How Long Does Potty Training Take? (What’s Actually Normal)

One of the first questions parents ask when thinking about potty training is - “How long is this going to take?”

You’ll often see bold claims online -“Potty trained in 3 days!” or “A weekend and you’re done!” and it can make you feel like if it takes longer, something must be going wrong.

But the truth is, potty training timelines are rarely that simple.

Why the “3-Day Method” Sets Unrealistic Expectations

The idea that potty training can be completed in three days sounds appealing, especially when nappies have started to feel endless. But in reality, what many families experience is very different.

For some children, three days might be enough to:

• Start doing wees on the potty

• Stay dry while naked at home

• Begin to understand the routine

But that’s not the same as being fully potty trained.

Often, what happens next looks like:

• Wees are mostly mastered… but poos still happen in a nappy

• Children ask for a nappy to poo for weeks or months

• Accidents continue once clothes are added

• Setbacks appear when routines change or returning to childcare

So while nappies may come off quickly, the learning continues for a long time afterwards.

Why Potty Training Often Takes Longer Than Parents Expect

Potty training isn’t just about removing nappies, it’s about learning body awareness, timing, confidence, and independence. Those skills don’t always develop on a fixed timeline.

For many toddlers, especially those trained later, potty training can stretch out over months:

• A long phase of accidents

• Ongoing resistance or power struggles

• Anxiety around pooing on the toilet

• Reliance on pull-ups outside the home

This is often where parents feel stuck, nappies are technically gone, but the process doesn’t feel finished.

A Slower Start, A Quicker Finish

My approach to potty training is intentionally slower at the beginning, but much quicker once nappies are removed.

Instead of rushing straight into underwear and hoping it sticks, the focus is on:

• Building awareness before nappies come off

• Helping toddlers understand what their body feels like

• Making the toilet familiar and pressure-free

• Creating clear routines and expectations

Because of this preparation, when nappies are removed, children are already confident and capable. That means:

• Fewer accidents

• Less resistance

• No long “in-between” phase

• Faster progress once you commit

Parents are often surprised by how smoothly things move once they reach that point.

What’s a “Normal” Timeline?

There isn’t one fixed timeline that fits every child, but there is a very common pattern when potty training is approached in stages.

With a calm, early-start approach like in the Potty Pros Academy, potty training usually looks like this:

• Stages 1–2 (preparation and awareness):
  This stage can take several weeks or even a few months. During this time, nappies stay on while your toddler builds familiarity, awareness, and confidence around the toilet. Nothing is rushed — and that’s intentional.

• Stage 3 (nappies removed):
  Once those foundations are in place, this stage is often much quicker — typically 2–3 days for most children to adjust.

Because the learning has already happened earlier, there’s far less confusion when nappies come off. Wees are understood, routines are familiar, and toddlers know what’s expected.

What matters most isn’t how fast you remove nappies, it’s whether your child is genuinely ready when you do. When potty training is built up gradually and calmly, the final step is often surprisingly smooth.

Potty training doesn’t need to be rushed to be successful. A slower start often leads to a quicker, more complete finish without months of accidents or backtracking to follow.

If You’re Still in the Research Phase…

If you haven’t started potty training yet or you’re still weighing up when and how to begin, the most helpful thing you can do is focus on preparation rather than speed.

There are a few simple steps you can take before removing nappies that make the entire process smoother and faster later on...

That’s exactly what I share in my free guide: