Potty training is certainly a part of parenting that has become one of the most dreaded parts of the job.  There are so many ways to go about it.  One of the lesser-known methods is the 3-Day Potty Training Method.  Here’s what you’ll need to know about this option, what you’ll need and how it works.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The 3-Day Potty Training Method is essentially based around quarantining yourself and your child at home for three full days, so it is imperative that you stick to the rules of the plan.  Author of 3-Day Potty Training, Lora Jensen said, “The parent(s) needs to know that it will take work and you have to dedicate a full three days to the child. This means giving up ‘me’ time. You won’t be cooking, cleaning or visiting with friends—or Keeping up with the Kardashians. You will seriously be spending all waking hours with your child for three days.”  This means planning ahead for those three days. Make sure you have your pantry stocked and the laundry done!

WHAT YOU NEED:

Grab a few oversized t-shirts for your child because for those three days, your child will be going bottomless.  The psychology behind this potty training method is that there won’t be anything to catch the pee or poop so the next best option is to run to the potty.

Of course, this is called “training” and accidents will happen.  If and when this happens, clean up the mess and encourage your little one to make it to the bathroom next time.  This method does not condone punishments for accidents.

This is a day and night training methodology.  Jensen urges parents to stick to the bottomless plan at nighttime to eliminate the crutch of a diaper.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: 

On day one, bid the diaper farewell and change your child into one of the oversized shirts.  Explain there will be no diaper to catch their mess so they have to go to the potty.  After breakfast, take your child to the potty.  This should be an easy win after the food and drink of breakfast time.  It’s okay to even give your child a littlleeee extra drink during breakfast just to make sure it’s a successful trip to the bathroom.

At this point, you can move on with your day but remember you are quarantined to the house.  You can play and read and watch cartoons, but you cannot leave the house.  One of the most important tactics in these three days is to keep a constant sippy cup of water at your kid’s reach.  Every 15-minutes, walk your child to the potty – all day for the full 3 days. 

After dinner, however, it’s time to cut off snacks and drinks.  Before bed, you’ll use the bathroom one more time. Halfway through the night, wake your child up and walk him or her to the bathroom.  You may have to set an alarm for yourself.

For the next two days, repeat these steps and by the third day the theory is that your child should understand the concept, the feeling of having to go and be able to recognize this feeling and act accordingly.