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Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day
A fun, easy-to-use guide to potty training any child in just ONE DAY.
Just think, from the time babies are born until they are toilet trained, they use an average of 4,000 diapers! Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day is the helpful guide you've been waiting for to get your child out of diapers and turn the potentially terrifying process of toilet training into an effective and enjoyable bonding experience with your child.
Teri guides parents to the successful one-day potty training of their child by teaching them how to:
-Look for the signs that your child is ready to be potty trained
-Make the potty connection by using a potty-training doll
-Create incentive through consistent positive reinforcement
-Use charts, quizzes, and checklists to help with every step of potty training
-Know when it's time to bring in a potty pinch hitter
-Complete your potty training—no more accidents
Once Teri teaches you her techniques, she shares her secret—potty parties! She has carefully designed twelve imaginative themes for parties, such as a seriously silly circus, a cartoon character carnival, or a magic carpet express, and supplies parents with everything they will need. Teri has proven that a potty party day engages a child in potty training in a way that no other method has before—by speaking a toddler's language. A party may translate to fun, games, cake, candy, presents, and prizes to a child, but with Teri's expertise, parents can use it as a tool to motivate their child to want to go to the bathroom—and to keep on going. That's why it works in just one day!
Just think, from the time babies are born until they are toilet trained, they use an average of 4,000 diapers! Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day is the helpful guide you've been waiting for to get your child out of diapers and turn the potentially terrifying process of toilet training into an effective and enjoyable bonding experience with your child.
Teri guides parents to the successful one-day potty training of their child by teaching them how to:
-Look for the signs that your child is ready to be potty trained
-Make the potty connection by using a potty-training doll
-Create incentive through consistent positive reinforcement
-Use charts, quizzes, and checklists to help with every step of potty training
-Know when it's time to bring in a potty pinch hitter
-Complete your potty training—no more accidents
Once Teri teaches you her techniques, she shares her secret—potty parties! She has carefully designed twelve imaginative themes for parties, such as a seriously silly circus, a cartoon character carnival, or a magic carpet express, and supplies parents with everything they will need. Teri has proven that a potty party day engages a child in potty training in a way that no other method has before—by speaking a toddler's language. A party may translate to fun, games, cake, candy, presents, and prizes to a child, but with Teri's expertise, parents can use it as a tool to motivate their child to want to go to the bathroom—and to keep on going. That's why it works in just one day!
285 pages, Paperback
First published May 23, 2006
45 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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January 10, 2009
Let me start by saying that as a first time mother, the thought of potty training my 2 1/2 year old son has been terrifying. Yes, I have read several different techniques and pointers about it but still didn't have a whole lot of confidence about how to get started and was afraid of having the process drag on for months with lots of accidents. After reading this book, I could not wait to get started! I had an actual step by step plan that included a "script" somewhat of what to say. Not only that, but the theory behind it and the techniques were right in line with what I have learned in my primary grade teaching experience. So, for anyone in a similar situation, please take the time to read this book. I think it will help you feel a lot better about the whole situation.
So, the basic principle behind this book is that your child needs to have some kind of extremely motivating reason to learn to wear underpants and go potty in the toilet. That motivation is the promise of a great big potty party once your child can go in the toilet and wear underpants while having few accidents or none at all. You talk it up really big and elaborate on what you'll do at the party and the food you'll eat and who will be there. My son loves pizza, so he was promised a pizza potty party with grandparents and his best frind from nursery class. You are putting stickers on a sticker chart and awrding treats (edible and play objects) for not only actually going in the toilet but for every time your child sits on the potty and tries and stays dry in between. I decorated the bathroom and living room with balloons and streamers to make the first day really special. The author says that you can have the party at the end of the first day, however I think that most kids will need a second day to really show what they can do. Older children (3 and up) and kids who have already tried other methods may be able to get it done in a day, however. We planned our party for the evening of the second day so we had lots of success to report to everyone.
There are very specific steps you take from the first moments you are with your child when they wake up the first day until the party that do need to be done in order and as outlined in the book. I had my book marked with sticky notes and took it with me to the bathroom for awhile until I was comfortable with the dialogue and routine.
The first half of the first day starts with giving your child a new doll or stuffed animal and a potty book. After eating breakfast with the new doll or animal (my son's was a monkey) you read the potty book and the doll decides that it wants to be potty trained. You put the doll in underpants and then commence the steps to training it. You stage success by having the doll pee and poop in the toilet as well as by having accidents. For each you follow a dialogue and routine to help your child learn through modeling what he or she should do. The routine includes a sticker chart for the doll and treats for the doll that are offered to your child in the doll's place if he or she says they will go potty on the toilet some time. Keep in mind that your child is still in diapers and the focus is on the doll. The benefit of the doll is that you can reprimand the doll for accidents in a way that you wouldn't with your child. By lunch time the doll is potty trained and gets a little party with a present, etc. After lunch, your child has a nap or rest time after which the doll gives your child a present of his or her own underpants. The second half of the day is then your child's turn to potty train.
You go through the same routine and dialogue (except for the accident reprimands) with your child. You also need to have your child drink a lot of fluids in the afternoon so he or she will have to pee often and get lots of practice. You also plan the potty party with your child and set that as the big end celebration. The doll comes in handy because if your child is struggling with not wanting to sit in the toilet and try, then you can bring the doll back into the picture and have it try and get rewarded. Your child will be almost jealous of the attention and rewards and will try. I had to do this several times. For the next few days after, the doll still went successfully and had a few accidents as daily reminders to my son about what he should do. Now, my son will independently pretend it has to go and will run off with it to the bathroom.
