3 Day Potty Training—The Verdict

This method does seem much better than just trying pull-ups, which seems to be so long and drawn out.  Also, my toddler is willing (and asks) to go potty, so I think this method may help her better understand how to recognize when she needs to potty.  I think I may try this...

Please keep us posted on how your child's progress--best of luck!!!

I don't understand waiting until a child is 3 or 4 that is nasty. I voted yes but I'm just planning on using underwear just like the article above. DD is 14 months and we will PT soon. I did pull ups with one of my nephews and it took FOREVER, the one that did underwear seroiusly took a week, they were both 2.

Congratulations!  Your experience is very similar to mine.  My son was out of diapers 100% at 19 months, 3 weeks.  The "3-day method" actually took about one week, but I wasn't complaining.  My son was initiating using the potty and did not have very many accidents.  I can recall most of his accidents four months later!  One of my friends has a four-year-old son and he has many more accidents than my son and was taught around 3 1/2.

To those opposed to early training: I've said it before, and I'll repeat myself .... Helping a child learn to use a toilet under the age of two gives them dignity and fosters self-esteem and self-respect.  An older child will be "ready" when they start feeling embarrasment and humiliation at sitting in their own waste or being teased by children on the playground.  Boy, have I seen that.  I've been a nanny for many years and seen children shunned by their peers because they smell and are "babies" because they have diapers.  Preschoolers are cruel.  Why set your child up for that?  There is also the fear factor to consider.  Normal toddlers develop many fears as their brains develop.  At 18 months, my son would run to the front window to watch the garbage truck, UPS truck, street cleaner, and loved hearing police sirens.  Now, he runs to me and hides his head and I have to reassure him that he's safe.  I've read over and over again about the fear and holding their #2 for days until they are in pain and need medical intervention, the stubbornness, the hiding in corners, etc.  I taught my toddler the power and pride of using a potty before his development reached the stage of fear, stubbornness,and embarrasment.

Do you put a diaper on them at night? My dd wakes up with a wet diaper so I would be afraid to not put a diaper on her.

I don't understand waiting until a child is 3 or 4 that is nasty.  mlregalado

It's not nasty.  The average potty training age for girls is 18 months to 3 years.  For boys, it's 2-1/2 to 4 years.  A lot of people choose to wait until their child is ready, which makes for very quick potty training with no fights and no power struggle.

Please don't be so judgemental.  Waiting until 3 or 4 is perfectly acceptable and common.

I potty trained my son in Booty Camp on that show The Doctors. Please don't put her in a pull-up for special occasions. Use underwear and plastic pants, it foster confidence and trust between you.

I have tried this and it did not work for us at all.  So we are having to try other methods.  And when I find one that works, I will let ya all know.

I used this method with my son when he was 23 months old and it was a great option for us.  At home he was pee trained by the end of that 3 days.  He had a few accidents the first few days at daycare afterwards but not very many.  He was poop trained within 7 days and I waited about a month after doing daytime training to do nighttime training.  It's been a little over a year since I did the 3 day process and it's almost a year since he's been fully trained.

This method is exactly what I recommend to every mom that asks.  If you commit 110% to this method, you will see HUGE improvements within the 3 days (if the child isn't basically pee trained by then) more than likely.  It's a HUGE commitment to put your focus completely and totally on the child and their potty training for 3 days and a lot of people just aren't mentally ready so they don't fully commit like they should for this method to work.

My experience is documented in my journals if anyone is interested.