The number of choices parents face when beginning to potty train can be overwhelming. This parent details her shopping experience when she went to buy her child a new potty. Apparently there aren’t a whole of of just ‘plain old potties’ around anymore.

They have to make noise, or cheer, or look like lighthouses, or glow in the dark. This isn’t anything compared to the choices available when trying to decide on HOW to potty train your child. The author of the linked artilce below talks about all the different methods available (including my own Potty Boot Camp book.)

It really is confusing and mind-numbing - and is one of the reasons I wrote the book to begin with! For parents who are unsure of what methods to use, I did write an Amazon guide that reviews all of the different methods and techniques available - from infant training to child-centered. The guide is available at:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R1129P1N4FN4B2/ref=cm_pdp_sylt_title.

Good luck on your potty training adventures!

To read the entire original article, click below:

read more digg story

The number of choices parents face when beginning to potty train can be overwhelming. This parent details her shopping experience when she went to buy her child a new potty. Apparently there aren’t a whole of of just ‘plain old potties’ around anymore.

They have to make noise, or cheer, or look like lighthouses, or glow in the dark. This isn’t anything compared to the choices available when trying to decide on HOW to potty train your child. The author talks about all the different methods (including my own Potty Boot Camp book.)

It really is confusing and mind-numbing - and is one of the reasons I wrote the book to begin with! For parents who are unsure of what methods to use, I did write an Amazon guide that reviews all of the different methods and techniques available - from infant training to child-centered. The guide is available at:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/R1129P1N4FN4B2/ref=cm_pdp_sylt_title.

Good luck on your potty training adventures!

To read the entire original article, click below:

read more digg story

Just wanted to let everyone know where you can download and print some free Dora potty training charts. Charts are a useful visual motivator for children to use the potty since they can see their successes ‘adding up’.

FREE Dora the Explorer PRINTABLE Potty Training Charts

Post by Suzanne Riffel, author of “The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers” - a new, fast, easy toilet training method that produces remarkable results.

A Fool-Proof Method of Cultivating Your Child’s Interest in Potty Training

“My child is 3 (or 2, or 4…….) years old and shows no interest in using the potty!” I hear this phrase from parents over and over (and over) again. Is there some toddler conspiracy happening that we parents are not aware of? Are parents misinterpreting their children’s intentions? The answer is no – parents are simply missing out on a great window of opportunity that exists while their child is still very young.

The Reason Your Child Has No Interest in Potty Training

Picture this scenario: You are three years old. For your entire life you wake up, you eat, you play, you nap, and you go about your day with absolutely NO thought about your bodily functions. You don’t need to pay attention to your bladder or your gut because whatever comes out seems to just happen without any thought or conscious effort on your part. Somebody is always there to clean you up and send you on your way. You have no idea what that big white thing in the bathroom is… but it is sure fun to play with – and the toilet paper can be turned into a giant fluffy (and shredded) pile! What fun!

One day your world comes to a screeching halt. Your life is turned topsy-turvy. The reason? Your mommy and daddy have changed the rules – and without any input from you! You are told that pee and poop belong somewhere other than your pants! To top that off, you are supposed to stop what you are doing, disrupt your playtime, and actually take responsibility for keeping yourself clean!

Put yourself in your child’s position, and you will understand why many toddlers reply to this invasion of their day with a skeptical and confused “Huh?!?”

The story of Lindsey

A friend of mine was considering toilet training her 19 month old daughter. For months, Lindsey had played with her potty, pretended to “use” her potty, and was very familiar with how the whole process worked. My friend told the other mothers at her playgroup that she was about to begin potty training and most of them looked at her like she was crazy. Some of them were envious or slightly jealous – thinking to themselves that they wished their child would show some interest in using the potty!

My friend then set upon toilet training her daughter. She chose a method (such as The Potty Boot Camp) and set aside a few days for training. She followed the instructions given to her in the training manual…and lo and behold Lindsay was reliably using the potty in a matter of days!