In the afternoon, you are also watching several potty videos and reading potty books and doing potty party theme related stuff. The book gives many suggestions for this.
My son had two accidents before he actually peed in the toilet and has had only one since (he couldn't get his pants down in time because he was holding a banana and didn't know what to do with it.) After the initial two accidents, he stayed dry between sitting on the toilet. He went a fewe times in the evening. The next day, he stayed dry all day, used the toilet several times (including at a hair salon). On the third day, he was able to initiate going on his own by listening to his body which was very exciting. He stayed dry all day until after dinner and we had the banana incident. I plan on using the stuffed monkey to model what to do next time that situation arises (putting the banana on the table or on the countertop, etc).
We were at the libray on the third day and discovered that the automatic flushing toilets were too scary. He wouldn't even sit on the toilet after experiencing a flush while on it. He had to go pee and I was so freaked about him having an accident in the car. I figured I could let natural consequnces kick in and let him have the accident thus learning to overcome the fear of the public toilet. He actually held it the entire drive home and went in our bathroom. I kept asking him if he was dry as we drove home, and kept saying, "Yah, I dry. I can't get wet." So, he had really internalized the concept of holding it and going in the toilet not his underpants.
Some tips for anyone who does this:
- Make the doll have lots of accidents and successful attempts (once I got the hang of it, I was doing it every 15 minutes)in the morning.
- Choose a theme that your kid will just go crazy over. It's worth the splurge. We did Thomas the Train.
- Really stick to the order and script outlined in the book even if you don't understand the why of it. It will become clear as you go through the process.
- The whole focus has to be on the doll and your child the entire first day. You will be running around practically out of breath and exhasuted in keeping up with it all so do housework the day before.
- Have someone give you a break the second day (my husband got us a couples' massage while grandma babysat).
- If your child is really resisiting sitting and trying, back off a bit. You may be overdoing the attention. I thought I was going to go crazy the second morning because he would not cooperate one bit. He held it from the time he awoke until around 1:30 PM (even after drinking lots) and finally went once I was out of the bathroom and doing somthing else in another room.
- If your child won't go on the little potty, try the big toilet that you use. My son wouldn't go the first day on the little toilet and in the evening announced that he wanted me to use the little one while he used the big one, which he did successfully.
- Really use the doll to your advantage.
- I learned the second day to get him set up on the big toilet and then leave the bathroom telling him I'd check in after a few minutes. He almost always peed once I left the room.
- Leave the party stuff up for several days. Do the stickers and treats as long as your child is into them. Towards the end of the third day, my son was so excited that he'd peed that he would run around the house in his own euphoria and not even think about the sticker or treat. I will start fading it out tomorrow.
- Let your kid drink soda pop and other fun beverages the first few days to get them to drink enough to have lots of practice.
- We are still having my son wear pull-ups (we call them nighttime underpants) at night. He isn't happy about it but just isn't ready for underpants, yet. The author explains how to know when your child is ready at nighttime. I have been distracting him while I get him into his pull-ups and PJs on by retelling the great day he had or singing songs.
Good luck to anyone who tries this method!
So, the basic principle behind this book is that your child needs to have some kind of extremely motivating reason to learn to wear underpants and go potty in the toilet. That motivation is the promise of a great big potty party once your child can go in the toilet and wear underpants while having few accidents or none at all. You talk it up really big and elaborate on what you'll do at the party and the food you'll eat and who will be there. My son loves pizza, so he was promised a pizza potty party with grandparents and his best frind from nursery class. You are putting stickers on a sticker chart and awrding treats (edible and play objects) for not only actually going in the toilet but for every time your child sits on the potty and tries and stays dry in between. I decorated the bathroom and living room with balloons and streamers to make the first day really special. The author says that you can have the party at the end of the first day, however I think that most kids will need a second day to really show what they can do. Older children (3 and up) and kids who have already tried other methods may be able to get it done in a day, however. We planned our party for the evening of the second day so we had lots of success to report to everyone.
There are very specific steps you take from the first moments you are with your child when they wake up the first day until the party that do need to be done in order and as outlined in the book. I had my book marked with sticky notes and took it with me to the bathroom for awhile until I was comfortable with the dialogue and routine.
The first half of the first day starts with giving your child a new doll or stuffed animal and a potty book. After eating breakfast with the new doll or animal (my son's was a monkey) you read the potty book and the doll decides that it wants to be potty trained. You put the doll in underpants and then commence the steps to training it. You stage success by having the doll pee and poop in the toilet as well as by having accidents. For each you follow a dialogue and routine to help your child learn through modeling what he or she should do. The routine includes a sticker chart for the doll and treats for the doll that are offered to your child in the doll's place if he or she says they will go potty on the toilet some time. Keep in mind that your child is still in diapers and the focus is on the doll. The benefit of the doll is that you can reprimand the doll for accidents in a way that you wouldn't with your child. By lunch time the doll is potty trained and gets a little party with a present, etc. After lunch, your child has a nap or rest time after which the doll gives your child a present of his or her own underpants. The second half of the day is then your child's turn to potty train.
