Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

How to potty train a toddler in three days (really!)

Lauren Barth
By

Welcome to potty training. It’s going to be a wild ride. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be a long one. There are lots of different potty-training methods to choose from; while you could take a gradual approach, you may decide to rip off the proverbial Band-Aid and expedite this otherwise tedious process. It’ll take concentrated effort and will power, but you and your toddler can achieve this major milestone in just three days.

Do you have 72 hours to spare? You’re about to experience success and setbacks, excellence and accidents — plus, a whole lot of poops and giggles.

Related Videos
toddler on the potty
Tomsickova Tatyana/ Shutterstock

Is your child ready?

Ask yourself: Is my child ready to potty train? If your little one doesn’t seem eager or is actively resistant, you may want to wait. There’s no right or wrong time — so shut out external pressure and do what works for your family.

Related

On the other hand, if your toddler is showing signs of readiness — hiding during poops, holding their hands by their bottoms, etc. — it may be worth your while to get this potty party started.

What is the three-day approach?

Based on Lora Jensen’s approach outlined in her book 3-Day Potty Training, this technique is essentially a crash course in, well, listening to your body and going to the bathroom. It entails committing to 72 straight hours of potty-training vigilance; it’s certainly not for everyone, but it can be efficient and effective.

Time your three days strategically

Strategically schedule your three days of potty training so that you can be with your child throughout the process. (A three-day weekend is often ideal.)

Set yourself up for success by premaking meals and preparing some indoor activities. These days are going to be focused, so you want to free yourself of extraneous obligations. Use this lead-up time to talk to your child and prepare them for what’s to come.

toddler potty training with doll
Romrodphoto/ Shutterstock

What to do on Day 1

You’re off for the races. Take a deep breath, it’s going to a long day. Here’s how to structure your first 24 hours on the potty train:

  • Bid diapers adieu. Set the clock; your 72 hours of hard work begin now! When your little one gets up in the morning, make a ceremony of taking off their diaper and bidding it farewell.
  • Go commando. Your sweetie might be delighted to learn that, for the next few days, their wardrobe will remain minimalistic. You don’t want them to struggle while trying to get on the potty — so keep it simple. A tee or nightgown will suffice; if you want to put them in cotton underwear, that’s fine, too. Otherwise, let them be free.
  • Drink up. At breakfast and beyond, go heavy on the liquids! You want them to have to go to the bathroom frequently so that they quickly recognize the sensation that means they have to go and also learn the natural consequences of failing to make it in time.
  • Try every 20 minutes. Set a timer; you will want to ask your child if they have to go and escort them to the bathroom every 20 minutes. They’ll most likely say no or try to avoid the trip, but encourage any effort. If they really fight the bathroom, try putting a portable kiddie potty in the room you’re in and encourage attempts after every activity transition. Additionally, watch for those telltale gotta-go cues — that squirmy wormy toddler of yours probably has to pee!
  • Stay inside. The harrowing part of this experience is that you and your kid may end up with a case of cabin fever. The potty-training journey is a monotonous one. But it’s important to stay close to the toilet for this first 24 hours. To that end, be prepared with activities and, yes, screen time.
  • Celebrate successes. A tinkle or a No. 2 in the potty is exciting. If your child is motivated by your enthusiasm, throw a spontaneous dance party. If they seem unnerved, keep your reaction low key. Either way, affirm their success. Of course, be mindful that accidents will happen. Don’t scold or react negatively. Punishing a child can actually set their progress back.
  • Bedtime routine. To diaper or not to diaper, that is the question. You can introduce a pull-up or return to a traditional diaper as your little one is about to drift off. You can also try waking them up in the middle of the night (if you like to live on the dangerous side!) to try for a wee-hour wee-wee.

More of the same Days 2 and 3

You’re 24 hours in — no backing down now. The next two days will look pretty much the same — lots of quality indoor snuggle time with your pants-free cutie-pie and a whole lot of back-and-forth to the potty. Keep them drinking and trying — this tedium will pay off soon. In the meantime, if you need to go outside to play or take a local trip, bring a portable potty with you. Ideally, you should try to stay at home to reinforce the bathroom routine.

Every child is different. It may instantly click for your kiddo — or it could take a bit more time. If they resist potty training in three days, show yourself (and them) some grace and love. This transition can be jarring for some kids; they may benefit from a slower, more gradual approach. Either way, you’re not failing — and neither is your little one. It’ll happen in time!

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Going through the IVF process? Here’s what to expect
Ready for the IVF process? The steps and expectations from start to finish
A woman undergoing an ultrasound

Because of modern science, the birds and the bees aren’t precisely what they used to be. The rise of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has given parents ways of conceiving besides intercourse.

More than 8 million babies have been born via in vitro fertilization (IVF) since its inception in 1978 and 2018. In 2019, more than 83,000 babies were born via ART, according to CDC data. It’s unclear how many of those were from the IVF process, but the CDC notes it’s the most common form of ART.

Read more
5 things you should never say to a pregnant woman
She's already cranky, puffed, and exhausted. Please don't make it worse with these common questions for pregnant women
Pregnant married woman standing in a floral gown

These lists are sometimes hard to compile because of the beautiful complexity and differences between women. What may be offensive to one may be exactly what another needs to hear. Women, particularly pregnant women, are multidimensional, deeply thinking, individualistic human beings, and there is no "one-size-fits-all" list that applies to everyone.
However, there does seem to be an invisible boundary of privacy that drops when a woman is expecting a child. In a time when she is very likely uncertain, nervous, and potentially bombarded with any number of questions, swimming in a pool of nerves, people think this is the time to invade her space.
Most of these are well-intentioned questions, habitual, even. Rightfully so, people are excited and happy at the sight of a pregnant woman, and sometimes in that joy, manners can slip. It's important to keep in mind that many women -- particularly the more introverted ones -- are uncomfortable with all the new attention they're probably receiving. For the women who don't relish having these conversations with their family members, friends, hairstylists, and strangers in the produce section, these questions can be very awkward. Keep reading to find out the things you should never say to a pregnant woman.

'Are you going to breastfeed?'
This one is usually said with an air of haughtiness that also says, "It is the best choice, you know. Any mother who doesn’t breastfeed is just the absolute worst and shouldn’t be allowed to have children if only because of her shocking selfishness."
Ladies (and gentlemen), think about this one for a moment. While, as mentioned above, your intentions are undoubtedly lovely and kind, you may very well be deeply offending the already uncomfortable pregnant woman you’re talking to. Take into consideration that there are many reasons her answer to this question may be (gasp) "No."
Perhaps she has a medical issue that prevents her from breastfeeding. Perhaps she has a deeply rooted psychological reason she’s chosen not to. Perhaps she just feels icky about the whole thing, and despite her best efforts, just can’t move past it. Whatever the reason, she already knows breastfeeding is the healthiest and “best” option without you telling her so.
She doesn’t need to know that it’s what you did and that your babies were just healthy little horses. She doesn’t need to hear that feeding her precious, unborn baby formula is the equivalent of feeding it Tang instead of freshly squeezed orange juice. She’s thought about her choice more than you have; whatever that choice is, it's really none of your business.

Read more
How to help your toddler adjust to a new baby
Is a child's reaction to a new sibling abnormal toddler behavior? Maybe, but probably not. What to know
A toddler holding a new baby on a white bench

Your first baby completed you. You loved them so much that you decided to have another.

Parents may worry their kids won’t hit it off. These concerns may be amplified for parents having children close together. Toddlers don’t have the language or empathy to understand why a new loud, tiny human is commanding lots of attention — attention that used to be theirs.

Read more