Potty Training over a 3-Day Weekend

Looking forward to a relaxing, casual 3-day weekend? Think again! Your next long weekend may be the perfect opportunity to crank out some serious potty learning for your little one.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

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All right. Hello everyone. Thank you so much for joining us today for our webinar on potty training over labor day weekend. Really? This is a webinar covering, um, potty training in three days. That's three-day method that you probably have stumbled across in the past or in the past. So you can use this really for any weekend, but this.

Most current weekend coming up is labor day. So let's talk about how to use this method. My name is Julia Walker. I am a parent of two girls. They just two and four. I am a nurse background in pediatrics high expert, and I've worked in pre-schools daycares. I've nannied. I've had the pleasure and privilege of potty training, a lot of kids.

So I look forward to sharing my experience with you. So. A little bit about us pooping on the potty. The online academy is a resource for parents that leaves out all the fluff and gets to the stuff that you actually need to know. Our goal is to make potty training easier and have it be an enjoyable experience that brings you closer to your kid.

So in this webinar, again, we're going over the three-day method and we recognize that parents here are in very different circumstances. Each kid is unique, so not everything is 100% going to apply to your kid, but that's why we welcome you to leave any questions in our chat. And, um, if you do leave a question, please just attach your email so I can get back to you personally, just in case we run out of time.

I try to stick to that 20 minute marker, just because we're all parents. And we all know when that 20 minutes of our kids are going to need our attention. Mine included. So without further ado, let's get started looking at what we're going to talk about today. We're going to cover why you might want to use a long weekend to potty train in the first place.

How to tell if it's gonna work for your kid steps to prepare action time. So why do you need to do on the three days that you're doing this thing, pros and cons of using the three-day method? And then of course, does it really take for me dates? So let's get into it guys. So why use labor day or any three-day weekend to potty train?

Well, since you asked, it can actually be really fun. So this is a time where hopefully you've obviously taken some time off of work, perhaps. You're hopefully relaxed and you can just actually really focus on her kid labor day's ideal because the weather's usually pretty nice outside. So you can be in your backyard, light your camp, run nude, all that good stuff.

So it can actually be a pretty nice time to do this. Your kid of course, gets your undivided attention because again, you're not distracted with other midweek or regular weekends stuff that usually grabs your attention. What we find is that a lot of kids that show slow progression or have a lot of accidents.

Sometimes need more intense focus from their parents. So these kids can actually really benefit from the three-day method. Sometimes they have kind of a grasp of what's going on, but they just can't put it all together because they haven't had enough one-on-one time really honing in on their potty skills.

So that's one of the perks of the three-day method. Um, some children and Karens benefit from that intensity in general. There's a lot of parents out there. Really need just that focus, time to focus on their kids, to really help them grasp everything. And honestly it can bring you and your kiddo a lot closer together.

So having that weekend or that time together, where you just are together and you're doing everything together can actually be really fun and a full bonding experience. How to tell if it's going to work for your kid, that's the thing, right? There's all these different potty training methods out there.

And the three-day method is arguably the most intense. So you don't want to. Doing something that's going to be, that's going to really rock the boat for your kids. So here's how to tell. So first of all, you want to look for those signs of readiness. This is key with any potty training method. Whenever you're going to start potty training, don't start.

Unless you see that your kid is actually ready to do this thing. So you're looking for them showing interest in using the potty. So jumping down to the bottom that looks like, you know, maybe they'd follow you into the bathroom, or they're curious what their older siblings doing, or they really like seeing the public restrooms.

Those can all be signs that they might be interested in it. Maybe they're even practicing. If they're diapers or pull-ups, whatever they're wearing are staying dryer for longer. That's also a sign that physiologically or anatomically their bowels and their bladders are more able to hold. Their contents for longer.

So physically they're actually more capable of potty training. And that's a big thing. There's like the mental side of potty training, the emotional side. And then the, of course the physical side kiddos need to put all three of those together in order to be successful communication. When your kid starts telling you.

I peed or pooped. That's a big deal. That's a sign that they're starting to recognize that things are going on down there. Now, if they're communicating, I'm paying right now or I'm pooping, or I have to put move in, that's a big sign that you need to get on this because they're starting to recognize this and they're starting to acknowledge that, okay, maybe I need to be doing something different.

Also different topic here than signs of readiness. If your kid likes focused attention and thrives on that, they may be really responsive to the three-day method. They may love and crave your undivided attention. And so they may do whatever they can to please you, which may in turn be using the potty and learning how to do all of that.

