3 Day Potty Training for First-Time Parents

Are you getting ready to start potty training your child? Trying to figure out which potty training method to use? This review of the 3 day potty training method from The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training by clinical psychologist and mom Dr. Jazmine McCoy presents a straightforward, positive parenting approach to potty training that you are going to love.

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Why 3 Day Potty Training Was Right For Us

When it comes to potty training, there are a surprising number of methods, approaches, books, and blog posts that are available to walk you through the potty training process. When you are first-time parent, figuring out which approach is best for you can be overwhelming. I know it was for me.

I was already intimidated by the idea of helping my strong-willed sweetheart undertake such a daunting task, the last thing I wanted to do was have to sift through hours of potty training research.

Some parents embrace potty training with excitement, nonchalance, or determination. But for me, potty training was SUCH a stressful thing to think about.

Honestly, part of me wanted to put it off as long as possible, LOL. 😀 But, luckily, a bigger part of me was ready to ditch the diapers and continue to help my little toddler develop her independence. (Plus, I knew she was ready.)

Parent Anxiety About Potty Training is Normal

Despite the fact that my daughter seemed ready, and despite knowing that potty training is inevitable, unavoidable, and something all parents eventually get through, my anxiety persisted.

I remember feeling annoyed with myself for being so nervous. After all, not only had my toddler ticked off all the potty training readiness signs on the list, but I was an experienced therapist who had helped parents and families through all kinds of issues. Surely I could handle a little potty training, right?

But even with all that, I still worried that I would mess it up.

I pictured myself standing over her, struggling with what to say, traumatizing her with my intensity, and she would rebel and be in diapers forever.

Ultimately, that fear led me to go with a 3 day potty training method. I figured, the sooner I could get it over with the better, LOL.

But no matter the method, I knew had to do something to get my nerves under control. If my experience working with families had taught me anything, it was that kids are super sensitive to their parents’ emotions. An anxious attitude was only going to make my daughter anxious, too.

I knew I needed a potty training method that was not only swift, but supportive, too.

Owning Your Anxiety To Help Manage It

As with most things, when you acknowledge and shed light on your thoughts or feelings about something, it decreases the power they have over you. Ignore them or suppress them, and they will control you. See them and work with them, and you are the one in control.

FYI – A good self-care routine can help with managing all of the pent-up anxiety that comes with being a parent.

In retrospect, I am so incredibly grateful for Dr. Jazmine’s 3 day potty training method. The approach was the perfect balance of direct and gentle. It not only validated my worries as a parent, but directly addressed them with clear strategies to use.

It really helped to know that my worry was normal. That validation helped me move through it and not transmit too much of it to my daughter. Which really helped!

Full disclosure though, I am still human and my anxiety did show up along the way. More on that below, plus some tips on how to manage it.

Finding the Right 3 Day Potty Training Method

Once I finally pushed myself to bite the bullet, I ended up doing quite a bit of research to find the potty training method that would fit best with our parenting style.

Considering Different Potty Training Methods

I looked into 3 day potty training methods like Oh Crap! Potty Training and Brandi Brucks’s Potty Training in 3 Days.

I explored more slow and steady child-oriented methods like the Brazelton Method or The No-Cry Potty Training Solution.

I even looked into online potty training courses like The Potty School or the Swedish method from Hello Potty Training.

While they all showed promise, none of them felt quite right. They were either too slow going for what we wanted, too negative in their approach, or they were too rewards driven for my comfort.

I was especially uncomfortable with the methods that pushed rewards hard core.

Be Careful with Rewards When Potty Training

While I believe it’s helpful to encourage growth and development with incentives, relying too heavily on rewards teaches your child to expect them. They will struggle to do anything that is expected of them unless there is something in it for them.

Using too many rewards (or punishments, for that matter) also teaches kids that others have all the power and control. And that doesn’t help them develop autonomy or independence. They grow to believe that others are responsible for their behaviors, good or bad.

Although some may disagree with that school of thought, I knew that a super reward-driven approach was not for me.

The 3 Day Potty Training Book That Worked for Us

By the time I found Dr. Jazmine McCoy’s book The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training, I had already explored several potty training methods. And the second I came across it in the list of potty training books, I immediately felt hopeful.

I already followed Dr. Jazmine on Instagram @themompsychologist, and I adored her parenting advice. Dr. Jazmine McCoy’s parenting approach is positive, strength-based, and down to earth, all things that I appreciate in a parenting framework.