When my friend next saw her playgroup she was able to report that Lindsay was officially “potty trained!” Frankly, the other mothers were in a bit of shock that she was able to pull it off. I’m sure many of them secretly hoped she would fail! Fortunately my friend (with a potty trained 19 month old) had bragging rights!

Creating Your Own Success Story

Nearly every parent can have a success story like Lindsay’s. The best part is that it takes virtually no time or effort on your part to create the same result! The method is not complicated and is so simple I will be able to explain everything to you in just a few sentences. (Don’t blink or you might miss it!)

The trick to create potty-training interest and motivation in your toddler is to start “training” months before you start training! The premise behind this technique is to create familiarity with the toileting process long before you begin to ask your child to actually use the potty. Optimally, parents should start familiarizing their child with the potty as soon as the child learns how to walk.

Buy a child’s potty. Buy potty training books and/or DVDs. Let your child play with the potty – even if playtime involves putting it on their head and wearing it as a helmet! Let your toddler follow you and other family members into the toilet, and in a very matter-of-fact manner explain what you are doing. At diaper changes, take the naked child to the potty and sit. Read books and sing songs. Have “playtime” on the potty. (If they happen to actually use the potty, cheer loudly). Teach your child how to wipe.

That’s it. Start early, keep it low-key, and make the potty a normal part of your child’s every day routine. Before you know it, your toddler just might be pressuring YOU to begin toilet training!

Post by Suzanne Riffel, author of “The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers” - a new, fast, easy toilet training method that produces remarkable results.

A few potty training programs are most commonly cited in the literature. Below I have summarized some of the most popular techniques:

“The Train in a Day” Method

The “Train in a Day” Method was first made popular back in the 1970s by the authors Azrin/Foxx in a book entitled “Toilet Training in Less Than a Day.” More recently, Dr. Phil and Narmin Parpia have endorsed this training method. The basic premise of this technique is to go “cold-turkey” with diapers. One morning you announce to your child that they will no longer wear diapers. The next four to eight hours are spent teaching the child how to properly use the toilet. During those four to eight hours, your child is learns how to use the toilet by playing with and teaching a doll how to properly use the potty.

The toddler is given positive reinforcement when successful and negative enforcement when there is an accident. The negative reinforcement is dispensed through “toileting drills.” Positive reinforcement consists of rewards, a “potty party” and/or a “super hero” phone call.

“The Timer Method” of Toilet Training

The timer method is a technique considered by many parents to be less stressful for both parent and child than the “train in a day” methods. The timer method also involves keeping the child out of diapers entirely during training. A timer is set for pre-determined intervals. When the timer goes off the child is brought to the toilet for a potty session. If the child is successful, a reward is given. (Sticker, etc.) There is no negative reinforcement for accidents. The length between timer bells is gradually increased as potty skills become more reliable.

Although this method is fairly quick, it is slower than the “train in a day” methods and difficult if you have a particularly stubborn child. Keeping motivational levels high for an extended period of time – enough time for the child to “catch on” – can be challenging.

“The Naked and $75″ Method

The Naked and $75 method is the training technique endorsed by Dr. John Rosemond. Dr. Rosemond believes that toilet training should be simple and no-nonsense. The child is empowered to basically train themselves.

Training begins with an explanation of how and what is expected of the child. Parents show by example and explanation, and then tell their children, “Now it’s your turn. Mommy and Daddy expect you to use the potty from now on.” The child is left naked for three to seven days while they learn how to use the toilet. The premise behind having the child be naked is to help to teach awareness of bodily function. (It is much easier for a child to realize they are pooping and peeing when it is running down their leg rather than having it land in an absorbent diaper.) The parent or caregiver is there to provide assistance if needed, but remains hands-off during the training process.

The $75 is for the inevitable carpet cleaning bill!

“Child-Centered” Toilet Training

Child centered potty training puts the child in charge of when and how to train. It is typically done with older kids (Two and a half or older) who have decided on their own that it is time to get rid of diapers. This is one of the most common trends in potty training children today. Children who have reached this decision on their own are typically very easy to train, however the disadvantage is that for many children the “habit” of using diapers has become so ingrained that convincing them otherwise is very difficult. Late potty training can become an issue with a child’s admittance into preschool or being allowed to participate in various activities. Coincidentally, “Child-centered” potty training was first introduced around the same time as the invention of disposable diapers. Prior to that time, diaper wearing meant diaper washing! Parents had much more incentive to toilet train early rather than leaving timing up to the toddler.

