I must admit (and I know many moms would agree), potty training is not exactly my favorite parenting responsibility. I survived training C., but it wasn’t always pretty. Some days I kept my cool and followed all the advice to not let potty training become a battle. Other days, out of sheer exhaustion and frustration, I battled with the best (or perhaps I should say worst) of them. Fortunately, C. is none the worse for his experience, and I happily haven’t thought about potty training for the last 5+ years.
But I know it’s all going to come around my way again. L. is only 16 months old, so I’m thinking that within the next two years, potty training will once again move to the forefront of my obligations as a parent.
So when the folks at Sourcebooks asked if I’d like to take a look at a book on potty-training, I accepted. After all, I’m sure I can use all the help I can get.
The Potty Training Answer Book: Practical Answers to the Top 200 Questions Parents Ask is full of information, advice, and encouragement, yet is also a quick read. It’s set up in an accessible question-and-answer format and covers everything from a child’s readiness to how a child’s temperament might affect the training process to bedwetting, stress, and setbacks. It is printed in a nice, compact format, so it’s easy to take with you wherever you might have some time to read a bit.
One of the things I really appreciate about this book is the fact that the author (Karen Deerwester) puts emphasis on working with your child’s uniqueness throughout the process. I admit I was amused at sections like, “What are the potty training strengths of a difficult temperament?” But not amused as in “That’s silly.” More like, amused as in, “Oh yeah, I have a feeling I’ll be revisiting that section when I’m training L..” (I’m not saying he’s difficult or anything…just “strong-willed.”) But really, I like that the book advocates looking at your child’s personality and temperament, as well as your family’s situation and schedule as you create a customized “potty plan” for your child.
I also appreciate that the author reminds parents that potty training will eventually happen, and it will eventually stick. All kids eventually get the hang of this potty thing…we parents sometimes just have to hang in there.
Some other questions the book addresses are:
- When should we switch from diapers/pull-ups to cloth underwear?
- Is nighttime potty training different than daytime potty training?
- When are rewards not a positive potty strategy?
- What if my child is afraid of using public toilets?
If this sounds like a book you could use, you can pick up a copy of The Potty Training Answer Book at Amazon.com or anywhere else you usually buy books.
Looks like a pretty thorough book.
I am happy to report that Kyle is pretty much daytime-trained. The nighttime isn’t yet there, nor do I put as much focus on that.
Jennifer as I recall I remember traing my 2 many many years ago by habit training first. Think about it–Don’t most people go when they get up in the AM? I started doing that with my 2. My son got with the program when he was 2.
I remember waking my husband up in the middle of the night and saying there is someone in the house–In our bathroom?! I remember creeping to the bathroom behind my husband of course and peeking around the corner to surprise the living daylights out of our son.
Mom Isn’t this what I do? Yes honey. Go back to bed when you are done. Breathe Pam Breathe
I started by putting my 2 on the toilet when they got up, before snack, before lunch, after nap time and before dinner. We would always end our day by brushing teeth and going to the bathroom one last time.
I then had someone tell me to relax–Noone goes to college in diapers. It will happen when it happens. Boy was she right. Our daughter DECIDED that she didn’t need to wear a pull up on the airplane when we moved from CA to Utah. Boy was daddy surprised. Actually so was I.
Have a great day–Think about it–potty training, then pre-school, Kindergarten, elementary school, and then middle school and then those teenage years AAGH!
To think it all started with potty training and your youngsters right to exert his/her independence.