Potty Training - Super Nanny vs. 3 Day Method

Mrsjulybride

A couple of weeks ago we attempted to PT our DD over the weekend essentially using the Super Nanny method (i.e. no pull-ups, just underwear, no rewards, just general praise when it happens). As much as I thought I was prepared, the fail was probably on us so we aborted the mission. I'm thinking of trying it again this weekend (SN says it's a week-long process, but I think it makes sense for us to start on a weekend to get it down before she heads to school on Monday). Anyway, I'm thinking of modifying the method a bit and buying little toys for a reward when she uses the potty. I've read about the 3 day method and think that I'm integrating some of those features but am curious as to what others have done and what you recommend. TIA!

Leap08

We used the three day method and used M&Ms and lots of praise for rewards. My daughter is a little chocolate fiend, so they worked well. I think that you have to figure out a reward that will help motivate your child. I don't think my daughter would have been motivated by stickers or little toys, but they might work well for another child. She wore underwear, which she was really excited about, and we tried not to ask her if she needed to go and never made her try to go. We just reminded her to tell us if she needed to go. I'd say it took my daughter 4 days to really get it.

Stephanie2167

We used the 3 day method over labor day weekend. It took a good 5 days but we haven't used diapers in over a month. She has had a few setbacks (Monday she had a handful of accidents at daycare). We are still dealing with poop (she goes on the potty when she catches it). We also use pull-ups at night which isn't recommended by the 3 day method but on day 3 of the method she was not waking up when she peed and would just sleep in it all night. (We'll work on night time later).

On day 3 of the method I was about to pull my hair out and to throw in the towel. And miraculously on day 4 DD said "I need to go potty". It has been great ever since.

Her accidents aren't as bad as they were when we first started the method because she knows how to hold it and doesn't just let the floodgates open. Sometimes she'll sit on the potty and her panties are a little damp (you can tell she waited to long to go and couldn't hold it anymore).

We're only a month in so I'm really happy with where we are.

Good luck!

jmjb2008

I didn't really do a "method". I took her with me whenever I went to the bathroom so she could watch, and then I'd set her on the toilet. She was really interested, so that helped.

When she finally went potty, we started rewarding with 1 M&M every time she went. Daycare really helped with her watching the older kids too.  Finally when I had summer off (I teach), we bought Dora panties together and that's all she wore. She was very disappointed when she pottied her pants..she'd say "I pottied on Dora. She is very sad now." I literally took her to the bathroom every 30 minutes. It was a lot of work but worth it! 

gingerfamily

We did the 3 day method but it was more like 4 days for her.  Be prepared for accidents on day 1.  Within the first hour we went through 6 pairs of underwear.  Rewards worked really well for her. 

osirismama

For DS i decided to do only underwear while he was awake. When he woke up in the morning, i would have him come sit and go potty, than put on his underwear. Throughout the day i would randomly ask him if he had to go pee or poop. He was able to tell me yes or no. I would make him sit and try before we went anywheres as well. In the past 3 weeks, he has only had 3 accidents. 1 was durring a nap, 1 while he was awake, and the last one was this morning after he got really sick. But he is very good about it. He can hold it if we are in the car until we get somewhere. We did get him a little present at the end of the first week. My Brother promised him a present if he kept going in the potty for the next week. Honestly he dosen't care about the present. He likes his cool big boy underwear. He is really into vehicles, planes, trains, cars, etc... so we got him underwear that have those on them. He loves them.