“Potty Training Boot Camp”

Potty Training Boot Camp is a relatively new method that combines a few of the above mentioned techniques. Potty training takes place in phases: Preparatory work, “boot camp”, reinforcement and maintenance. Preparatory work involves determining if the child is ready to train and working on toileting familiarity. The “boot camp” day is a modified “train in a day method.” The reinforcement phase combines the “Naked and $75″ method and the “timer method.” Maintenance is handled like any other training program - frequent reminders and positive reinforcement. This method is often successful because if the child isn’t “getting it” with one technique, they will likely catch on as they move to the next phase.

———-Suzanne Riffel is the author of “The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers.” Her potty training method has been successful for hundreds of parents. The Potty Boot Camp can be found at http://www.thepottybootcamp.com and at the online bookstore Booklocker.com: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3161.html

We’re official! The Potty Boot Camp:Basic Training for Toddlers is now also available through Booklocker.com. To view our product page, visit: http://www.booklocker.com/books/3161.html

A paperback version of the book is planned for early next year.

***Note***
“The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers” now includes a chapter about how to get your toddler to poop on the potty. It’s straightforward and step-by-step. Please contact me at suzanne@thepottybootcamp.com with any questions you might have.

A question that I am asked on a regular basis is “Why won’t my child poop on the potty?” Know that you are not alone if currently facing this common toilet training problem. As frustrating as it might be, steps can certainly be taken to overcome this stumbling block to diaper freedom.

More common in older potty training children (2.5 years and older), the “poop” issue can become a major power struggle between you and your toddler. The reasons for this apparent stubbornness can be caused by fear, medical problems, embarrassment, or standard toddler contrariness. Let’s tackle each issue one by one:

Medical Problems:
First, a disclaimer: If you believe your child’s unwillingness to poop on the potty is truly a medical issue, please consult with your pediatrician. There is a condition called encopresis which is caused from chronic constipation. Children experiencing encopresis have a problem with the bowel that dulls the normal senses about the urge to go. A more benign medical condition is basic constipation, in which the child fails to have a bowel movement over a couple of days. Usually an increase in dietary fiber or a mild stool softener will help to relieve the situation.

Fear:
Believe it or not, many children believe that poop is a part of their body. Imagine how reluctant you might be to use the toilet if you thought a body part might fall off each time! For other children, the fear comes from the actual sensation of air hitting their bottom, the “plop” that can be heard in the water below, or the sound of flushing. Other children have had a previous painful episode of constipation and they become afraid to experience it again.

Embarrassment:
I think many of us can confess to occasionally “making a stink” about our child’s poop. We joke or tease about the smell, or the size, or the consistency of the poop. Some children, especially the “sensitive” ones, can become self-conscious about this bodily function. If you think this might be the reason for your child’s problem, try to discuss poop in a very matter-of-fact manner. Make it clear to your child that pooping is a very normal and natural part of life. It might be helpful to read books to your child such as “Everyone Poops” by Taro Gomi.

Stubbornness:
For most parents reading this article, the “terrible twos (or threes, or fours)” might be the culprit in your potty problems. The key in convincing your child to use the toilet rather than their pants is to find a method to make the child finally decide that life is just easier and more sanitary if they use the toilet. Some parents are violently opposed to bribes or “punishment” but sometimes the basic concept of “you get as good as you give” is the magic answer. If your child cooperates, they get positive reinforcement. If they don’t, negative reinforcement is dispensed. Allowing the child to decide if the positives outweigh the negatives will actually empower them and allow for increased independence. It’s also temporary - believe me, you won’t have to bribe your child to poop in the potty on the day of their high school graduation!

“The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers” is a step-by-step toilet training manual that will have your toddler diaper and accident free in about a week. For more information, please visit www.thepottybootcamp.com.