So when I discovered that she wrote a book on potty training, I was all in.

After looking through the book preview, book synopsis, and all of the amazing reviews, I knew it was the right potty training method for us.

And it turned out to be an excellent decision!

Her potty training book is based in that same positive approach to parenting which made her so loved by her followers. And as you would expect, her potty training program keeps shame, blame, and negativity COMPLETELY out of the picture.

Her potty training method encourages calm, supportive coaching to help your child achieve success all along their 3 day potty-training journey.

3 Day Potty Training: Tips for First-Time Parents

The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training served as the perfect map to help us to navigate our 3 day potty training adventure.

This post will walk you through the following:

• Our experience with potty training
• A few of the tips and tricks we learned from The First-Time Parents Guide to Potty Training
• Mistakes to avoid to help you with your potty training journey

NOTE: While this post offers lots of actionable advice, please keep in mind, I am not a potty training expert. My expertise lies in child development, family therapy, and professional counseling, and while I bring that experience into this conversation, this post is no replacement for expert advice. To get the most out of the tips and suggestions in this post, I HIGHLY recommend you purchase your own copy of The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training.

Prepping Your Child for Potty Training

Gearing up for potty training takes time. It’s a journey, not a destination, and that journey can begin pretty early on. If you haven’t already started, you can begin to get your child ready by exposing them to the idea of potty training months before you begin the actual potty training extravaganza.

Here are a few ideas for how to prep your child for potty training in advance:

Teach Your Child About Their Body

When you are changing diapers, helping your child get dressed, doing bedtime routine, and so on, talk to your little one about their body, including their private parts. We would say things like, ‘that is your bum and that is where poopy comes from’, or ‘where does peepee come from?’.

Give Your Child Regular Tours of the Bathroom

Whenever we would head into the bathroom to brush teeth or wash hands, we would talk about all the things in the bathroom.

We would show our toddler the potty, the sink, the tub, etc. and explain what each was used for. I would also show her how each thing worked, including the toilet paper roll.

Although her curiosity about that one did result in a few wasted toilet paper rolls getting stretched across the bathroom floor, LOL! 😀

Model and Demonstrate How to Go Potty

Children learn from modeling; their brains are bursting with mirror neurons and so they learn best by watching you do something, and then imitating it.

Though it might not be something every parent is comfortable with, taking your little one into the bathroom with you is a great way to show them how potty business is conducted.

I would take my daughter with me sometimes anyway if I was home alone, so I just capitalized on the opportunity to narrate what I was doing.

I would announce that I had to go potty and take her with me. Then I’d model how to pull down pants and underwear and sit on the potty. (I did so thoughtfully and without “overexposure”. Every parent will find their own comfort level with how to do this.) I would explain what was happening, demonstrate how to use toilet paper, and then I’d have her help me flush. Then we would take turns washing and drying our hands.

Buy Them a Potty Early On To Help Them Get Used To It

We bought a little potty months before we even thought about attempting official potty training. I set it up in the bathroom where we gave her baths and did morning and bedtime routines. Sometimes she would ask to sit on the potty and we would always say yes.

We bought this awesome sage green Smart Potty from BABYBJORN and it worked out well!

Use Books to Teach Them About Going to the Potty

One of the absolute best ways we prepared our toddler for potty training was with children’s books! We read them early and often!

Here are my daughter’s top favorites:

Introduce the Potty Through Play

Kids do a LOT of learning through play and they love to act out what they see modeled for them. We bought this Fisher-Price Little People Wash & Go 7-Piece Play Set and it was a true game changer in terms of getting out toddler excited for potty training. Get it here on Amazon.

Potty Training Readiness Signs

Here are a couple ways to know whether your child is ready for potty training:

• Can pull pants up and down
• Has regular and predictable bowel movements
• Has awareness when they’ve soiled their diaper and can let you know
• Can sit in one spot for 2-5 minutes
• Can imitate your behavior
• Expresses an interest in potty training

Get the full potty training readiness checklist here from Dr. Jazmine McCoy to help you identify when your child is ready for potty training.

3 Day Potty Training Supplies Checklist

Here are all of the supplies we used for potty-training, based on both what Dr. Jazmine recommends as well as items that we chose to incorporate.

Each and every item on this list of potty training supplies helped make the experience a positive one!

They are listed in the chart below. Additionally, I provide further details about specific products that I HIGHLY recommend below the chart.

