Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day

I read the book twice and was skeptical that I could pull it off, and that it would work. But I decided if it didn't work, I'd have only lost one day. There was a good bit of prep -- I made notes to serve as my script for the day. And? IT WORKED. There were a few accidents the next day, but they've tapered down to nothing, 4 days later! My husband and I are completely thrilled & relieved. Our son is proud and happy! He's 3 years old (3 yrs/ 4 mo) and is heading to preschool in the fall, where it's a requirement that the kids be potty-trained. Now we can breathe a sigh of relief! He will be ready! My tips: Make the treats very small, and water the drinks down if your child isn't used to so much sugar. Also, it's probably common sense, but have a bunch of towels & waterproof pads handy for the afternoon accidents! I had a waterproof blanket on the couch as suggested in the book, but my son didn't stay on the couch! Oh, and Teri suggests buying yourself a gift for the end of the day. DO IT! Or plan a massage or spa day for you, soon after the party. You will earn it! It's a creative and intense undertaking. Stick to your guns and stay upbeat. It will happen, if your child is ready!

This book and the concepts are excellent. Basically, the idea is that kids love parties, potty training is a big deal, so why not make it a special experience! The first half of the book explains why potty training in one day works, signs that your child is ready, and tips on how to be successful. The second half of the book gives ideas for different party themes that are thoughtfully organized by what might appeal to your child (teddy bears, magic carpet, princess, etc.) The author has even provided recipes and resources to find special supplies for your party! I know of at least 3 other real moms (working and stay at home) who have tried this method and it works! You do have to be excited about it and really follow the suggestions and tips, though! I think other reviewers who gave this book a low rating, probably: * Didn't realistically assess their child's readiness * Feel pressure from others to potty train * Thought some aspects of the party were hokey (hint: tots like hokey!), so didn't follow the guidelines The first time I tried potty training following the book, I didn't realistically assess my child's readiness - she showed all the signs except for one. I thought that was good enough, I had the time off from work, so I just powered ahead based on my own wishes. We did have a wonderful day together, and she still talks about it, but in the end, she just wasn't quite ready! Fast forward to a month later, and a mini-party (following directions in the book) and we're good to go, so to speak ;) Just a few ideas to keep kids on the potty - have special books and toys. My daughter's favorites were a View Finder (yes, they still make them, but can be hard to find - I found ours in the travel toy area), a $0.99 foil pinwheel, and an elecronic alphabet pad toy. I also got special scented foamy soap made for kids that helps encourage my daughter to wash her hands.

I found this book at the bookstore and thought from the cover that it was just what I needed. My 2-year-old (almost 3) daughter had shown little interest in the potty, but I was beginning to get the feeling that we were behind schedule on the potty training, and I wanted to get it done! I read the book quickly and enjoyed it, and the idea of a "potty party" really appealed to me. Who doesn't like a party?! I bought the doll, checked out potty training books and DVD's from the library, and then stayed up till 1:30 a.m. the night before our Cinderella Potty Party, preparing the bathroom with a little princess vanity, flowing scarves, and hand-drawn pictures of castles and the door of Cinderella's carriage. The living room was deemed the "Palace Dining Hall," complete with a fancy tablecloth on the coffee table, and all my good china ready for fun snacks. My little girl was ecstatic from the moment she woke up. Spending all this Mommy-and-Me time was a treat for both of us, since I work from home and often have to give her the "later, sweetheart -- Mommy has to work now" treatment. I took Teri's advice and shut down the computer and the phones for the entire day and focused on my child. It was a day we will remember for a long time -- dressing up like princesses (make-up and all), dancing on the kitchen floor with our tap shoes on, watching a bunch of potty videos, and eating lots of usually-forbidden foods! My little girl did go pee-pee in the potty four times over the course of the day, and we were very proud and went to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate. It was a great time for the whole family. The next few days were tough with the potty training, because she had several accidents and it became clear that the only way she would go was if we sat her on the potty for HOURS. I emailed Teri about this and she quickly got back to me with the advice that, even at almost 3, some children don't have the bladder-to-brain connection that makes it possible for them to feel when they need to go. She advised going back to Pull-Ups and trying again in a few months, with another potty party. I'm looking forward to it! The last few days I've noticed that my daughter has noticed much more when her Pull-Up is wet or dirty, and she has asked to have it changed more frequently. I'm sure that our next potty party will be a big success, because I'll be sure she's ready before I plan it! All in all, I highly recommend this book! It's a great jump-start to the potty-training process, even if it doesn't all happen in one day, and, most of all, it's a wonderful way to plan a special day for you and your child.

i have to say that i was skeptical when i first saw the book - but was so engrossed in it, i read half of it before leaving the bookstore. my son was to start preschool at the end of august 2006 and their criteria was that he had to be 3 and he had to be potty trained. i had known about this since march, but tried to train him (admittedly, half-heartedly) and then decided to wait with the idea that he would want to do it eventually on his own - eventually turned into *never* and by the time august rolled around, i was getting pretty desperate. my son turned 3 in august and i thought that he would wake up one day and just "be ready" to potty train. not so! i read the book, ordered the doll, bought truck-themed underwear, decorated the house with streamers and balloons, bought activity books, paints, crayons, etc., and prepared for a very long day! i got up earlier than he did, straightened my hair, put on makeup and a cute skirt, as if i was going to a party myself. we had the party on a thursday (five days before he was to start preschool) and he was fully trained by saturday. by monday, he was going both poop and pee in the adult toilet (though i did use the child's toilet during the training day - but eventually it was his decision to do it like the rest of us on the big toilet - hooray!). i am so happy that he is truly out of diapers - we do use pull-ups at night (or what we now call "disposable underwear" as teri crane suggests) and i would say that in the last two weeks, maybe two of them have been wet. the first thing he does in the morning is run and use the bathroom. this is such a milestone in a child's life that it's worth it to read the book and make it happen in a FUN, QUICK, POSITIVE way! it will save your sanity and you will not regret it!

I had the pleasure of attending one of Teri's potty training boot camps a few months ago and bought this book after hearing the method. My husband and I decided that since parties were the most exciting thing to our 3.5 year old son, that this was the way to go. I spent a total of 6 hours with "the boy" on a Saturday... we trained a Buzz Lightyear in the morning... watched a few potty vidoes, read many potty books, colored potty coloring pages, grossed out the boy having Buzz "poop" (rolled up tootsie rolls!) and it clicked! In the afternoon, the boy realized he could do it too! We were under a tight deadline due to the refund of a preschool deposit for fall if he wasn't potty trained. Now he will be ready! He is so incredibly GI-NORMOUSLY proud of himself and we can't thank Teri enough for her insight. BRILLIANT Teri! THANK YOU!!!!!