Okay. Steps to prepare.

Okay. This is before your three-day weekend or three days starts, whatever it is, you want to get everybody on board, because again, this is a pretty intense method, so you don't want to be going at it alone, or if you are, you want to make sure you minimize distractions as much as possible. So, not only do you want to get people in your household on board, like another parent, caregiver, siblings, you also of course, want to tell your child what you're thinking.

You know, cue them in a little bit, make it fun, make them light, but let them know what's coming down the pipeline. Also clear your calendar. So whenever you decide to do three days of potty training, no distractions, make sure you're only focuses on your kids. So you don't want to approach say Saturday where you're totally focusing on Sunday.

You have a target adding for an hour. You don't want to do that over the three days. You want to stay focused, stay at home in their environment to help them build confidence. So clearly accounts. You may already have this next one, but get some fun undies. This is one of the things that can get them really excited.

Again, maybe you already have them, or if you don't get them some the day or a couple of days before, just so we can feel really amped up about what's about to come and have some rewards ready. So there's a lot of talk among potty training experts about whether tangible rewards should be used or not.

What everyone can agree on though, is that positive reinforcement is key. So positive reinforcement can look like. No cheering them on a big high five, all that good stuff, too, giving them some type of reward, like a candy or sweet treat. They like some type of meal they love, or even a toy book, something like that.

So have your rewards ready to think about what you want to give them? And, um, potty supplies. That's a big one. Maybe you again, already have this stuff, but you want to make sure you have a potty chair or a potty seat that can go on your toy. So that your kid feels safe and feels like they have something that's going to hold them secure.

They can focus on what they need to do in the potty, instead of being worried that they're going to fall in. So have your potty supplies ready? That also includes the hand-washing stuff for kids learning to potty train. If the potty stuff doesn't click right away at the very least help them cultivate the hand-washing side of things after going, because.

Not only is it hygienic, but it's also something they can do and they want to do so that's a really cool thing. So make sure you have a step stool so they can access the sink and some easy hand soap so they can master that part. And finally, the night before prepare your house because you may let your kid go nude and you don't want to worry about them peeing on your couch or your favorite rug, whatever it is.

So try to do a little prep work ahead of time, just so you feel good in case, you know, your kid piece somewhere, because. They probably will. That's a part of this whole thing. So roll up the rug, put a shower curtain over the couch, all that good stuff. Okay. Action time. So a rundown of what the three days are going to look like, you're going to want them to look basically the same.

So. Saturday morning, you want to wake up and say bye-bye to diapers and either let them go nude or have them wear the pants, either undies, whatever, whatever you feel comfortable with and whatever your feel your kid feels comfortable with. A lot of kids don't like going nude. So obviously that might not be that option for them.

So you can also do a diaper Roundup, which can be a really fun way to get them started. So have them run through the house, find all the diapers, put them in a box and maybe say, we're going to donate them to your neighbor down the road. Or maybe just put them aside if they're real sensitive about that.

But either way, try to get rid of the diapers again, lay out your rewards, show your kid the awesome stuff that's coming to get them excited. And throughout the day, do dry checks. This is a really cool way to. Um, congratulate your kid on something great they're doing. So have them look at their pants on Jesus, they're wearing them and say, are you driving?

And, you know, really congratulate them for being dry for that. Um, for a period of time, that's really awesome with the three-day method. You're also going to want to make sure your kid is really well hydrated. The reason is is you want them to get a lot of good practice going to the bathroom. So have some really fun drinks on hand, obviously.

Really sugary drinks can make their bladders kind of overactive and overly sensitive, which yes, we want them to go, but we also don't want them to have bladder sensitivity where they actually can't control it. So maybe stay away from really sugary juices and opt for things like water, with fun fruit in it, something like that.

Watch them like a hot of course. Obviously don't have her and be like, do you have to go potty? Do you have to go potty now? You know, you don't want to do that because that really stresses both of you out, but be with them all day and watch for their signs. Likely you've seen them in the past kind of dancing around before they have to be your poop.

So keep an eye out for those, maybe set a timer. So they have constant potty reminders, things like that. And lastly, just again, know that accidents are gonna happen. We don't even really call them accidents when their potty training, because it's expected, they're learning. Right. So, and when it happens, just say, it's okay, you've got this.

