Potty Training in 3 Days: The Step-by-Step Plan for a Clean Break from Dirty Diapers Paperback – November 15, 2016

I'm don't have a child, but my boyfriend does and we needed to start potty training. As a non-parent, I was 100% clueless on how to go about this process. My boyfriend's daughter is 3 and his only child so it was time, but he was clueless too. I tried consulting with other parents who had tips, but no real strategy or plan to offer. I asked my mom who had the helpful reply of: your babysitter potty trained you! So off to the Amazon book shop I went!I perused a bunch of books and this seemed to be the best fit for me. It was written by someone with expertise in the area, it claimed to be able to do it in a short period of time, and it was relatively short. I thought it would be a good jumping off point.It was a quick read! It bullet points the important stuff and gives all the relevant information without a lot of fluff. I like that. I ended up not purchasing any other books (though I did read through a number of online resources just to see other theories and practices and pick which best suited our situation). I gave the book to the boyfriend and then we were off to the races!Potty training went well! She had just turned 3 about a month earlier and was ready to give it a go. We followed the instructions on talking with her leading up to it and then throwing out the diapers. We also used a reward sticker chart (which she lost interest in after three days) and candy. After five days she had only had 6 accidents, three of which were during nap time so I didn't really count. We have been sticking with it and it has really worked. I think the book provided good practical strategies.The one thing we ended up using that the book discouraged was a potty watch. I thought the potty watch seemed like a gimmick, but it has worked really well for us. The 3 year old is only with us half the time so it provided a certain level of consistency for her. Also, we ended up setting timers on our phones to remind us to take her to the potty every 30 minutes or so and she got accustomed to hearing the alarms. When she'd hear our phones go off, she'd yell: Potty time! And race off to the bathroom herself. So since she took to that, I got the watch and it has worked really well for her. She still hasn't figured out all the signals from her body that she needs to go, but she's getting there. So for now the watch is helpful little reminder. We are only about three weeks into the whole potty training thing, but I am very happy with the results.I highly recommend this book. All the strategies in it may not work for you or your child, but it explains the reasoning well enough that it provides you with the knowledge to make the best decisions for you and your child.

Update of July 2023, it stuck. My granddaughter has since ( after I left florida) went to church and during Sunday school, daddy recieved no call from the nursery. ( win) upon his return to get her from nursery he was informed she went into the bathroom and used the potty all on her own. It’s so nice when places have the children’s toilets ( close to the floor) ….. I never thought I would need a book to tell me how to potty train. I’m in my 60s I potty trained mine ( when he was age 2 seems to be the twilight age) I’ve babysat and helped potty train many children. Again they were at the age of 1 1/2-2….. I honestly don’t know how my granddaughter would have become potty trained without this book popping up in my search for potty training supplies. I am so thankful, it made it happen. So if you missed the perfect window for it ( one and half to 2) or your child is just an early independent, get this book, follow it to a T. You may or may not find the 3 days easy, but it’s worth it in the end…….end of update. My daughter in law was waiting for my granddaughter to decide when she was ready for potty training, yes I laughed as well but there was no convincing her to do it at 2. Young mother. So then the child is almost 4 and the fight began. This child has now developed a mind of her own and learned the word no, and very stubborn about trying new things or anything she doesn’t want to. So I bought the mom this book. And it just laid there until I went to visit and daddy was screaming help( now mommy has left the picture full time) . I tried as I did when mine was age 2. She wasn’t having it. Sure she would humor me and hang out on the potty with me but nothing happened and she would still go hide in a corner and do her little poop dance in her training pants. I had to read this book. It works. But everyone in the household either needs to read the book and abide by the rules or stay out of the process. Consistency, staying on point, everyone on same page was a must. You must be willing to give up 3 whole days without your phone and any distractions. ( even mommy came over to observe and help). Have plenty of activities your child will enjoy. We mostly worked with alphabet letters, reading, she loves to learn to read. Play doh and little animal figures identifying the different animals and their sounds. You can never take your eyes off the child for a minute because she will use that minute to go in her pants I promise you. It’s only 3 days ( keep telling yourself) then no more spending money on diapers, keep thinking what you’re gonna do with all that extra money lol. Your child can’t go off and play or watch tv or anything without you or this won’t be a success in 3 days. At 60 years old this was not easy for me. We never left the house and I love my granddaughter endlessly but this child is quite the talker lol. But it was a win win. We not only never wore a diaper again ( she even stayed dry thru naps) and most nights. We have really bonded, ( I live 900 miles away) she now has a picture of the two of us and her every night routine (her daddy tells me) she has to check to make sure our picture is beside her unicorn night light before she says her prayers and goes to bed. So buy this read it I read it twice and did some highlighting. And plan a fun at home 3 days of undivided attention. If you have other kids if they’re old enough to help great if not maybe a weekend with the grandparents is due. This will work if you follow her directions. And it’s not a boring read, the author has jokes. Lol. Good luck