Potty training is a huge milestone for toddlers and parents alike. When I decided to potty train my son, I spent hours reading parenting forums, articles, and books trying to figure out what approach felt realistic for our family.
After learning from other moms and using ideas from Brandi Brucks’ Potty Training in 3 Days book, I created a simple approach that helped us make major progress in just one day. Was it perfect? No. Were there accidents? Absolutely. But by the end of day one, my toddler was already starting to understand the process and communicate when he needed to go.
Here’s exactly what worked for us, what I’d do again, and the potty training tips that made the biggest difference.
Key Takeaways
- Potty training success often depends more on readiness and consistency than speed.
- Going commando, using frequent reminders, and staying home during the first few days helped reinforce learning.
- Accidents are a normal part of potty training and should be handled calmly.
- Positive reinforcement and celebrating small wins can help toddlers stay motivated.
- Every child learns differently, so it’s okay if potty training takes longer than one day.
What to Expect When Potty Training in One Day
- Quicker and Easier: I expected potty training to be harder than it was and to take much longer. But with this said, I was fully committed to the process. It was only about poop, pee, and potty for one day straight. The results are much better when you are committed to potty training and focus solely on this.
- Accidents: Yes, there will be accidents – a lot of them . . . especially on the first day.
- To be Proud: Expect to be so proud of your little one when they tinkle in the potty, even that first little drop. If any pee reaches the potty, it’s such an exciting feeling. When your toddler starts asking to use the potty, it fills you with such happiness and pride: your baby is growing up and accomplishing a major milestone.
Our Day One Potty Training Results
Here’s what I posted on Facebook to report my day one results:
“Potty Training results!! I’m simply amazed. Yesterday was day one of potty training. By the afternoon until bed, not one accident! Vasya told me every time he had to go, and we zipped him onto the potty, and he went. Three poos yesterday and 8 pees on the potty. This morning another pee on the potty, and when I was taking this photo of the potty seat, Vasya climbed up by himself and went #2. Sorry for all the potty talk, but I’m so excited!!“
So, how did I do it?
How to Potty Train in One Day
Wondering how to potty train in one day? These are the practical, real-life steps we used to ditch the diapers and help our toddler feel confident and proud.
1. Wait until your child is ready
Readiness matters much more than age alone when it comes to successfully transitioning out of diapers. Our son was 2 years and 4 months old when we potty trained in one day. We had just been traveling to visit my in-laws over the summer, which involved a nine-hour plane ride, so we decided to keep the kids in diapers for the trip.
Over the summer, we noticed some signs he was ready to be potty trained:
- He said a word for pee, “teta,” and “kaka” for poo.
- Our son started to tell me every time he peed or pooed in his diaper.
- He had a good understanding of two and three-step instructions. “Vasya, see that red block? Please go get it and place it on your tower.”
- Our son didn’t talk yet . . . only some words, but enough to communicate.
2. Start talking about using the potty
For a few weeks, before we started potty training, I said, “Soon, Mama will teach you to go potty on the toilet like Mama and Papa. No more diapers!”
3. Order underwear 1-2 weeks before
We ordered fun, colorful training underwear a couple of weeks in advance to get ready. Look for styles that have:
- Bright colors or cute designs to make it exciting for your toddler
- Added absorbency (like an extra layer or thicker material) to help with early accidents
- Comfortable, breathable fabric like organic cotton
We had a mix of training pants at home, and also picked out a few pairs at Target the day before training started. Letting Vasya choose his own potty training underwear helped him feel more involved and excited about becoming a big boy.
Bottom line: Choosing gear your child likes builds excitement and gives them a sense of ownership over the process.
4. Choose a potty
I love this potty seat with a ladder that goes right on the big toilet! It’s super easy to assemble, sturdy, cute, and foldable. It’s also easy to clean. I did not like the idea of a portable, little potty—no way to flush the mess! So we used the regular potty with a special seat and ladder. I love the handles on the sides, too. And my son can climb up by himself.
Why it matters: A child-friendly potty setup encourages independence and builds confidence from the start.
5. Block off 3 full days for training
Set aside three days in a row where you will ONLY focus on the potty, pee, and poop. Especially on day one, you need to plan to be with your child all day, playing, reading, and so on. Be close to the potty! And don’t leave the house with your little one just yet.
6. Go commando
I researched online and read several articles and parent tips that suggested putting your child in an oversized T-shirt and going commando. I thought, “No way!” So I started potty training with underwear, and he peed in them A LOT. Underwear feels like a diaper, so it was much easier when I removed it.
