Madeleine Vieira 10/17/22 Madeleine Vieira 10/17/22

How Long Does Potty Training Take? Let’s Dive in to the 3 Day Method

Potty training is a major milestone and a huge sign of growth and development!

Using the toilet is a learned skill. It takes physiological, cognitive, verbal and social readiness to be able to do it.(2) For something we all do every day, probably without really thinking about it, it takes an amazing amount of work for small children! And teaching a child to use the toilet really is a skill worth celebrating.

You know that your child already knows how to pee and poop. But in order for them to be potty trained, they need to be able to recognize the physical sensation of having to go to the bathroom. They also need to be able to tell you so that with help, they can make it to the toilet.(2)

Potty training is a major milestone and a huge sign of growth and development!

Using a toilet and bathroom hygiene are important skills to learn! When you potty train, you help your child develop their independence and increase their confidence. You also teach them related hygiene skills like flushing and washing their hands.(4)

Poop and pee may not be your favorite topic of polite discussion. But explaining bodily functions in plain terms to your toddler sure does help with potty training!

At What Age Do You Start Potty Training?

Infants can’t use the muscles needed to control their bladder and rectum, which is why we don’t try to potty train them!(3) This capability doesn’t arise until a child is about 18 months old.(3) But age doesn’t necessarily indicate readiness.

Between the ages of 20 and 30 months is usually what parents find works best, although every child is different.(1) Prior to 20 months your child is still working on other skills, such as eating, walking, and overcoming separation anxiety. So adding potty training into the mix might just be too much.(1)

But if your child happens to initiate the process or display an interest in using the toilet, follow their lead. Don’t ignore their questions about the potty or tell them they’re too young for it.(1) Allow them to be curious and take the opportunity to teach them about toilet habits.

The longer your toddler wears diapers and the older they get, the harder it is to manage their behavior. This is why many parents find it’s best to potty train their child before they turn 3.(1) Around age 3 is when children start to individuate.(1) They realize they have free will, the ability to make choices, and also display more of their personality. And once that happens, potty training can become a bit more of a battle.(1)

Signs Your Child is Ready for Potty Training

Potty training is a process and determining readiness is not always easy.

But your toddler might be ready to start potty training if they(2):

Tell you when they have to go to the bathroom
Let you know when they’ve peed or pooped in their diaper
Hide when they’re about to have a bowel movement (behind the couch, or they go in another room to poop in their diaper)
Can pull down their diaper without help

Some children don’t give a lot of indications, though, so just remember that every child is unique! Your child may hate diaper changes or ask to use the potty every once in a while, even if she’s not ready for full-blown potty training yet.

How to Potty Train in 3 Days

Also known as the Bare Bottom Method, this method is highly popular and praised by parents from all over the world.

To use this method, you’ll need three consecutive days to be at home potty training your child. This, of course, can be a challenge for working parents and caregivers.(4) For parents who work Monday through Friday, I suggest you try to tackle potty training on a three or four day weekend so you can be at home with your toddler. (4) You’re going to be spending all weekend indoors, basically glued to your toddler’s hip as you walk them to and from the potty! So plan ahead as best as you can.

Here are some tips to plan ahead before you start the process:

Do the food shopping ahead of time. Stock up on juice boxes as you’re going to encourage your child to drink more than usual.
Do the laundry and any house cleaning or errands ahead of time.
If there are older siblings in the house who won’t be involved in the potty training process, try to set up play dates or care for them. That way you can give your full undivided attention to potty training your toddler.
Let your child pick out “big kid underwear” at the store because it’s time to say “bye bye” to diapers.

Day 1

Let your child spend the day bare-bottomed.(4) The idea is that it’s easier for them to sense when they have to go or are going to the bathroom when they have no clothes on. Explain to your toddler that there’s no diaper to catch the pee or poop anymore, so they have to put it in the potty instead.(5)

Closely watch your child for signs that they may have to use the bathroom. When you notice that they need to go, take your child immediately to use the toilet.(4) Even boys will learn to sit on the toilet at first because they simply don’t have the aim to pee standing up yet. Save that for another day!

