A lot of parents swear by the three-day method. It is definitely effective for some families, but many paediatricians recommend using caution with accelerated approaches to potty training and suggest tweaking the programs with a gentler, more child-led approach.
The three-day potty training method is a toilet training process that calls for your child to go diaper- and pants-free for three days in the house as he gets used to going to the potty regularly. The idea is that, by keeping your toddler naked from the waist down, he'll learn to be more in tune with his bodily cues.
Teaching a toddler to use the potty isn't an overnight task. It often takes between 3 and 6 months, but can take more or less time for some children. If you start too soon, the process tends to take longer. And it can take months to even years to master staying dry at night.
Truth: the first three days are the hardest
Hunker down. Potty train with all your might and with total fidelity, and don't give up. You can do this, and so can they. Billions of parents have walked this road before you.
Accidents may happen, though less frequently. After finishing three day potty training, some kids may still not be fully potty trained. If this happens, check your routine to see anything could be disrupting your child's progress. If you have a busy schedule, you may need to continue to limit activities for a while.
You can still expect about one or two accidents a day, even weeks after you've started potty training.
"It is perfectly normal for a newly trained child to have one or more accidents every single day. Even children who have been trained for six months or more may have an accident once a week.
So while your little one is set up on the potty, try letting them blow bubbles or blow through a straw into a glass of milk or water. Not only does getting to do this fun activity entice your child to try, but it also relaxes them AND helps them pass the pee and poop!
So, if three-day potty training doesn't work this time, try not to get too frustrated, because it may work soon, or you might find a completely different approach is better for you and your child. If you want to try the three-day method again, look to schedule another weekend two to three months down the road.
Potty Training Day 4. Day 4 is all about staying consistent and challenging her to ask for the potty. Everything is the same as day 3 with regards to my expectations. I am telling her it is time to go before events such as eating, napping, or leaving the house.
It may feel like potty training is not going well if your child is having accidents, but actually many children do. On the first day of going without nappies, a third of children have around three or four accidents, while 12% can have up to seven. You just have to persevere because they will get it eventually.
If you're on the right track, at least half of the bowel movements and wees should be going in the potty after a couple of days. What is this? If they're not, take a big step back and try again later.
Potty training can be a process, but using a few tips and tricks can help get the job done in a week (or less!). From training in sessions to giving rewards, these are the nine potty training tricks that worked for me and my little one when he reached the potty training age.
Follow a schedule for potty training
Consider having your child sit on the potty every couple of hours, whether they have to go or not. First thing in the morning, before you leave the house, and before naps and bedtime are good times to sit your child on the toilet.
According to the findings, the children who toilet trained before age 2 were more than three times as likely to suffer from constipation than children who trained between ages 2 and 3. Children who trained after age 3 experienced constipation seven times as often.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents avoid pushing their children into potty training too early, beginning only when a toddler shows signs of interest, such as becoming excited to use the bathroom and sensing she has to go to the bathroom prior to actually soiling her diaper.
But remember, potty training Day 2 can be worse than Day 1 because the novelty is wearing off. You might have more accidents to deal with on Day 2 and feel frustrated that you're not getting through to your child.
Potty training is considered late if your child is over 3 and has been trying for more than 3 months. Potty training is most often delayed by strong-willed refusal, reminder resistance, toilet phobia, or a medical condition.
Training a child too early can lead to toilet accidents because the bladder may not be strong enough. It may also lead to constipation, kidney damage and even urinary tract infections, said Hodges, mainly because children are holding in their bowel movements longer than they should, said Hodges.
Potty Training Age 3
Around 36 months: Most children make the potty training leap around their third birthday. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, some 40 to 60 percent of children are completely potty trained by 36 months of age.
Stressors can include an illness in the child or a relative, the addition of a new baby, a change in caregivers, the move from crib to bed, or a move to a new house. Potty training regression might also be caused by health issues (such as constipation) or a fear of the potty.
Don't Force the Issue
If your child refuses to go, forcing them to go and sit on the potty will likely create a negatively charged atmosphere and can ultimately lead to more resistance.
Potty training setbacks are frustrating for parents and children alike. It's important to know that this is very common, and for many kids, regression in toilet training is simply part of the process. Trust that eventually, your child will be fully potty trained.