You go through the same routine and dialogue (except for the accident reprimands) with your child. You also need to have your child drink a lot of fluids in the afternoon so he or she will have to pee often and get lots of practice. You also plan the potty party with your child and set that as the big end celebration. The doll comes in handy because if your child is struggling with not wanting to sit in the toilet and try, then you can bring the doll back into the picture and have it try and get rewarded. Your child will be almost jealous of the attention and rewards and will try. I had to do this several times. For the next few days after, the doll still went successfully and had a few accidents as daily reminders to my son about what he should do. Now, my son will independently pretend it has to go and will run off with it to the bathroom.
In the afternoon, you are also watching several potty videos and reading potty books and doing potty party theme related stuff. The book gives many suggestions for this.
My son had two accidents before he actually peed in the toilet and has had only one since (he couldn't get his pants down in time because he was holding a banana and didn't know what to do with it.) After the initial two accidents, he stayed dry between sitting on the toilet. He went a fewe times in the evening. The next day, he stayed dry all day, used the toilet several times (including at a hair salon). On the third day, he was able to initiate going on his own by listening to his body which was very exciting. He stayed dry all day until after dinner and we had the banana incident. I plan on using the stuffed monkey to model what to do next time that situation arises (putting the banana on the table or on the countertop, etc).
We were at the libray on the third day and discovered that the automatic flushing toilets were too scary. He wouldn't even sit on the toilet after experiencing a flush while on it. He had to go pee and I was so freaked about him having an accident in the car. I figured I could let natural consequnces kick in and let him have the accident thus learning to overcome the fear of the public toilet. He actually held it the entire drive home and went in our bathroom. I kept asking him if he was dry as we drove home, and kept saying, "Yah, I dry. I can't get wet." So, he had really internalized the concept of holding it and going in the toilet not his underpants.
Some tips for anyone who does this:
- Make the doll have lots of accidents and successful attempts (once I got the hang of it, I was doing it every 15 minutes)in the morning.
- Choose a theme that your kid will just go crazy over. It's worth the splurge. We did Thomas the Train.
- Really stick to the order and script outlined in the book even if you don't understand the why of it. It will become clear as you go through the process.
- The whole focus has to be on the doll and your child the entire first day. You will be running around practically out of breath and exhasuted in keeping up with it all so do housework the day before.
- Have someone give you a break the second day (my husband got us a couples' massage while grandma babysat).
- If your child is really resisiting sitting and trying, back off a bit. You may be overdoing the attention. I thought I was going to go crazy the second morning because he would not cooperate one bit. He held it from the time he awoke until around 1:30 PM (even after drinking lots) and finally went once I was out of the bathroom and doing somthing else in another room.
- If your child won't go on the little potty, try the big toilet that you use. My son wouldn't go the first day on the little toilet and in the evening announced that he wanted me to use the little one while he used the big one, which he did successfully.
- Really use the doll to your advantage.
- I learned the second day to get him set up on the big toilet and then leave the bathroom telling him I'd check in after a few minutes. He almost always peed once I left the room.
- Leave the party stuff up for several days. Do the stickers and treats as long as your child is into them. Towards the end of the third day, my son was so excited that he'd peed that he would run around the house in his own euphoria and not even think about the sticker or treat. I will start fading it out tomorrow.
- Let your kid drink soda pop and other fun beverages the first few days to get them to drink enough to have lots of practice.
- We are still having my son wear pull-ups (we call them nighttime underpants) at night. He isn't happy about it but just isn't ready for underpants, yet. The author explains how to know when your child is ready at nighttime. I have been distracting him while I get him into his pull-ups and PJs on by retelling the great day he had or singing songs.
Good luck to anyone who tries this method!
December 12, 2019
This book has been so helpful! It’s definitely not one day...but it’s one day that really helps kick off the potty training experience. This style of potty training was right up my daughter’s alley so we decided why not. It really helped her to teach her bear how to use the potty first, that way she felt in control and confident, and we didn’t have to deal with the drama of accidents for the first half of the day! Then by the time she wore her own underwear she knew the process, and had made the necessary connections by spending time with her bear. That was the biggest part for us—my daughters not super extrinsically motivated so the big party was underwhelming and she didn’t really make the connection that it was because of the potty training. So if you read this book, make sure you really know your child’s learning style and motivation style and adapt to what works for you! And WAIT UNTIL THEYRE READY. Seriously.
August 7, 2017
Sounds reasonable enough. Will give it a try.
Read
February 6, 2021Such a good resource for positive potty training. I can’t wait to revisit in a few months when Eden is ready!
October 7, 2008
Men’s Health Magazine (Sept. 'o8 issue) recommends Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro by Teri Crane. My husband picked us up a copy after reading the article. IT REALLY WORKS!!
Moms like me who are fighting the potty battle need straight answers fast, so this book was perfect. What I love was the book is divided into chapters that don't always go deep, but "do" go wide--covering a mirad of topics with lots a great information not covered in all the other potty training books on the market that just seem to all repeat the same info.
For comic relief, the book is peppered with potty-training quotes and anecdotes from celebrities and everyday moms who have waged and won the potty war. You will also find creative tips from "Grandma," valuable insights from experts, and some fun potty facts and trivia. (Have you ever wondered how ancient Egyptian moms potty trained their kids?)
Everyone is talking about throwing a "potty party" to potty train a child. I was so desperate, I was willing to do anything. Her book outlines 10 themed parties. What kid doesn't love to play and pretend? All my mommy friends have successfully potty trained their kids with her book too.