Remain emotionally neutral when making comments about your child’s potty training progress. If they have an accident, remain calm. Try saying, “You peed on the floor. Let’s clean it up together.”(4)

When they do go in the toilet, congratulate them. Try saying, “You just peed in the toilet. That’s where pee and poop belongs!”(4) Teach them how to flush. Remember to have them wash their hands afterward!

Some children feel uncomfortable with lavish praise or over-the-top parental excitement. Others respond well to that. Your toddler may respond well to rewards like stickers, lollipops, or little trinkets for using the potty. But maybe they won’t! As with anything, every child is different. You know your child best!

Set a timer every 20 minutes to do a check-in with your child on whether or not they have to use the potty. (4) After they drink a juice box, for example, remind them it’s time to try to go pee. They may refuse, but ask them to try anyway. (5)

Nap Time

Whether you want to put your toddler in diapers or pull-ups when they sleep during the three-day potty training is up to you. Some parents choose to potty train for everything all at once – daytime, naps, nighttime – they just find it’s easier that way. Other parents and caregivers decide to potty train in stages.

Days 2 & 3

You’ll basically follow the same process that you did on day one. Let your child be bare-bottomed all day. There’s still going to be a lot of back and forth to the bathroom, roughly every 20 minutes, to practice using the potty.

After potty training, it’s a good idea to dress your child in clothing that’s easy to remove. Try pants that are easy to pull down, have an elastic waist, and aren’t fussy. Avoid clothing that requires more work like tights or shirts with snaps at the crotch.

Interested in Learning More?

Check out this podcast episode for more information on potty training. We also talk about what to do if you can’t take off work to potty train your child and how to handle accidents that happen long after potty training is over.

Equip yourself with knowledge and tools to help your child thrive. And be sure to subscribe to the Genius Little Mindspodcast so you never miss an episode!

References

Madeleine Vieira 10/3/22 Madeleine Vieira 10/3/22

How to Get Your Toddler to Sleep: Routine Charts, Sleep Regression and Reassuring Check-Ins

Putting a toddler to bed can be tricky.

And if your toddler is between the ages of 2 and 4, they’ll likely need about 10 to 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.(4)

So how can you make naps or bedtime a treat, not a battle?

It may take some trial and error, and it will definitely take a whole lot of patience and love. But after experimenting with different approaches, you’ll get your toddler’s nap and bedtime routines down pat.

First things first, let’s make sure your toddler’s room is set up safely so they can sleep soundly. They are, after all, notorious explorers. So all that baby proofing you did may need to be kicked up a notch once you have an active toddler.

Toddler girl sleeping holding a teddy bear.

Putting a toddler to bed can be tricky.

And if your toddler is between the ages of 2 and 4, they’ll likely need about 10 to 14 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.(4)

So how can you make naps or bedtime a treat, not a battle?

Making Your Toddler’s Bedroom Safe

Your baby is no longer, well, a baby! Luckily your toddler is no longer at risk for SIDS,(1) but he is more agile and active. So let’s discuss how to create a safe sleeping space as your little one grows.

Double check that your toddler’s crib isn’t near anything he or she can pull on like blinds, cords, or hanging mobiles. Ensure that objects like plants, books, or picture frames aren’t nearby for your curious toddler to push or pull into his crib or on the floor. And don’t keep anything in the crib that could help your toddler climb out. As you already know, toddlers love to explore! He’ll be tempted to stand on stuffed animals, crib bumpers, or pillows to help him climb out of his crib.

Let’s save the big adventures for when mom or dad are around to supervise, shall we?

When Should You Switch to a Toddler Bed?

