Potty Training Tricks for Three-Year-Olds

Potty training your 3-year-old can be both frustrating and gratifying. By age 3, most children are familiar with the basics of potty training, but may need continued reinforcement depending on the child's activity level, fluid intake and muscle development. The keys to successful potty training are consistency, patience and a sense of humor.

  1. Encourage Good Behavior

    • It's not uncommon for a 3-year-old to appear completely toilet trained and then relapse or request diapers. Changes in routine or in the home life can upset what is still a learning process for most children. Praise and rewards for good behavior encourages her to repeat this same action. Set up a system whereby you reward her with a sticker or small piece of candy every time she correctly uses the potty. Wearing training pull-ups is fine, but remind her that she will only receive a reward for using the potty.

    Keep a Routine

    • Encourage habitual toilet use by setting up a routine for your child. For example, after he gets out of bed in the morning, direct him to the potty immediately. A 3-year-old naturally wants to play and engage, if you don't mandate first-thing potty use in the morning, you're setting yourself and your child up for an accident. Other key times include before a car ride, before bedtime and before nap time. Reward and praise him after she uses the potty even if you directed him to do so.

    Offer Opportunities

    • Offer lots of opportunities for your 3-year-old to practice her toilet training skills. For example, a 3-year-old's first trip to the zoo can be overexciting and she may forget her urge to go without reminders. Present an opportunity every hour or so throughout the day by saying, "Ok, you and I are going to the bathroom so I can use the potty." Once you arrive at the bathroom, ask your child, "do you need to use the potty?" Let her watch you use the toilet first in an unfamiliar facility, so she can see the toilet works just like the one at home. Ask her again afterward if she needs to go and then move on. Don't get into a battle of wills, most children become more comfortable using away-bathrooms as they become older.

    Be Consistent

    • Consistency is integral to every aspect of raising children, including toilet training. If you know he is toilet trained but still has the occasional accident every few days, continue dressing him in underwear unless he requests otherwise. Don't force him to wear training pants or a diaper if he would rather wear underwear. Use training pants only if he requests them, but remind him that he still needs to try using the potty like a big boy. Threats and punishment will only increase his anxiety and fear of using the potty.

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