Honestly, when I first learned of this book, I thought NO WAY! Maybe this would work on a little girl, but NOT a BOSSY, 2-1/2 year old BOY. NO WAY! Guess what? It REALLY WORKED!!! Teri Crane SAVED MY SANITY!!! Her book was easy to read, funny and extremely helpful. I can't thank Teri enough. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to EVERY parent. It will save you much grief and frustration. Potty training shouldn't be difficult, we as parents make it difficult because we don't know what to do. Teri teaches you. Buy the book, it's the best money you will ever spend
Most amazingly, I had some questions, so I called the author, and she CALLED ME BACK!! How Cool!
Moms like me who are fighting the potty battle need straight answers fast, so this book was perfect. What I love was the book is divided into chapters that don't always go deep, but "do" go wide--covering a mirad of topics with lots a great information not covered in all the other potty training books on the market that just seem to all repeat the same info.
For comic relief, the book is peppered with potty-training quotes and anecdotes from celebrities and everyday moms who have waged and won the potty war. You will also find creative tips from "Grandma," valuable insights from experts, and some fun potty facts and trivia. (Have you ever wondered how ancient Egyptian moms potty trained their kids?)
Everyone is talking about throwing a "potty party" to potty train a child. I was so desperate, I was willing to do anything. Her book outlines 10 themed parties. What kid doesn't love to play and pretend? All my mommy friends have successfully potty trained their kids with her book too.
Honestly, when I first learned of this book, I thought NO WAY! Maybe this would work on a little girl, but NOT a BOSSY, 2-1/2 year old BOY. NO WAY! Guess what? It REALLY WORKED!!! Teri Crane SAVED MY SANITY!!! Her book was easy to read, funny and extremely helpful. I can't thank Teri enough. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to EVERY parent. It will save you much grief and frustration. Potty training shouldn't be difficult, we as parents make it difficult because we don't know what to do. Teri teaches you. Buy the book, it's the best money you will ever spend
Most amazingly, I had some questions, so I called the author, and she CALLED ME BACK!! How Cool!
January 29, 2008
a friend recommended this book and i thought "sure, why not." i didn't have any idea of how i was going to potty train lucy, and worse case, i was only out a day if it didn't work. that was my first under-judgment. this took several days to get set up and organized. next, the day of is exhausting! at the end of the day i was beginning to lose faith. lucy was still having more accidents than not. so, i put her in a pull-up and thought "oh well, it was worth a shot", but surprise! the next morning she woke up, had an accident, and then something clicked. she's been great ever since. so, i believe! and recommend to anyone with a toddler.
June 18, 2011
Wish I would've been given this book before my other two. I like the theory behind it and crossing my fingers it saves me from this horrible task! I don't honestly believe it will only take one day, but the process seems to be a good one! I think parents need to be handed certain books when they receive their first child....Ferber sleep method book, baby wise, this one, and love & logic!
July 2, 2012
Could have been shorter - seemed like one idea drawn out over a bunch of pages. In drawing it out, could have included more concrete examples rather than repetition. But, it was persuasive enough to get me to give it a try. We'll see how it goes...
June 2, 2022
I wish I had read this before potty training my first 2 kids. I was a little hesitant at first that it may not work. Instead of starting at first thing in the morning, I waited until the afternoon to start the process. My 2.5 years old had a few rounds of playing, practicing, getting presents, picking treats from the tray, and celebrating with the dolls. She was really enjoying the whole potty training party thing. She pretty much got it the next day. Only a few accidents the week after which was so much better than my first 2 experience which lasted for months and absolutely no tears and no struggle whatsoever. I was only stressed out a little at the beginning because I don’t throw themed party very well hence the procrastination until the afternoon to start. I didn’t decorate the bathroom, just sticked with balloons, the wet doll, presents, and cake. Now I don’t have anxiety when it comes potty training. Only 1 more to go!
July 20, 2024
By “one day” the author really means “four hours” and sets some really, really unrealistic expectations for two-year-olds. I’m sure this method works for some people, but I also notice lots of the five-star reviews are from parents *planning* to try it. I previously used the Oh Crap/Big Little Feelings method, and while it was not the most enjoyable experience, this method sounds even more stressful. It requires lots of planning, lots of buying things, using sweets as a bribe, and a toddler to be willing to focus their attention on potty training literally all day. There is also some weird cognitive dissonance going on with her insistence on getting children “fully potty trained” when the entire method hinges on throwing a party at the end of the day whether, it seems, the child is there or not. The general idea of a potty party to celebrate sounds fun, but certainly not after one afternoon.
June 2, 2022
This book helped me tremendously with my 2 year 11 month old son. I tried potty training him previously about 3 months ago and had lots of trouble. I loved the method in this book regarding the use of a doll or stuffed animal to “teach” going to the potty. My son responded really well to this and it helped him overcome his fear of sitting on potty and wearing underwear. I decorated the bathroom as recommended in the book, which also helped my son alleviate his discomfort with the potty process. We had success towards the end of the first day. I am thankful for this book!!
The only thing I wish the author mentioned is that it can take more than one day to potty train, and if the child doesn’t respond to the method in one day it doesn’t automatically mean they aren’t ready. Sometimes kids just need multiple days and very slowly adjust to this process. Otherwise, loved this book!
