Regan October 28, 2024

Is it time to toss the diapers or pull-ups? Is your toddler showing signs of being ready to use the big boy/girl potty? I am here to tell you that you can successfully potty train your toddler in three short days! No pull-ups at night, no wetting the bed, and no more spending a fortune on diapers and pull-ups. Are you ready?

I have completed this method with both of my children, and even helped with nieces and nephews. I have encouraged tons of my friends and family to also use this method, who not one has said it did not work. Is it easy? No, absolutely not. Is it worth it? Yes, absolutely!

Before we get started, there are a few things you need to know about this method.

  • You have to be able to stay at your home for three full days, not even a short trip to the store.
  • You have to be fully committed to complete the method. If you stop, and try to re-start, there is a chance it will not work.
  • Purchase the list of items before hand.
  • Most importantly, have plenty of laundry detergent 🙂

How to get started:

First, this is a list of items that you and your toddler need to complete this method successfully. You can take your toddler to town so they may help pick the items out, or you can allow them to help pick the items out on amazon. Just remember, they HAVE TO HELP PICK OUT THE BIG BOY/GIRL UNDERWEAR!

  • Big boy/girl undies, 2-3 packs!
  • Favorite candy/ snack
  • Cheap little “happies” (small toy, coloring book, anything they enjoy) 10 total!
  • Potty seat or toddler potty, whichever you prefer

Here are a few links to some of the items my kids chose.

Now let’s get started.

First, you want to choose a weekend where you have nothing to do. If your family is like mine, that is going to be hard. Life is busy, so just try and pick a weekend that you have stuff around the house that needs to be done. DO NOT pick a weekend where you are going to have to be in the car at all. Also, if you are like me and you do not like to miss church on Sunday morning, well…. pick a good devotion to do at home on Sunday or maybe your church will allow you to watch online.

Start fresh on a Friday morning. If you are a working mom and can take off on Friday, then GREAT! If you are a working mom who cannot take off on Friday, then start as soon as you get home from work. You want to be as energetic and positive as possible. You want to talk to your toddler about how cool it is to potty like a big boy/girl. Most important part, THEY HAVE TO THROW AWAY ALL THE DIAPERS OR PULL-UPS IN THE HOUSE. They have to know that they do not have that option to fall back on when it gets hard.

Next, let them pick out their favorite pair of new big boy/girl undies. Let them put them on with just a shirt. You do not want to have shorts or pants on also, this will take up too much time to pull down for the frequent potty trips they are about to make, and it will also absorb the accidents too much. You want your toddler to feel every time they have an accident so it will begin to register to them how it feels when it is time to go. Underwear and shirt will be their attire for the next three days.

As soon as your toddler is in his/her new underwear, go ahead and take them to the potty and let them try. They more than likely will not go, but this will allow them to see the process of how things will work. Then, you want to show them where your basket of treats is. I had my basket of snacks/ treats on the counter in the bathroom. Explain to them that if they “pee pee” in the potty then they will get to pick out a treat. Having the basket in the bathroom on the counter will also encourage them while they are trying to potty; the reward is in sight for them to see.

As you are going throughout your day, you want to stay near your toddler. Find activities that you can do together, that way you can see when they start showing signs of having to potty. As soon as they do, run them to the potty. Also, you may think this is crazy but trust me when I say it works. You want to allow your toddler to have as much juice/ water as they want. Yes, I know, you probably limit them on a normal day. Make an exception for this, allowing them to keep fluids in their system is going to make them have to potty more frequent which will help with the process of getting their minds used to now having to use the big potty.

TAKE THEM TO THE POTTY EVERY 30 MINUTES.

SO IMPORTANT!! You want to take them every 30 minutes. They may not always show signs of having to go potty. Toddlers are very busy, they play hard, and their little minds are constantly wondering. They may be very interested in whatever is going on in front of them, that they never show a single sign that they have to potty.

Everybody’s least favorite part:

We are going to move on and talk about when your toddler decides they have to poo poo. Yes, this is going to get messy. They are probably even going to try and hide and squat down somewhere to poo poo so you don’t know. The best thing to do is to make sure you ask every time they are on the potty if they have to just pee or poop. A lot of toddlers are scared to poop in the potty, so you are going to have to continue to ask and reassure them that it is okay if they have to go.

When they do have a poo poo accident, still take them to the potty and set them on it to be sure they are finished. If they go more in the toilet, then you may go ahead and give them a prize out of the toys. If they do not go, show them the “big prizes/toys” and explain to them that if they choose to poo poo in the potty next time instead of their underwear then they can have one. They are more than likely going to get mad, and beg for a toy, but stay strong and do not give them one unless they are successful at using the potty.

Nighttime:

This is where a lot of parents start to get frustrated, and second guess why they ever decided to try this method. I am here to tell you that if you can make it through night one, then you CAN DO THIS!!!

First and foremost, STOP giving juice one hour before your toddler’s normal bedtime. Right after you stop giving juice, allow them to attempt to use the potty. If they do not go, then that is okay. Wait about 20 minutes, then try again. You just want to make sure that they at least go once before laying down for bed.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is putting their toddler back in a diaper or pull-up to sleep in. Even if they fall asleep, DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT slip a pull-up on them without them knowing. Although that may prevent them from laying in pee, it also blocks the ability of their mind being able to register the fact that they did not wake up and use the potty.

Lay a towel down on top of the sheet, I even had to double up the towels with my little boy. Hopefully this will allow you to not have to wash the sheets every single day if it doesn’t go all the way through, but if it does, this will also help it from going through the sheets and onto the mattress.

There is a potty-training mattress pad available on amazon if you wish to purchase that instead of using towels. The link is listed below:

Amazon.com : Potty Training Bed Pads for Waterproof Protection| Protector Best for Potty Training & Bed Wetting Toddlers & Children| Absolute Lifesaver for Your Mattress & Sheet| Lynmark® Grey 1 Pack, 33″ x 27″ : Baby

Tips and Encouragement

  • Stay consistent. You have to stay consistent with no diapers or pull-ups. You have to stay consistent with taking your child potty every 30 minutes and rewarding them when they go.
  • Try not to show frustration. Way easier said than done, but you want your toddler to know you are calm and there to help.
  • Be assertive, but not overpowering. Let them know you mean business but don’t make them feel scared of the potty.
  • Stick with it mama, tell yourself that you can do this. If you begin to question it, just look back and read through this article again. Give it three full days and don’t give up. YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Rae's Life

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