You're going to get to the body next time. Things like that. Stay positive. Okay. Pros and cons of the three-day method,

obviously with every method there's good things and bad. Yeah. So pros, well, you may see results in three days. That's kind of the crux of the method, right? You want to see some major progress at the end of three days, and a lot of kids do, you also can start saving money on diapers sooner because you're not kind of in this mix of diapers and potties and things like that.

You just kind of say, we're done at least during the day. Now keep in mind. Some parents want to tackle it all at once. Um, I it's really kid dependent if you want to do nighttime Kati training at the same time, but generally speaking, a lot of kids don't have enough control quite yet when they first start learning, it really depends on their age.

Partly. Um, so just bear that in mind, you might still need to have your kid on diapers, less waste and landfills, of course, diapers are non compostable, at least most of them aren't I think so. It's definitely adding to our mountains of trash, fewer power struggles with diapers. The older kids get. Yeah. The more likely they are to resist getting rid of diapers because they want control over their bodies and independence.

That's part of it. So you might find the older, your kid gets the more resistant they are to getting rid of the diapers. Another problem is, again, your kiddo gets that undivided attention for the first three days of their potty career. That's really awesome. And that lays a great foundation for them.

Potty using over their life in general. Right. And then yes, lots of bonding and playing with your kid. Now, some cons saying it takes three days can be really misleading. There are actually really few kids who. Exit the three-day method on day three and our 100% potty training don't need any reminders, never have any accidents.

So parents going into this thinking, yes, I'm done on Monday night. It's probably not realistic, but you can't expect to have a good day. Platform a good foundation for your kiddo. It also can lead to fear, frustration, and disappointment for both the parent and kid. So that's something to keep in mind in that fear and your child can lead to some unhealthy elimination patterns.

So, what I mean by that is it can make them afraid to poop, or if they have an accident, it can make them feel really self-conscious and then it can lead to issues like constipation and things like that. So something to keep in mind, um, In general, if this method can be kind of too harsh and intense, when it should actually be really fun.

But if you're one of those parents and your kid is one of those kids that thrives on intensity, it may be fun. So that's just something to consider. And then lastly, there was a lot of opposition from some parents on this method because there was kind of this element of. Forcing fluids and salty snacks on your kid to make him go to the bathroom.

And a lot of parents are just against that in general. So those are just some pros and cons to keep in mind. And then again, does it really take three days? This is kind of where we're going to include. So again, I already kind of touched on this. Yeah. If you do it solidly for three days, you're probably gonna see some really nice progress in your kid.

Again, they've had your undivided attention. You've been focusing on this. You're probably going to have a nice foundation, but again, is your kid not going to have an accident down the road in the following weeks? Probably not, they, they, they may is what I need. Um, so it's really kid dependent. It's really parent dependent, but just know that this can be a great launching point for you and your kid, and it can make you both feel really confident.

The last thing I want to leave you with is with each day, you're going to probably have to start over from zero. So what I mean by that is on Saturday, you're going to start from basically zero. And hopefully your kids are going to get some good progress. Right? Sunday it's probably in a field like Saturday never happened.

Monday, it might even feel the same, but usually parents start to see some changes on Monday. So just something to keep in mind, don't get discouraged if Sunday afternoon rolls around and it feels like you've made no progress. You're you'll get there. Okay. Thank you. That was the end of the webinar portion.

I'm going to get to a couple of questions, but first I want to just tell you a little bit about what we offer, especially parents trying to navigate this whole potty training thing. It can be really overwhelming. So I want to take you to my, um, screen here, taking you over to the pooping on the potty, the online academy website, you can sign up here.

It's $17 right now for full access to everything, which includes all of our guides. I can take you there. Um, as well as access to me. So again, I am a nurse, I potty train loads of kids. I'm a potty expert. I love it. And I love helping parents. So you and I can work. One-on-one face-to-face things like that virtually that is, um, and we can talk about, you know, an individualized plan for you and your kid.

So as far as our guides, we have to get ready fag. We talk about all the methods, the signs, how to get your kid excited, all that good stuff, nighttime potty training. Basically we take all the information that's in a huge manual, or like a 300 page parents guide and we condense it into the stuff you actually need to know.

So we have our get ready guide we ever get going guide. We talk about fun, creative rewards. Besides like the Eminem trick, which I totally used. So we have lots of fun things there. So please check out our website. We'd love to see you there. And I would love to work with you personally, and let's go to our questions.

