work. Your experience can help lots of other parents potty train their kids.
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36 comments on “How to Potty Train In 3 Days”
I trained my girls the same way 25 years ago
I call it “gentle harassment” lol just keep taking them and keeping them busy while on the potty. When they just sit, give them a couple gummy bears. When they pee add a sticker to a chartand reward them after a set amount (15-20?) I kept little toys around for when they had a good day and started trying pooping and make evrything very very exciting and positive and infependent.
For best results for a boy I found. My 3Rd son was ready to potty train but with two other time consuming boys I need it to be quick. My two boys loves peeing outside standing up like a big boy. I looked into a urinal and found a mini training one on eBay. Honestly the beat buy ever. It’s portable and fun. From the first day he was successfully potty trained no longer wanted a nappy even for a number 2. New he needed to sit on the toilet or potty. I recommend it to my sister and she also had amazing results with her 13mth old boy. They have so much self gratification going to the toilet standing up like daddy. I have now got a 6mth little girl and am a bit apprehensive about the potty training situation after having 3 boys so will try your method with her and let you know.
Is there an age that is most appropriate for potty training? My daughter is 18 months.
You can start now my daughter started at 18 months but it took a little while before she was fully trained you can always put s pull up over a diaper so she feels wet but less mess for us and in the car seat I put a puppy pad since in traffic sometimes it’s hard to make it
My son was completely potty trained by 17 months
My 2.5 year old is still a work in progress the key is patience and have her go whenever you go good luck
What is done for nap time? Should the diaper be put back on? Also what is the best time-age for potty training in your opinion?
I have been potty training for a year now and no matter what I do my little girl still don’t make it to the potty in time I tell her to go to the potty and she tells me no I take her to the potty and the whole time we are in there she is screaming no mommy I just don’t know what to do at this point any suggestions on how to go about it she will poop fine it’s peeing that she really don’t like doing
I did this method and it worked wonders!
I think it’s super important to know when your child is ready.. not when you’re ready. It won’t matter how planned you are if the child isn’t ready yet. If they are two it is probably to early.. yet two and half might be perfect. My three boys and granddaughter (also owned my own daycare and potty trained other lil ones) were potty trained quickly because they were open to it. I just kept offering the option in that 6 months… then one day they were ready and off we went. All children mature at different ages. It’s so important to remember that in all things we teach them. Pushing them just causes frustration that the lil ones won’t understand and that makes success unachievable. So please be realistic.
Yes if you wait until they are ready then it is so easy! They are not going to go to kindergarten in diapers so dont worry, If they sit on potty, go pee a little bit, then get up and walk and start peeing as they are walking, that is one sign that they are ready bc they can actually stop their flow and hold it and not empty bladder all the way. My little guy did this and so I knew he was ready. We had a lot of JUICE bc that is what makes one pee a lot! I had fun crazy straws and sippy cups and he would drink after reading a few pages in book. Juice is key to making one pee a lot and then they get it! It is so great! However juice isnt the best drink normally but for potty training it is awesome.
My son will use the potty for peeing but he will not go number two on the potty he will not tell us when he has to go the more we push him to use the potty the more he shuts down
Wait till you see some sign that they are ready and willing to use the potty! Otherwise it is you who are trained!
Going 2 try is this week I have 3 days off so I want 2 do the with my boy
Thank you for the tips! Going to try this with my, extremely, stubborn 2 year old boy. I’ll be sure to come back with my results!
What about nap times? Put a diaper on for naps and night time? My son is only 28 months old, but hes taking his diaper off and going all over the place!
Im.so excited to try this & for night time im going to try pull ups and practce putting in underwear.
This is great information and it worked for all 3 of my children, 2 of them are 20 years older than my youngest! A couple of additions that we found helpful – don’t ask your child to sit on the potty or you are sure to get a NO. Instead, tell them (in a positive, kind way) that it’s time to sit on the potty. In addition to treats, sing a silly potty song with actions.
I hope this works
I keep trying to get to potty trained him doesn’t want to after the first time and he is three old
My grandson does great when he is completely naked on the bottom. As soon as you put underwear on him he pees in them. We have been doing this for weeks and the results are always the same. Any suggestions?
I was wondering as well how does the night time work? And if we keep the potty in the living room; so we move it to the bathroom so in the morning? I feel so lost with this. Thank you in advance!
This sounds great! I cant wait to try with my daughter!! How does night time work??? Does she wear a diaper?
Same question for me about night time???w
I wondered that too, what do you do at night,
Thank for the help. I been watching my son like to be without diapers sometimes and go potty to stand there copying daddy and I hope use the bathroom. My son is two, and he will sit on his potty seat and say poo, poop, I say it to so can be confident. He likes to pull up his training pants from Pampers and we practice up and down techniques to pull up finish and pull down sit. When my son feels to go once in the while, I don’t hesitate to help him, same when he wants to bath. Right now is really watching him else, talk to him and copy correctional words, and hangout with his experience as a toddler he is learning a lot and likening things. Hope this helps.
What if your little one completely refuses? I went theough potty training with my step daughter and the way she was trained was not good. My son has gone on his potty a few times and even went to the bathroom once. We attempted again and ever since then he refuses. No matter how much i bribe him, offer toys, candy etc. i dont want to go theough the same thing as my step daughter. So i keep saying he will go when he’s ready. Any suggestions??
Exactly this.
Just screams no stomps her feet and refuses
I recommend he be showing signs that he knows he’s going or has to go. My 4yo daughter is just now trained. I’ll start on my 2nd daughree when she turns 3yo. Their pediatrician says that as long as they’re potty trained by 4yo its good. No need to stress much before hand.
I think the trick here is to make him responsible for any mess that needs to be cleaned up. Not in a punitive way, just a matter of fact way. When he refuses he gets time out or loses privileges just like any other punishment.
I’m going through the same thing with my daughter. I’m looking for any answers I can get too.
That is my little guy as well. He goes when he wants to. He will outright refuse. There’s no bribing him. I’ve tried with cookies and candy. I’ve offered him his favorite Dinotruxs and he’ll stay ok then when he asks for it I say you have to go poop on the potty and he’ll say I don’t want the dinorux. So I’m not going to have the same battles as I did with my daughter. I’m going to see if he’ll let me attempt this and if not I’m not going to stress about it . The dr didn’t even bring up potty training at his 3 year appointment so if she’s not hounding me I’m not going to worry. There’s other things to stress about. He won’t be in diapers his whole life. Stay strong mom and know it will happen when he’s ready.