3 Day Potty Training-Was It Worth It?

So now that it's been 4 months, what's my verdict on 3 Day Potty Training? Can you really do it in 3 days?

Yes, it worked for me!  I'd say 3 days to get it, a month to really feel safe when you're out, but here's the bad news I haven't slept through the night since. 

Potty training was such a success he now wakes me several times in the middle of the night. It's like having a newborn again.  He calls out when he has to go pee.  Which is exactly what you want when you are potty training, right?  Well yes, if you want to say goodbye to diapers and no, if you want to sleep. 

I know some people use pull-ups, but I decided to follow the cold turkey method.  No diapers, no pull-ups and daytime/ nightime training together.  He was doing so well I didn't want to go backward. 

Was it worth it?  I'm not sure.  It was definitely good for my son.  He got it right away.  He wasn't confused by going back into pull-ups, he was developmentally ready and feels a sense of accomplishment.  He's had very few accidents.  He can now go by himself, pull up his own pants, even pour out the mini potty and flush in the day.

As for me, I'm a little sleep deprived and frustrated.  It's been several months now.  I even moved him to a toddler bed so he could go to the potty in his room at night, but he still calls out.

Don't let me discourage you.  It's been great for my son and for me for him to be out of diapers, but when you decide to potty train just make sure you are ready.  Not just for 3 days, but for the long haul.  There are dozens of methods and ways to get to the same place.  Maybe I should have waited for the nighttime training, but no looking back now.  I committed.  Someday I will sleep again.  Isn't that what all moms say?  Good Luck!


UPDATE:  So you'll be happy to know about a month after I wrote this, my son stopped  waking up in the middle of the night (well most of the time).  He can usually sleep thru until about 5:30/6am.  Sometimes he goes potty on his own, sometimes he calls out, I watch him go potty and he goes back to sleep until wake up time-7ish.    So I guess in the end it paid off.  Day and night training took about 5 months.

Here are links to the earlier posts.
Getting Ready For Potty Training
3 Day Potty Training Diary
After 3 Day Potty Training

Products I found helpful

Potty-I liked the BABYBJÖRN Potty Chair.  I have one for each bathroom

Portable Potty-Kalencom 2-in-1 Potette Plus Red.  I love this.  It works when you're on the go and there's no bathroom nearby.  I use it in the back of the car or you can fold it up and take it with you.  It works as a potty with liners or as a seat for big toilets.  Make sure you get extra liners.

   

Piddle Pad for the carseat.-I even got an extra one for the stroller.   Keeps everything dry if you have an accident in the car.
Flushable Wipes-I have them in each bathroom.  My son thinks its fun to use and won't clog toilet.

After 3 Day Potty Training-Now Can We Leave The House?

So 3 Day Potty Training is over.  Did it work?

Potty Training Day 4

It’s the day after 3 day potty training.  I’m so happy.  This morning I was a little nervous. Was he dry through the night?  Was choosing to do day and night training at the same time a good idea, especially since he's still in a crib? My son woke up around 6am and I wasn’t sure if I should take him out to go pee, but I had committed to not going in unless he said he called for me.  I waited, then at 6:20 am,  I hear, "Mommy pee pee".  I rushed in and took him to the potty.  Underwear all dry, crib all dry.  He had made it through the night.  Yea!!!    Is he potty trained now? We'll see.  


A few hours later, I knew it was time again, but now it’s up to him.  I had to use the bathroom and asked if he wanted to go.  He said no.  I reminded him to tell me if he had to pee.  15 minutes later he said mommy pee pee... and off we went and he did it again.  Pee and Poo with no accident.  He still is not into pulling up his own underwear and pants. We’ll work on that.  So far so good.  Now for the real test in a few hours we are leaving the house.  I’ll give you an update later.

So we left the house and it was fine.  I asked him and he didn’t want to go in the bathroom, but later we ended up using the portable potty in the back of the SUV.  The rest of the day went great-no accidents!

Potty Training Day 5

So this morning I heard him stiring around 6am, but I didn’t go in.  I wanted to see if he would call if he needed to pee.  He didn’t and when I went in a little later he was wet. That’s okay.  He finished peeing in the potty when he got up.  So is it going to be like this from now on?  Should I have used pull ups instead?  Since he’s still in the crib.  I guess I’ll just have to get him earlier to go pee.  No more sleeping in.  So the trade off for potty training right now is he’s getting less sleep.    It takes him longer to go down.  He’s  usually out by 7pm.  Now it takes until 8pm, because we want to make sure he has an empty bladder.  We have a few false alarms and I have to go back into his room several times before he  finally goes to sleep.     Now the real test.  Today he goes to preschool.  Will it work with all that activity and other kids around?


So he had an accident at school, but was fine the rest of the day and told me when he needed to go.  We're also getting the hang of the portable potty.  He got a little distracted, but were getting there.  So I’d say 3 day potty training is a success. 


But stay tuned.  Potty training is not over yet.  Tomorrow I will give you the wrap up now that 4 months have passed.