So we have just two minutes left. So I'm going to try to get to at least one, we had one parent, um, I had a parent email me and say, um, my son poops in the potty, but struggles to recognize him. He has to be. So this is really common. Kids will nail down one thing, but then they will struggle with the other thing.

Right? So in this case, this, this kiddo poops really great, but has trouble recognizing any piece. So one thing I would recommend to this dad is try some different underwear first. So if he has, um, Like those thick potty training underwear, where the fabric is thicker, that can be really misleading to kids.

And it can kind of almost mimic the feeling of a pull up or a diaper. So goal for like really thin cotton underwear or even little boxers shorts or nothing at all, you know, let them go nude or just wear pants, something like that. So it feels more immediate when moisture leaks down his leg. Sometimes, you know, that fabric is meant to soak up the urine, which is kind of the opposite effect you want at this point.

Right? Um, again, having him go nude for a few days can really help him recognize the sensation. He's feeling from his bladder to that, which is happening down his legs and his tennis shoes. And then do those dry NHS. If he's wearing underwear, check in and say, Hey, are you are your undies dry? And if so, give him a big reward.

Big compliments. Using a timer can be really helpful for kiddos that have trouble with team and also bathroom breaks before transitions are key. So if you're about to get in the car and go somewhere, obviously go to the bathroom. If you're about to leave the store to go somewhere. Go to the bathroom. It can feel like all you do, but it can help your kid become more successful and more confident.

And then when he does pee in the potty again, positive reinforcement, celebrate, get him really make him feel really proud about his accomplishment. All right. We are now at one 20. I know my kids are going to run in here asking me for lunch at 1220. Depends on where you're at. So that concludes our webinar.

If you have any additional questions, please join us in the academy. Go to a signup. Excuse me, sign up page. You have access to me. I'd love to help you one-on-one and help make this potty training experience. Super fun and enjoyable for you and your kid. Thank you guys. Take care.

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Potty Training over Labor Day or Long Weekend

by:

Julia Walker

updated:

08/30/2021

time to read:

min

Key Take aways:

Long weekends can be an ideal opportunity to focus on helping your child master potty training.
Giving your child your undivided attention for the first 3 days of their potty career can be a great foundation for their success and also your relationship.
This method of potty training may be too intense for some children and parents and may cause regression, resistance, and frustration.

article summary: Long weekends can actually be a great opportunity to nail home some potty training skills for your little one.

Many parents follow the 3-day potty training method, which often helps children make remarkable progress with the focused attention of their parents or caregivers. Indeed, one of the benefits of potty training over a long weekend is that you likely can clear your schedule of other obligations and focus solely on potty training.

With that said, many parents feel that trying to nail a big milestone like potty training in one weekend places a lot of pressure on both the parent and the child.

No matter what camp you are in, it helps to know the various strategies you can take for helping your child master potty going. Whatever you choose to help your child learn to use the potty, make sure to keep it light, fun, and enjoyable.

After all, this is their experience, and we parents are just along the journey to support them and provide the tools for success.

main article

Potty Training over a Three-Day Weekend

If a 3-day weekend is approaching on your calendar, you may want to think about using it to potty train your child. Many parents find they can make remarkable strides in potty learning with focused attention. To utilize this time wisely, you will want to familiarize yourself with the 3-day potty training method.

This method may be ideal for children who:

Show signs of readiness for potty training
Thrive on having a parent's focused attention
Can understand the basics of potty use

It is also a suitable method for parents who:

Can give their children their undivided attention
Are motivated to say goodbye to diapers because they are tired of spending money on diapers, don't want to add to the landfills, and want to put away their bulky diaper bags
Are willing to give up the 3-day mission if it appears their child is not thriving in this method

What are signs of readiness?

So glad you asked! (Just kidding - but you were wondering, right?!) Seeing signs of readiness in your little one is crucial before you begin potty training. Here are the following signs you will want to look for to determine if your child is ready to tackle this milestone:

Shows interest in potty using
Watches you in the bathroom or asks questions about it
Stays dry for a few hours at a time or wakes up in the morning with a dry diaper
Gravitates toward pooping or peeing in a specific area of the house
Tells you when they have peed or pooped, or
Let's you know when they are going

Even showing one of these signs may be indication enough to go ahead and give potty learning a go. However, if you don't see any signs, it is probably best to wait a few weeks and then revisit the possibility of getting started. In general, most children show signs of readiness and can grapes the concepts of potty training between ages 2-3.