POTTY TRAINING SUPPLIES	DETAILS
Potty Training Book	We used and LOVED The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training
Potty for Main Area	We used this awesome potty for the main event. It worked like a dream and kept our toddler interested with the fun flushing sound and the super cool compartment.
Backup Potty	We used this smaller potty from BABYBJORN for the smaller bathroom upstairs. It was perfect for bedtime routine.
Travel Potty	This fantastic, super slick travel potty saved our lives during initial outings and trips.
Wipes	Though some recommend flushable wipes, our plumber told us those are a no-no, so we used these regular Aqua Pure Wipes from Pampers and disposed of them in the trash. The super cool potty we got for the main room had a little compartment for wipes and these wipes fit perfectly.
Cleaning Supplies	We used a bunch of these absorbent cloths, this all-purpose cleaning spray, a can of Lysol, and a roll of paper towels.
Waterproofing Supplies	For the first day, we covered our couches in plastic drop cloths. This pack from Amazon was super durable and affordable.
Protective Pads for Stroller and Car Seat	We used a simple set of absorbent waterproof cloths from Munchkin usually reserved for diaper changes on the go.
Special Potty Toys	We grabbed a toy grocery basket and filled it with engaging sensory toys. (See below for specific toy recommendations.)
Special Potty Training Watery Drinks and Salty Snacks	Dr. Jazmine recommends you give your kiddo lots of juice, water, and salty snacks to encourage as many potty opportunities as possible. (specifics ideas below.)
Underwear	We used a couple pairs of training underwear and a bunch of adorable underwear that we let our toddler pick out. (see below for more details)
Bedtime Underwear (AKA Pull-Ups or Goodnites)	Nighttime potty training can take a little longer and so it’s recommended to use what we call in our family “bedtime underwear”. We use these Moana Goodnites and they work really well.
Pants/Shorts that are Easy to Pull Up and Down	These super comfy toddler shorts from Old Navy were our go-to clothing item for potty training.
Sticker Chart and Other Reinforcers	We used this animal sticker book for the sticker chart to reinforce each peepee and poopy on the potty for the first 48 hours. One sticker for a successful peepee and two stickers for a poopy. Then on the third day we shifted to one high five for a peepee in the potty and one sticker for a poopy. (On the 4th day we said goodbye to the sticker chart.)
Stool for Bathroom Sink	Hands down, this Brookstone step stool is the absolute best stepstool for your little one. Super sturdy and folds up like dream to keep it out of the way when you don’t need it.

Potty Training Preparation Tips

These tips and product recommendations include the things that worked for us.

How to Plan Your Schedule Around Potty-Training

Because we did a 3 day potty training program, we picked 3 days where my husband and I were both off work and could devote all of our attention to potty training. We chose Memorial Day weekend and it worked out well.

We didn’t make any plans so that we could be present for our little one the entire 3 days.

How to Ready Your Space for Potty-Training

On the evening before day 1, we got our space ready and our supplies set up.

We chose to host the main event in our living room for its hard wood floors, access to toys and TV, and it’s open floor plan.

1. We covered our couches in this plastic drop cloth.

2. Then we rolled up our area rug and stored it away.

3. Then we set up our main potty in the living room.

This Summer Infant My Size Potty Train & Transition with Removable Potty Topper is the potty we chose to use and we are SO happy with it! It has a handle that makes a flushing sound, a removable cushiony seat that can be used on a big potty, and a storage compartment for wipes. It’s genius. Also, it’s comparable in price to other potties without those features. Get it here on Amazon.

4. We prepped a basket of special potty toys that we only allowed her to play with while she sat on the potty.

Here are some of the sensory toys that we included in her basket:

5. We prepared a simple but effective sticker chart.

I used a piece of pink poster board and bought this Animal Sticker book. I hung the poster board on the wall where she could reach it. One sticker for a successful pee and two stickers for a poop. Then on the third day we shifted to one high five for a pee in the potty and one sticker for a poop. (On the 4th day we said goodbye to the sticker chart.)

6. We set out the salty snacks and “juicy water” as we call it, in the kitchen so we could keep things flowing.

We used potato chips and pretzels and these adorable bunny-shaped cheese crackers from Annie’s. To keep her well-hydrated, I blended water with this organic juice from Honest Kids.

7. We also set out our cleaning supplies so they would be within easy reach for accidents.

I got a bunch of these absorbent cloths, this all-purpose cleaning spray, a can of Lysol, and a roll of paper towels.

