3 Day Potty Training Works

"Three Day Potty Training?! Sure...let me know how that goes." Followed by a knowing chuckle. 

That was the usual response whenever my husband or I would mention that we were planning to potty train one of our kids using a three day potty training method. Happily, we're here to snub our noses right back at all the naysayers and smugly say that it worked. It worked with our daughter at a month before her third birthday, it worked with our son at 27 months, and it worked with my fraternal twin nephews at a little over 3 years old.

3 Day Potty Training is a system devised by Lora Jensen, the self-ascribed "Queen of Potty Training," mother of five boys and one girl, and foster mom of several, with the exciting but controversial claim that all children are ready to be potty trained by 22 months and can be completely potty trained within three days. 

Jensen's confidence in her system even covers children on the autism scale or with behavioral disabilities. As long as a child can make a need or desire known to a caregiver - for example, grabbing mom's leg and pointing to cookies - that child can be potty trained according to Jensen.

Brian and I were told about the method from my mother-in-law who'd seen success with one of the children she babysits, and for the relatively low-cost of $24.00, we decided it was worth attempting if it might avoid the months of frustrations and accidents we'd seen family and friends experience.

Jensen has successfully made a career out of her "3 Day Potty Training" method, so I won't tread far in her territory or potentially commit copyright infringement by revealing too much except to share the basic philosophy and how the three days worked for us in training our two kids. 

A simple overview follows, but I enthusiastically encourage anyone who is contemplating potty training her kid, or already in the midst of a frustrating battle, to check out the website and seriously consider buying Jensen's e-book.

3 Day Potty Training in the Dreyfus House

• Carve out three days in which you will be able to give your child uninterrupted attention. When I potty-trained my daughter, my husband took our infant son up to Massachusetts one holiday weekend to visit family so that I wouldn't be distracted. Recently, my husband potty-trained our son over another holiday weekend. He figured that it may be easier for my son to pick it up if demonstrated with the same "plumbing." My daughter and I stayed at my mother's house nearby.

• The day before beginning 3 Day Potty Training, take your child shopping and let him choose his new Big Kid undies. Make a huge deal out of it. We also let our children pick prizes to be earned filling up a sticker chart, and a "potty" toy that could only be used when sitting on the potty.

• On the first morning, in a celebratory environment, throw away all diapers including pull-ups. No exceptions! Dress your child in a t-shirt and undies.

• For the next three days you are your child's shadow. Remind your child regularly to tell you when she needs to go "potty" (or whatever vocabulary your family uses), and run or carry her straight to the bathroom at the first sign of bathroom needs. Have plenty of extra clothes ready for you and your child. You will be peed on. You may be pooped on. Have several cans of Spot Shot ready for your carpets, too. Cover your couches in blankets or towels.

• Remain positive throughout the three days. Never scold or punish. Reward when your child uses the potty. Be kind when your child has an accident.