Most parents wonder, “How long does it take to potty train a toddler,” at some point or another. Even if you’ve potty trained a child before, every little one is different. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Some kids get the hang of it in a few days, while others need months. It’s all normal, depending on the child.
Here’s a look at common timelines and approaches parents use. From the three-day potty-training method to a more laid-back approach, keep reading to get a better idea of how long it takes to potty train a toddler.
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Toddler—3 Days
The three-day potty-training method is popular among parents who know their child is ready and want to get it done quickly. The idea is simple: for three days, your toddler goes pantless at home. By skipping diapers and pants, they can see and feel what’s happening when they pee or poo.
This hands-on experience helps them connect the urge with the action. With lots of reminders, encouragement, and trips to the bathroom, many toddlers start using the potty pretty consistently with this method.
Key tips for the 3 Day Method:
- Clear your schedule. Expect to stay at home all weekend.
- Offer praise and cheers for every attempt, not only successes.
- Be ready for accidents and keep the cleaning products nearby. It’s part of the process.
- Consistency is key. Once you start, power through all three days to see results.
The three-day potty method works for lots of children, but it’s not as convenient for parents. If you’d rather try a less intense introduction to potty training, here are some options.
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Toddler—Weeks-Months
If you’d rather take a gradual path, one to three months is a nice window to introduce the potty in a fun, no-pressure way. This approach works especially well when you notice your toddler showing signs of readiness, such as:
- Hiding to poo.
- Motioning or alerting you when they need to pee.
- Staying dry for longer stretches of time.
- Showing interest in the bathroom.
To make potty training more relatable:
- Read potty-themed books together.
- Use props or toys (like the LullaBaby potty accessory) to let your child practice with their LullaBaby dolls.
- Offer rewards or incentives whenever they sit on the potty.
Get the ball rolling and prompt your child to sit on the potty at natural times, like right after they wake up, before bed, or after meals.
The most important rule? No pressure, no expectations. In some cases, little ones take the lead and pick up potty training naturally, with little to no intervention from parents. If that’s not the case, a few successes here and there are big wins. As the weeks tick by, successes tend to snowball, and soon enough, your child is consistently using the potty.
For many families, potty training takes longer, and that’s perfectly normal. If your child isn’t picking it up naturally, or if they’re only catching part of it (like peeing in the potty sometimes but not always, or refusing to poo), don’t stress.
Potty training often takes a few dedicated months of practice. The more time you can devote to watching for cues, offering reminders, and encouraging your child to sit on the potty, the faster it goes.
You can always revisit quicker methods like the three-day method to move things along, but many kids simply need repetition, patience, and encouragement.
How to get toddler to poop on potty
Teaching kids to poop in the potty is its own challenge. Even if they use the potty regularly to pee, they might continue to hide away when it’s time to poo.
For some children, holding in their poop is a form of control, especially if they feel pressured to go on the potty. Kids can also be shy to poop in front of someone and prefer the privacy of using their diaper. All of these feelings are valid. Your child will learn to accept and use the potty at their own pace.
At the end of the day, potty training is not a race. Go at your own pace, try different strategies, and trust that your toddler will get there. Celebrate the little wins, and remember: accidents are just stepping stones to independence.
How Long Does It Take to Potty Train a Toddler—Months-Years
Sometimes you hit a potty training wall, and it takes a long time to break through. If you start potty training and your child resists, it’s common to take a step back and try again later.
If your child has difficulty staying dry at night, you have two choices:
- A proactive approach, where you wake your child up each night to make sure they pee in the potty or toilet.
- A more laid back approach where your child continues to go to bed with pull-ups.
Kids have been known to wear pull-ups to bed for years. If this is the approach that works for your family, it may take years for your child to be completely potty trained, day and night. But that’s completely normal.
The Bottom Line
So, how long does it take to potty train a toddler? For some, it’s a few days, for others, it can feel endless. By age three, most kids are potty trained or on their way. The journey looks different for every family, and you can’t compare yourself, or your child, to anyone else’s timeline.
Keep it light, keep it positive, and enjoy the process. For more help, check out our blog on potty training with LullaBaby dolls. For more LullaBaby goodness, connect with us on social media or sign up to our newsletter for promotions and baby doll recommendations.