The only thing I wish the author mentioned is that it can take more than one day to potty train, and if the child doesn’t respond to the method in one day it doesn’t automatically mean they aren’t ready. Sometimes kids just need multiple days and very slowly adjust to this process. Otherwise, loved this book!
April 24, 2018
Just the title and cover freak me out because of the pressure on the parent to follow directions just so. Okay, when you get beyond the cover it isn't that bad, but it definitely takes a certain personality type to be able to muster the energy she says is required for the 'potty party.' That level of forced enthusiasm and performance anxiety would give me a panic attack, honestly.
For some people, I'm sure this book is awesome. Super helpful. For me, I was just comforted by a friend with 4 kids who said "yeah, it took 6 months for them to be reliably potty trained." And she's speaking as someone who has researched these things about as much as you can research. It takes time for kids to learn, even if you give them that intensive launch that Crane details. And that's okay.
For some people, I'm sure this book is awesome. Super helpful. For me, I was just comforted by a friend with 4 kids who said "yeah, it took 6 months for them to be reliably potty trained." And she's speaking as someone who has researched these things about as much as you can research. It takes time for kids to learn, even if you give them that intensive launch that Crane details. And that's okay.
August 14, 2019
It has a lot of good tips, even if I didn't buy into the main premise (and this was not the method we decided to use). It also bothered me throughout that it is a bit contradictory: she spent a lot of time in the beginning explaining that fully potty trained meant fully potty trained, titled the book potty train your child in just one day, but then reiterates that this is for daytime potty use only (no tips at all on night training!) and to expect your child to have accidents after the party...so, not fully potty trained. But like I said, the tips and tricks are helpful but don't actually expect your child to be done after a day!
Extra star for the party themes outlined - while we didn't do a potty party, these could be great ideas for birthday parties in the future!
Extra star for the party themes outlined - while we didn't do a potty party, these could be great ideas for birthday parties in the future!
June 9, 2018
I found it to be a pretty good book. It probably could have been written in about 1/3 the pages. I used many of the 'tactics' to potty train my 2.5 year old son. I didn't do the whole 'party theme' but followed many of the other recommendations. We are on week five of potty training and he is doing a really good job. Potty training is not a one-day ordeal, but I would recommend this book to others.
March 22, 2017
I really hoped this method would work for me as well as my daughter. (Face it, the parent has be just as prepared if not more so than the child.) Potty training is one of the hardest hurdles in parenting and I liked the idea of a party that included teaching a doll. My daughter LOVES her baby, so I thought it would be perfect. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't follow the book in several points and would probably have had more success if I had. I still recommend this, especially if your child loves dolls/babies.
June 14, 2019
There are some good ideas, but overall this method feels really overwhelming and expensive. I've made a few notes, but I'm probably going to look for a different method when the time comes to potty train my daughter.
September 19, 2017
Some helpful ideas.
January 7, 2018
Add this to my list of things crazy enough they just might work.
April 24, 2019
Great advice! Even if I don’t pull off the actual “potty party day,” the wisdom of encouragement and patience she talks about is something I needed to hear.
November 19, 2020
Haven't tried it yet... We'll see!
April 27, 2021
This book has good advice for the initial introduction “day” of potty training but hardly any guidance for maintenance as the process evolves for the child to become more independent.
February 24, 2023
One of the methods the author suggests for rewarding your child for using the potty is to give them a food treat which is against what many experts advise. Food should never be used as a reward.
July 28, 2008
Yeah, well, we'll see. I've been told explicitly that Fella does not like the potty and that he likes his diapers. Meanwhile, his baby sister is training herself. Girls are so smart! Boys are so gross!
JULY 10
Oh, I hate the tone of this book and I hate the font. I also hate the stupid page breaks--there are three boxes on each two-page spread, each with their own icon so you can distinguish "Celebrity Scoop" from "Did you know?" "Experts Say," and "You can say that again!"
One break cites a "celebrity chef" talking about poo. The second on that spread is a factoid that is completely false and stupid, claiming that Neandertal people potty trained their kids at designated toilet areas. Nobody knows that. It's actually unknowable. If she's talking about some purported latrine near Lascaux, those people weren't even Neandertal. The first "Experts say" fearmongers about toxins in diapers, and the first "You can say that again!" is "Experience is the best teacher." I am on page 7. The first chapter is a blow-by-blow of the trials she underwent training her own child, interspersed with how she came up with this potty training program that you can pay money to attend in person.
This book is 300 pages and I suspect it's a lot of filler. Christ! A flip through the index lists Babies R Us. I know, I know... proper nouns are index standards, but I am not pleased with this book so far. What kills me more is that I'll be reading all of it, for three pieces of information that will piss me off for being helpful.
UPDATE JULY 28
I can't rate this book on content because I am not going to try this technique; it may be the best technique in the world but I will never find out. I am rating it on organization and tone, which was irritating in both cases. Nowhere is there a straightforward account of all the steps you have to take, and things are referred to that aren't described until later chapters and there is way too much chatter. Of this 350+ page book, 126 pages are devoted to party ideas, with recipes and decorations and scripts. Maybe 30 pages are dedicated to instructions and 90 pages are those stupid inserts and words of wisdom, if you add them all up. I don't know what the other third of the book is. There's an appendix with some troubleshooting, and there are blank pages between chapters, and the rest is just stuff. I'm positive they beefed up the page count so they could price the book higher.