About one-third of toddlers move to a toddler bed when they’re between the ages of 18 months and 24 months. (2) Another third will transition between the ages of 2 and 2.5.(2) But many sleep experts recommend that you wait until your child is 3 years old (or close to it) before transitioning to a toddler bed.(3)

When you decide to transition your child from a crib to a bed is a personal choice. But if your toddler isn’t attempting to escape his crib, it might be wise to wait as long as you can before transitioning to a bed. Research shows that toddlers in Western countries who sleep in cribs are more likely to have earlier bedtimes and take less time to fall asleep than those who sleep in a bed.(3) They also wake up fewer times in the night and stay asleep for longer stretches of time.(3)

Place the crib mattress on the lowest setting to try to keep your toddler from climbing out of his crib and going on unsanctioned nighttime strolls. But if that doesn’t work and he’s still able to climb out, you may need to transition to a toddler bed.

Create a Toddler Bedtime Routine Chart

Children often struggle with time management. (Who am I kidding, even adults struggle with this!) So having a picture chart of your child’s bedtime routine taped up somewhere where they can see it might be helpful. The picture chart can include things like, “take a bath” and “brush your teeth” and “put on your pajamas” so they know what to do when. After you give them a bath, ask them if they remember what’s next in their routine. If they don’t, remind them to reference the routine chart!

Let your toddler pick their own pajamas and stuffed animal to sleep with as part of their bedtime routine. Giving them the choice might make them happy, and it also gives them the opportunity to practice autonomy.

Most kids like to be read a story or sung a lullaby before bed. Allow your toddler to pick the book, but you pick how many you’re going to read from or how many songs you’re going to sing. Keep firm with this boundary so your child knows what to expect.

How to Tackle Toddler Sleep Regression

Sleep regression is common among children and can happen at 12, 15, and 18 months.(16) It’s also common when your child is 2 and 3 years old.(16) Usually sleep regression only lasts a few weeks. It’s essentially a disruption in your child’s regular sleep schedule so they’re waking up in the night, rising super early in the morning, or refusing naps.(16) It’s unpleasant for parents because it means you’re dealing with an unusually fussy or cranky toddler. And it also will probably disrupt your sleep schedule as well.

Sometimes separation anxiety can cause sleep regression. Toddlers go through this just like babies do. You may find your toddler becomes more clingy or cries for you more often at bedtime because they don’t want to be away from you.(16) Nightmares, potty training, teeth coming in, and other changes that happen during toddlerhood can all play a role in your toddler’s sleep regression.(16)

The faster you can identify the sleep regression, the faster you can address it.

If your toddler is afraid of the dark, for example, can a night light comfort him? What about leaving a light on in the hall? A toddler who is switching from a crib to a bed may go through a longer sleep regression because it’s a big transition. Make sure to also limit screen time and TV before bed as well so you’re not overstimulating your toddler’s brain before bed.

If your child is nervous about sleeping alone, try tucking them in and letting them know you’ll check on them in a couple of minutes.(17) When you do a check-in, it’s brief, no more than 1 to 2 minutes.(17) If your child calls out in the night, don’t reward it with too much attention. Be reassuring but firm. Resist the urge to let your toddler into your bed.(17) You’re keeping a boundary – your toddler has to stay in bed – but you’re also being tender and showing them you’re confident they can handle sleeping alone.

Pretty soon you’ll be able to do brief check ins from the door, and eventually, you won’t have to do check ins at all.

Sleep regressions can also show up as nap refusal.

Just because your toddler is putting up a fight at nap time doesn’t mean you should get rid of naps altogether just yet.(15) Typically, a child won’t need to stop napping until they’re about 4 or 5.(13) 60% of 4-year-olds still take naps and 30% of 5-year-olds still take naps, compared to only 10% of 6-year-olds. If your young toddler is refusing naps, it may be because she’s overtired rather than no longer needing her afternoon snooze. Or she may just not want to miss out whatever fun she thinks the family is having. But it’s best to stick to the nap schedule, despite her protests.(13)

Interested in Learning More?

Check out this podcast episode for more information on toddler sleep, including research about how cribs can support your toddler’s sleep quality and how toddler sleep schedules vary from culture to culture.

Equip yourself with knowledge and tools to help your child thrive. And be sure to subscribe to the Genius Little Minds podcast so you never miss an episode!

References