Preparing for weekend potty training

If you are going to potty train over a 3-day weekend, you will need to do some prep ahead of time. So here's a rundown of some things to think about before Saturday morning hits.

Clear your calendar. You are probably putting this together by now, but if you are trying to do the 3-day potty method, you will want to have no distractions for those 3 days. That means canceling any errands, get-togethers with family and friends, and playdates. Staying at home will help your child gain confidence in their skills and prevent any setbacks or regression due to lack of focus and attention.

Clue everyone in on your plans. No, that doesn't mean you need to share it with all the neighbors, but make sure you let everyone in your home know the agenda for the long weekend ahead. Having everyone on the same page will help keep the focus where it needs to be, which is on potty learning. And, don't forget to let the most important person know - the child that is getting potty trained. Maybe they would like to offer some input on fun rewards or activities to do while they are in between potty trips!

Designate a bathroom for potty training. Choose a bathroom closest to where you and your child will spend most of your time together. Ensure you have supplies like a potty chair or potty seat, stepstool, flushable wipes, hand soap, and plenty of towels and paper towels. In addition, it may help to have some fun books, so they have something to look at if they are sitting on the potty for a little bit.

Get some fun undies. You may want to do this closer to the weekend, so your child gets really excited, but do a fun errand to their favorite clothing store for some awesome underwear. Involve them in washing and folding them, so they take ownership of adding this new clothing item to their wardrobe.

Prep your house. Aside from designating a bathroom for potty learning, think about what areas of your home will cause you to stress if your kid has a mishap and pees or poops outside the bathroom (FYI - this will happen and is normal). So roll up any precious rugs, throw a shower curtain on the couch, and maybe encourage them to be outside as much as possible - weather permitting.

Action Time

Now that you are physically and (hopefully) mentally prepared, it's time to get the show on the road. On Saturday morning, or Day 1, start by doing a diaper round-up and place all diapers in the house in a box somewhere out of reach. It is important to note that many children will only work on daytime potty training, so if your child will still wear diapers at night for a while, keep those out of reach and available only for bedtime.

After your diaper round-up, focus on playing together for the rest of the day and spending quality time on the bathroom floor. It will help to have some fun beverages on hand, so your child has plenty of opportunities to pee. Just make sure they aren't too sweet, as sugar can irritate the bladder. Also, don't hesitate to set potty reminders for both you and your child so you don't get too carried away with an activity. It can be fun for your child to set the timer on your phone themselves, so they feel like they have ownership over their schedule. Dry undie checks are also a fantastic way to encourage your child to check in with what's going on in their undies and for giving them praise.

Once you get through day one, you may feel pretty good about some of the progress. And if not a lot happened, don't stress - there's always tomorrow. And speaking of tomorrow, you must know that most parents feel like Saturday never happened when they reach Sunday. What we mean by that is that most children do not wake up with the same progress they showed on Saturday. Indeed, Sunday can feel like a repeat, where you are revisiting the same steps and messages from the day before. This is normal. But the hope is by Monday, your child will start to show they are putting the pieces together with potty going.

Pros and cons of the potty training over a long weekend

Pros

You may see results in 3 days
Start saving $$ on diapers sooner
Less waste in landfills
Fewer power struggles with diapers
Your kiddo gets your undivided attention for the first 3 days of their potty career
Lots of bonding and playing with your child
No time away from work

Cons

Saying it takes 3 days is misleading
Fear, frustration, and disappointment
Unhealthy elimination patterns
Too harsh and intense when it should be fun
Opposition from parents when forcing fluids and snacks
Missing out on an opportunity to relax, recover, and just have family time without a focus on achieving the next milestone

The BIG Question: Does 3-day potty training actually work?

For many children, yes! The 3-day method can help some children take significant strides in their learning and confidence with potty training. However, it doesn't mean that you are done potty training after the long weekend is up. Indeed, you will be continuing to give them cues to go to the bathroom, likely cleaning up accidents, and will, of course, need to continue supporting and encouraging them for several weeks following this weekend.

However, some children will not benefit from this method. At The Academy, we are big proponents of our children guiding us in this milestone and believe our role is to support them with the right tools, encouragement, and positivity. The 3-day method can be intense for some children and parents, so feel free to abandon ship if your child is resisting and let your child guide you on the pace they want to go to master this milestone. After all, it is their experience, not ours.

Potty Training on a Long Weekend