I also found the prim author asides that appeared here and there off-putting. There's a paragraph in the index where she is telling you how to present the treats to the child, and she goes on and on about how much her son loved M&Ms and that they made a great treat and he'd never eaten any before, but if you didn't want to use candy you could use fish crackers, or berries or something. Great! But there's a parenthetical remark about how some parents prefer to shop at health food stores and purchase organic food. Great. Food shopping advice in a toilet book!
The reason I am not going to attempt the party as described in the book is because I cannot imagine myself pulling off the behaviors that this kind of party requires. I'm certainly not going to buy tarp and paint to create a beach for a pirate theme party. I'm not going to get Fella a doll that wets itself and I'm not making underwear for the doll to wear in fabric that coordinates with the theme of the party. A day alone with just me isn't going to be that exciting for him, considering that he's around me every day all day already and I am a little boring. I'll probably stock up on candy and salty snacks, buy a lot of underwear, paper towels and floor cleaner, and give him juice and treats as recommended and let him run around and wet himself until he figures out how gross it is. He knows how to use the potty and I know he knows the physiological signs because I've seen him get a bucket to pee in while in the bathtub.
Maybe his little sister will even train herself on the same day! She's definitely into the idea already.
So there are three or four good ideas in the book that I hated reading that I'll try, and as predicted it does piss me off. I'll update my rating after I get my act together and make this attempt. People on Amazon love this book. A lot of people have had real success with the technique, apparently. I just hated reading it.
JULY 10
Oh, I hate the tone of this book and I hate the font. I also hate the stupid page breaks--there are three boxes on each two-page spread, each with their own icon so you can distinguish "Celebrity Scoop" from "Did you know?" "Experts Say," and "You can say that again!"
One break cites a "celebrity chef" talking about poo. The second on that spread is a factoid that is completely false and stupid, claiming that Neandertal people potty trained their kids at designated toilet areas. Nobody knows that. It's actually unknowable. If she's talking about some purported latrine near Lascaux, those people weren't even Neandertal. The first "Experts say" fearmongers about toxins in diapers, and the first "You can say that again!" is "Experience is the best teacher." I am on page 7. The first chapter is a blow-by-blow of the trials she underwent training her own child, interspersed with how she came up with this potty training program that you can pay money to attend in person.
This book is 300 pages and I suspect it's a lot of filler. Christ! A flip through the index lists Babies R Us. I know, I know... proper nouns are index standards, but I am not pleased with this book so far. What kills me more is that I'll be reading all of it, for three pieces of information that will piss me off for being helpful.
UPDATE JULY 28
I can't rate this book on content because I am not going to try this technique; it may be the best technique in the world but I will never find out. I am rating it on organization and tone, which was irritating in both cases. Nowhere is there a straightforward account of all the steps you have to take, and things are referred to that aren't described until later chapters and there is way too much chatter. Of this 350+ page book, 126 pages are devoted to party ideas, with recipes and decorations and scripts. Maybe 30 pages are dedicated to instructions and 90 pages are those stupid inserts and words of wisdom, if you add them all up. I don't know what the other third of the book is. There's an appendix with some troubleshooting, and there are blank pages between chapters, and the rest is just stuff. I'm positive they beefed up the page count so they could price the book higher.
I also found the prim author asides that appeared here and there off-putting. There's a paragraph in the index where she is telling you how to present the treats to the child, and she goes on and on about how much her son loved M&Ms and that they made a great treat and he'd never eaten any before, but if you didn't want to use candy you could use fish crackers, or berries or something. Great! But there's a parenthetical remark about how some parents prefer to shop at health food stores and purchase organic food. Great. Food shopping advice in a toilet book!
The reason I am not going to attempt the party as described in the book is because I cannot imagine myself pulling off the behaviors that this kind of party requires. I'm certainly not going to buy tarp and paint to create a beach for a pirate theme party. I'm not going to get Fella a doll that wets itself and I'm not making underwear for the doll to wear in fabric that coordinates with the theme of the party. A day alone with just me isn't going to be that exciting for him, considering that he's around me every day all day already and I am a little boring. I'll probably stock up on candy and salty snacks, buy a lot of underwear, paper towels and floor cleaner, and give him juice and treats as recommended and let him run around and wet himself until he figures out how gross it is. He knows how to use the potty and I know he knows the physiological signs because I've seen him get a bucket to pee in while in the bathtub.
Maybe his little sister will even train herself on the same day! She's definitely into the idea already.
So there are three or four good ideas in the book that I hated reading that I'll try, and as predicted it does piss me off. I'll update my rating after I get my act together and make this attempt. People on Amazon love this book. A lot of people have had real success with the technique, apparently. I just hated reading it.
January 27, 2008
Jumping in again. This will not be a fun read, I'm sure, but it is next on my stack of books from the library. They are all in order of due date. Better get truckin'. The latest due date is 2/6 and there are 5 or more books in the stack.
1/23/08 Through page 70 and this book is not just about potty training. It offers important information about parenting in general. There are fun quotes from celebrities, grandmothers, and other moms. There are fun (could it be possible) facts about the toilet and potty training. Here is what the book says thus far in simplified terms: have a potty party. Have a theme and make it fun. Wait until the child is completely ready. If you potty train a child too early (before they are able to do everything on their own) you are really just potty training yourself to notice when a bathroom need arises.
So here are the steps thus far:
1. Prepare yourself with the right attitude.
2. Make sure your child is completely ready, willing, and able. This includes other preparation steps worked on gradually up to this point.
