Toilet Training Without Tantrums

This is a fantastic approach to common sense potty training. The book can seem repetitive at time, but the method given is actually quite simple and easy to follow. Rosemond makes it clear that it's the parents that really have to be committed more so than it is that the child needs to be "ready," and I found this very true during the training process. We began when our daughter had just turned 23 months. We did as he suggested and cut out the diapers completely, leaving her naked from the waist down at all times during the day (prepare to not leave your house for a week!). We put her potty chair right in the middle of the living room and got to work. Every time she had an accident we'd put her on the potty, reminded her that is where she needed to go now, and then had her watch/help as we cleaned up the mess--and there were many!! She would seem to get upset at times, but the key is to show no real emotion as the parent. Act as naturally as possible even when you're frustrated. Within a week she was accident free and going on the potty by herself. I could see by around day three a sudden shift in her from just "going," to sensing that she had to go and moving towards the potty. As he suggested, we never offered rewards and I'm so glad now we didn't fall into that trap. It should be a natural thing and doesn't need a special reward (which become a chore for the parent, really). Four months later I can honestly say she's never had an accident when we've been out in public (although I bring a smaller potty in the car and put her on it every two hours or so if we're out and about). I'm only giving the book 4 out of 5 stars as I don't agree with his argument that they should be dry at night at that young of an age. My daughter sleeps 11 hours a night, I wasn't about to mess that up with needing to get her up to take her to the potty a couple times a night. She's in a pull-up (which we call her "undies" just like her cotton ones she wears during the day) and it hasn't affected her daytime training in the slightest. I've been told by a friend who also trained early that her daughter was also in a pull-up at night and eventually started to stay dry on her own once she was older, then they switched to cotton. So my advice would be to not let his idea of cutting out any sort of absorbant underwear deter you from trying his method during the day--it works! Like anything in parenting, take the advice that works for you and trust yourself with the rest!

I bought this book mostly to get over my fear of beginning potty training my two sons - an almost 3 year old and a 19 month old.Well, not only did it give me confidence in my ability to to the job, but all the advice that I had used so far works - and it works well. My older son was 95% day-time potty trained only 2 weeks later, with wetting accidents down to 1-2 after the 1st week. This includes when we travel outside of the house. We used both the Potty Bell(to reduce resistance) and the Doctor(to deal with #2 resistance) technique with him, to which he responded great.My younger son, was a completely different story from the beginning. He showed no interest in sitting on the potty, very often resisted being put on it, and showed no recognition or discomfort at being wet (unlike his older brother), but 2 weeks into the process I can say that he is establishing a routine of going on the potty, and he is successful (goes on the potty) about 50% of the time. He still has accidents but that I believe is expected at this point for a young child like him, and we are definitely making progress every day. We are using the Potty bell and favorite toy to model going on the potty for him.One months later: We have stopped using the Potty Bell at this point for both boys as they both go without protest. Our older son is dry 100% of the time during the day, including during nap time, and he stays dry at night for longer stretches. The younger one is still work in progress, and we've evolved to treating the whole bathroom affair as strictly business (no books, no toys, as he gets distracted by those). He goes quickly every time when reminded, and has begun telling us on occasions that he needs to go, but still has frequent accidents. He is definitely getting better however. We do praise him when he goes and let him empty his potty in the toilet and flush(which he does gladly), to encourage ownership of the whole process.Overall, the method and principles taught in the book worked for us, and have placed us successfully on the road to being diaper free!

I really liked this book and matched my more laid back parenting style. But I will say that the book isn't that big and about half of it is about the history of potty training which some is fine but it goes a little over board. But the second half of the book where he gets into the actually potty training is good. After reading it I was still left with a few questions, like how to handle naptime or he does address nighttime dryness but not if your child is still in a crib- so I just assumed he recommend keeping them in a diaper at night until you felt comfortable.Overall this book is well worth the price and worth reading. ( I read a handful of other books on potty training and this seemed the most cut and dry and useful) You could easily use this book as your only guide to potty training.Side note: After reading this book my daughter (27months) was daytime potty trained in 8 days with only 4 accidents. But I do recommend staying home the first few days until your child has the hang of it and then for the next couple days we took the potty with us everywhere, or at least had it in the car. :)...yes I was 'that mom"

This book and God ( I must say) helped me with potty training...Dr John did say night training was easier than day or rather children stay dry at night and I found this to be true. Night time training was sorted from almost week 1 but day training... took us some time...but we got there in the end! Will recommend

I had been looking for help, I was nervous about toilet training my two year old daughter. This book and some fancy big girl panties and my daughter was trained in a week. I was blown away. Provides clear helpful directions and is a quick easy read.

I brought this book when I was trying to toilet train my daughter who has a disability. I had tried so many different ways to toilet train her and once I did what this book recommended she was toilet trained quite quickly.

great