8. We had this travel potty ready and these waterproof pads ready for the first outing (and many outings after that.)

This Portable Travel Potty for Kids worked like a charm and was so convenient to pack and go. It has an expandable potty bowl and you can put the drawstring plastic bags that come with the potty in there for each potty break. The legs pop out and can be used to set it up on any flat surface. The legs also pop all the way out flat so you can use the potty seat on an adult toilet. It’s seriously an amazing little invention and one that we were so grateful for. Get it here on Amazon.

These fantastic waterproof pads from Munchkin worked really well in the stroller and car seat. More affordable than buying fancy waterproof seat covers and easier to wash.

Potty Training Underwear

When you do Dr. Jazmine McCoy’s 3 day potty training program, you will see that you phase in underwear. We allowed our daughter to pick out her underwear ahead of time so that she would be excited to wear it and excited to keep it dry.

We got these adorable underwear sets from Old Navy:

And these awesome character underwear sets from Amazon:

Nighttime and Naps

Our girl was still not dry at night and probably wouldn’t be for some time since her body wasn’t physiologically capable of holding her urine all night yet. So we followed the recommendations Dr. Jazmine gives in her book to use potty training pants like Pull-Ups.

We use these Moana Goodnites and because they are Moana, our daughter loves them.

When she wakes up from naps or nighttime, we remind her of where pee and poop go, and then she helps us dump any poop in the toilet.

Getting Emotionally Centered for Potty Training

I did quite a few things to prepare myself for the 3 Day extravaganza.

One, I read The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training cover to cover. I also asked my husband to read the sections on the 3 day potty training process so we were on the same page.

Two, I reminded myself that accidents are part of the learning process. “Mistakes are opportunities” became my mantra.

Three, I made sure we had a couple of parenting techniques to lean on when encouraging our toddler to use the potty. We used the When-Then method and boundaries around special privileges related to the potty.

For example, we would say things like ‘When you sit on the potty, then you can go play outside.’ Also, we would give her a special set of sensory toys (that she had never seen before) to play with ONLY while she was on the potty.

Potty Training Mistakes to Avoid

Although potty training comes with accidents built in, there are mistakes that parents can avoid to make their child’s experience a more positive one.

Make sure you don’t have your child sit on the potty ALL day. While we didnt have her sit on the potty all day, we certainly let our anxiety get the best of us on Day 1 and had her sit there more than needed. It was a rookie mistake on our part and our daughter ended up with a sore neck the next day.

Don’t use screen time ALL day either. The distraction might keep them seated, but they won’t be as tuned in to their body.

Don’t keep asking if your child has to go potty. Accept and be OK with accidents. If you keep asking, they are going to sense the intense energy from you and will feel pressure to perform. This will ultimately make them want to avoid using the potty.

Instead, deal with your anxiety by allowing yourself to ask once every 20-30 minutes. Then when it’s a transition time (i.e. going on an outing, going to eat dinner, etc.) provide them with a choice like “When you sit on the potty, then we can get _____.” Make sure ‘blank’ is something they want, and you are OK with.

If they resist or say no to your offer, try one more time, but don’t push it. Creating a power struggle will only make thing worse in the long run.

Lastly, when the inevitable accident occurs, DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER NOT TO GET UPSET. You may feel disappointed internally and you might also feel like it’s your fault. But do your absolute very best to keep that energy to yourself. They don’t need to feel shame while they are learning something new.

Try and remember to have fun. 😀

Your child is learning. They are getting used to what it feels like to hold their urine, release their urine, and push out a poop (and they might not even do that last bit on the potty for a while). If you bring your negative and disappointed feelings into the room, it will only confuse them and skew their learning.

Just hang in there and know that accidents are part of it. Mistakes are opportunities. They won’t be able to really get it down without navigating their accidents and learning from them.

Potty Training Troubleshooting

Know this: There will be bumps in the potty training road. It is 100% normal for there to be accidents, backslides, and regression. Accepting this as a built-in part of the potty training journey will help you stay centered.

While keeping a positive attitude and weathering the storm can take you far, it isn’t always enough. Sometimes you need concrete strategies to address more unique problem areas.

That’s when it’s crucial you consult your copy of The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training. There is a whole chapter on how to problem-solve and troubleshoot those extra special potty training challenges!

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Thank you so much for reading! And good luck with the potty training!

Now go grab your copy of The First-Time Parent’s Guide to Potty Training and get started!

And remember, stay as positive and calm as you can. YOU’VE GOT THIS.

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