3. Purchase or gather the supplies: potty, doll (to be used when the child teaches the dolly to use the potty once the party begins), training charts (one for the doll, one for the child), footstools, flushable wipes, and bed-liners for a double made bed.
4. Make sure all the building blocks are in order. The child should know certain things before the day begins. (ex: the child should know how to wash hands and wipe, etc)
1/24/08
5. Puchase all the supplies you will need (shopping lists provided in the book).
6. Get a good night sleep.
7. Potty Party Day. The book includes 12 themes for parties and all of the supplies, drink ideas, treat ideas, decoration ideas, and gift ideas.
8. Maintenance.
This is, of course, a highly over-simplified synopsis of the book. I haven't even covered a portion of the ideas and logic behind the system. I can't say for sure if this book and all of its theories work. I can say that it sounds pretty simple. The idea is logical. I plan to try it when we get there. We aren't to step number two yet. I'll be checking this book out again when we get closer to Potty Party Day. Until then, if you are in need of an easy to follow, step-by-step instruction book on how to potty train your child, you should check this book out and see if the system will work for you.
Started:1/23/08
Finished: 1/25/08
268 pps
1/23/08 Through page 70 and this book is not just about potty training. It offers important information about parenting in general. There are fun quotes from celebrities, grandmothers, and other moms. There are fun (could it be possible) facts about the toilet and potty training. Here is what the book says thus far in simplified terms: have a potty party. Have a theme and make it fun. Wait until the child is completely ready. If you potty train a child too early (before they are able to do everything on their own) you are really just potty training yourself to notice when a bathroom need arises.
So here are the steps thus far:
1. Prepare yourself with the right attitude.
2. Make sure your child is completely ready, willing, and able. This includes other preparation steps worked on gradually up to this point.
3. Purchase or gather the supplies: potty, doll (to be used when the child teaches the dolly to use the potty once the party begins), training charts (one for the doll, one for the child), footstools, flushable wipes, and bed-liners for a double made bed.
4. Make sure all the building blocks are in order. The child should know certain things before the day begins. (ex: the child should know how to wash hands and wipe, etc)
1/24/08
5. Puchase all the supplies you will need (shopping lists provided in the book).
6. Get a good night sleep.
7. Potty Party Day. The book includes 12 themes for parties and all of the supplies, drink ideas, treat ideas, decoration ideas, and gift ideas.
8. Maintenance.
This is, of course, a highly over-simplified synopsis of the book. I haven't even covered a portion of the ideas and logic behind the system. I can't say for sure if this book and all of its theories work. I can say that it sounds pretty simple. The idea is logical. I plan to try it when we get there. We aren't to step number two yet. I'll be checking this book out again when we get closer to Potty Party Day. Until then, if you are in need of an easy to follow, step-by-step instruction book on how to potty train your child, you should check this book out and see if the system will work for you.
Started:1/23/08
Finished: 1/25/08
268 pps
July 16, 2008
We were skeptical that this method would really guarantee a goodbye to diapers in just one day. But it worked! It took closer to two days, but in that brief time, our son went from never using the toilet to being completely potty trained. In the following weeks, he had very few accidents, and we're all thrilled that he's now ready for preschool.
I withheld one star from my review because I thought the author encouraged spending more money on this process than was necessary. Her lengthy "potty party" plans, complete with decoration ideas, games, and prizes, are cute, but could get quite costly (and the preparations very time consuming). Our party was a lot less involved but just as effective.
Also, I'm not convinced that the doll training (in which the child spends the morning "teaching" a doll or stuffed animal to use the bathroom) is worth it. I can understand the logic behind it -- when you teach something, you learn it even better yourself -- but it was a huge effort, and I wonder if the time would have been better spent focusing on our son's potty practice instead. Still, the author made good on her promise, so I can't knock the doll too much.
Understand that your child must be ready if this method is going to work, and you're going to need at least a few days of preparation before you begin. It requires a huge amount of energy -- we were exhausted at the end of the day -- but it's totally worth it!
I withheld one star from my review because I thought the author encouraged spending more money on this process than was necessary. Her lengthy "potty party" plans, complete with decoration ideas, games, and prizes, are cute, but could get quite costly (and the preparations very time consuming). Our party was a lot less involved but just as effective.
Also, I'm not convinced that the doll training (in which the child spends the morning "teaching" a doll or stuffed animal to use the bathroom) is worth it. I can understand the logic behind it -- when you teach something, you learn it even better yourself -- but it was a huge effort, and I wonder if the time would have been better spent focusing on our son's potty practice instead. Still, the author made good on her promise, so I can't knock the doll too much.
Understand that your child must be ready if this method is going to work, and you're going to need at least a few days of preparation before you begin. It requires a huge amount of energy -- we were exhausted at the end of the day -- but it's totally worth it!
September 5, 2013
this book was a great help. However, the volume of the book was a little overwhelming considering potty training seems so time sensitive. I paired my reading of this book with Narmin Parpia's version. I would compare the tips and then apply them to the stage of potty training we were in. I highly recommend reading this book before it is time to start potty training. Once your child has shown signs of potty training you will not feel like taking time to read this book. Read this book before hand with a highlighter so that when the time comes you will have a quick reference. There is a wealth of information in this book which I did not know that I would need, but was very useful. For instance, they gave information about appropriate ages to begin potty training across the world. I was surprised to learn that the age in America has changed frequently over the decades and that I was pushing my daughter a little too early according to current standards. Please remember that your child will not potty train when you're ready to stop buying diapers. It will be on their schedule for the most part! Overall this book teaches you that potty training is kind of like role play with your child. You break down the steps of potty training and all of the tools. Then you encourage your child and give them praise along the way. A couple of accidents later and you will have potty trained kids. Good luck!