We started using underwear on day three.
Quick tip: Skipping underwear early on helps toddlers feel the difference and speeds up the learning process.
7. Wave ‘bye-bye’ to diapers
On the morning of day one, when your toddler wakes up, take the diaper off right away, and have your child throw it away and say, “Bye-bye diapers, I’m a big boy now!”
8. Repeat this phrase every few minutes
“If you have to go pee or poop in the potty, let Mama know. Okay?” Seriously, say this every two to five minutes. You see, toddlers will forget about the potty. They will pee wherever they are, just like they do with a diaper on. But if you constantly remind them, they remember to tell you they need to go.
Never ask, “Do you have to go to the potty?” Your child will say no, even if they have to. By saying, “Let me know if you need to go poop or pee in the potty,” you give the child the option to let you know.
9. Accidents happen
Accidents will happen, especially during the first few days. This does not mean the learning process is failing. Accidents are simply part of the learning process.
When they do happen, it’s imperative to remain calm while expressing disappointment. No yelling. When there’s an accident, it’s essential to say, “You had an accident. Pee and poop go in the potty. Let’s clean up.” Say this with some disappointment in your voice, but never yell.
If you catch your child peeing or pooping, run to the potty. Even if just one drop gets in the potty, celebrate enthusiastically!
Be mindful of where your toddler is sitting. You may want to cover your furniture with plastic bags and towels.
10. Celebrate wins
Giving a reward like candy or a sticker is common when your child goes in the potty, but this can backfire. My friend gave her daughter an M&M every time she went on the potty, which worked for them. But it was pretty funny when their little girl started to pretend to go potty to get an M&M. Honestly, it was pretty funny.
So it’s best not to give them any reward every time they go. Eventually, there will be no more excitement around the reward, or they will want just the reward without going on the potty.
For us, we praised Vasya A LOT when he went in the potty, and we had a celebration dance. First, we created HUGE excitement: “You did it! You went pee/poop in the potty! I’m so proud of you. You’re a big boy now! Wow, you did it! Good job.” Then we would take out our special potty toy and dance. We used this awesome multi-sensory trumpet toy.
After our little trumpet music session and dance, the special potty toy is put away for the next potty party, but the excitement and celebration didn’t stop there . . .
Next, we would call Grammie and Papa to share the news. Make it feel exciting and celebratory. For many toddlers, that excitement and encouragement are motivating enough to go in the potty.
11. The timer is your best friend
Set the timer to go off every 10 minutes for the first two hours of day one. When it goes off, it’s time to sit on the potty.
Sit for a few minutes.
For the rest of the day, we set the timer for every 20 minutes and went on the potty.
By the afternoon of day one, he was telling me every time he needed to go potty, but we still did the timer.
On day two, we did not use the timer. However, depending on how well your child does, you may want to use it for the first three days. On days two and three, we continued to remind him every 20 minutes, “If you have to pee or poop on the potty, let Mama know.”
If your child is still having accidents on days two and three, use the timer.
Takeaway: Timers help keep your child focused and reinforce consistency during early training. Routine and repetition are a huge part of helping toddlers build a reliable potty routine.
12. Venture outside of the house
Be prepared to keep your child home while potty training. And if you are doing the training, you stay home too.
When your child asks to go potty for a whole day or two, it’s time to venture outside the house. We walked to the park the first time, and my son had an accident. We changed his clothes and said, “You had an accident. Pee and poop go in the potty. When we are not home, there’s not always a potty, so you have to hold it until we find a potty, okay?”
The next time we went to the grocery store, and no accidents! I used potty training pants for stores or longer trips because they are way more absorbent than any other underwear, especially the ones you find at big stores.
13. Handle sleep time differently
Use a diaper for naps and night sleep, and when your child has 7 straight nights with a dry diaper, it’s time to use underwear for sleep time too!
Final Thoughts + More Potty Training Tips
Remember, readiness matters more than a deadline. If this method doesn’t work the first time, that’s okay. Take a break, try again later, and trust that your child will get there.
Need more potty training support? We’ve covered everything from potty training readiness signs and common potty training myths to potty training boys, potty training girls, and what to do if your child is afraid to poop on the potty. You can also read our tips on emotional readiness for potty training and things I wish I had known before starting the process.
Every child is different, but with patience, encouragement, and consistency, you can help your little one succeed, too. Some toddlers pick it up quickly, while others need more time and repetition, and both are completely normal.