September 10, 2007
I read this book on Thursday (most of it), bought the supplies on Friday night (the whole idea is to throw a big party and make the process fun), and applied the concepts on Saturday.
My 3 year old went from never using toilet or potty (though he had sat there before after much fighting) to no accidents the first day and successfully using the toilet 3 times! If you've gone through this you can imagine the elation. The next day he did have a couple accidents but he also had many successful visits to the bathroom.
One thing I especially liked was how the whole process of using the bathroom (literally) was approached. Potty training, by the book's definition, doesn't mean you should be undressing them, sitting them there, waiting, then cleaning and dressing them after. He should be able to go into the bathroom, undress himself, get on the potty, use it, clean himself, get off, get dressed, flush, wash his hands and dry off.
As I mentioned he did have accidents after the first day but he also went from zero to some success. And the fact that he had nearly mastered all of the steps above was amazing.
This was the only book on potty training I read and it seems to be all I needed.
My 3 year old went from never using toilet or potty (though he had sat there before after much fighting) to no accidents the first day and successfully using the toilet 3 times! If you've gone through this you can imagine the elation. The next day he did have a couple accidents but he also had many successful visits to the bathroom.
One thing I especially liked was how the whole process of using the bathroom (literally) was approached. Potty training, by the book's definition, doesn't mean you should be undressing them, sitting them there, waiting, then cleaning and dressing them after. He should be able to go into the bathroom, undress himself, get on the potty, use it, clean himself, get off, get dressed, flush, wash his hands and dry off.
As I mentioned he did have accidents after the first day but he also went from zero to some success. And the fact that he had nearly mastered all of the steps above was amazing.
This was the only book on potty training I read and it seems to be all I needed.
August 13, 2011
Saw this at the library and figured it couldn't hurt to read up all I can and develop a strategy before jumping in to really potty train Lexie this time. I started trying a year ago, but with hospitalizations, surgeries in Ohio, and summer vacations, I haven't had the chance to be consistent. Things are relatively calm now (knock on wood) so I need to figure out the best way to fully train her NOW! Wish me luck!
Update: I didn't read every word in this book--just skimmed parts of it, but I learned the general idea is to devote a full day to having a "potty party" where all you do is work on potty training with presents, balloons, streamers, decorations, potty books, potty videos, potty-training dolly, then celebrate at the end of the day with cake and guests. Seems rather over-the-top, but I don't doubt that it might be effective for some children. We've successfully gotten Lexie trained over about a week's time without having to go to all the trouble of an all-day party like this book suggests. It did have some ideas that I drew from, but really there were no new individual techniques I hadn't learned before--this book just suggests bombarding your child with ALL those techniques for a full day without any distractions.
Update: I didn't read every word in this book--just skimmed parts of it, but I learned the general idea is to devote a full day to having a "potty party" where all you do is work on potty training with presents, balloons, streamers, decorations, potty books, potty videos, potty-training dolly, then celebrate at the end of the day with cake and guests. Seems rather over-the-top, but I don't doubt that it might be effective for some children. We've successfully gotten Lexie trained over about a week's time without having to go to all the trouble of an all-day party like this book suggests. It did have some ideas that I drew from, but really there were no new individual techniques I hadn't learned before--this book just suggests bombarding your child with ALL those techniques for a full day without any distractions.
June 5, 2008
This book offers a system of potty-training that is quick, but elaborate, and potentially a lot of fun. It describes in great great great detail how to throw an extravagant party to teach your child to use the toilet. Unfortunately, I don't think it'll work for every child, and the stars did not line up for my particular child when I attempted to potty train her in one day. In fact, I was close to tears by the end of the day. Though I knew better than to place too many expectations on my daughter (as well as myself), it was still a big letdown to see the day going so poorly. My advice to parents who try this method: If the day starts off all wrong (e.g., kid wakes up crabby, constipated, and miserable): just scrap it and try on another day. I do think it was a good kick-start to the much longer, shudder-inducing process of training my child. Hallelujah, it's accomplished now, but not because of this book (though it might have helped a bit).
I think you have to read the personality of your child, and decide if this is the right fit for her (and for you!).
I think you have to read the personality of your child, and decide if this is the right fit for her (and for you!).
March 23, 2009
Well, I think it is obvious why I read this one! I'm desperate for Paul to be potty trained. I've tried everything I could think of or heard about. Suwi recommend this one to me, and it offers an interesting concept: make it really fun. Basically the premise is to make a day of it, make a party of it, and the kid will follow! The book/author details the requirements of the day, and lends a multitude of theme ideas for the day. (I'm leaning toward a camping one.) A key part is starting the day where you child helps you train a doll, so it isn't focused on his/her own performance like traditional potty training. With as much resistance as I've had with Paul, I fear putting this much effort into it and having him run screaming from the first moment. However, I still like the concept and want to give it a try. I've got to start amassing and creating the stuff, but I need to also find a way to do it when Paul isn't around... so the day of it is a surprise and an adventure! Wish me luck!
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