My daughter turned 2 in July and not long after her birthday, I started introducing the idea of the using the potty. Four months later and she still hasn’t mastered the art of going to the bathroom. She will use the potty if I ask her if she has to go, but very rarely will she say “Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom.”
I know she isn’t going to get it overnight, but I am getting a little worried she’s A-ok living in diapers. I feel like I’ve tried everything–a “princess” potty that makes noise, Dora the Explorer pull-ups, just about every type of reward if she goes all by herself–but nothing is getting the job done. I talked to my pediatrician–and doctor mom, my mom, that is–about it and both of them say not to rush it. She is still on schedule and now that she understands the whole bathroom concept, it will click when her body is ready.
Problem is, I’m ready. As is my budget. I’ve been buying diapers for over 2 years now and I am so over it. My daughter is so close to putting the whole process together, I can just taste using that money for food or bills or anything besides diapers, which is literally just throwing my money in the trash.
So I was doing some research yesterday and I came across this Potty Training In One Day program that, you guessed it, promises to have your toddler using the bathroom solo in just one day. The wesbite it totally gimmicky which makes me skeptical that it actually works, but it’s been endorsed by Parents magazine and Dr. Phil.
Have any of you moms heard of it? Does it really work? If it wasn’t $50, I’d try it in heartbeat, but before I drop that kind of cash I need some real mom testimonials. So if you’ve used it or know a mom that’s used it, share your thoughts in the comments.
Or if you have some other tried and true potty training techniques, please share! I am desperate!
Check out some potty training essentials in our buying guides.
Sign up for our newsletter for even more finds delivered right to your inbox.
Click here to email Jeanine, the author of this post.
Best Baby Bottles
Best Baby Shower Dresses
Rachel
November 4, 2010
After potty training 4 kids, I can tell you that potty training in one day is possible. The trick is, you don’t get to pick the day! I found a HUGE difference in my kids between 2 yr, 4 mos and 2 yr, 6 months. I could have tried everything at the younger age and nothing would have worked, but somehow, by 2 1/2, the kids just put it together, I supplied the potty, let them run around naked or in just underwear for a day at home, and they “got” it. The language skills and cognitive development just seem to kick in at 2 1/2, and it really is the kid training him/herself. Good luck!
Sabrina
November 4, 2010
It really does work. I bought the “Toilet Training in Less Than A Day” by the same author for the book you reference in your article. I bought a potty training doll and a potty as the book instructed. my son was 24 months when i bought all of this so i knew he wasn’t really ready but i just wanted to give him the idea. We gave the doll water and watched the water come out as she sat on the potty and went. Then we praised the doll and gave her hugs and kisses and a m&m. I told my son when he was ready to use the potty to let me know but i still kept showing him the doll and we practiced with her every so often. he was 2 1/2 and one day came out of his room and said mommy! i have to pee!. i hadn’t said anything to him in weeks about using the potty and i never pushed it. after he went pee on the potty i put the diapers away and underwear (with his favorite characters on them) went on during the day and pull ups at night. I think he only had 2 accidents and that was it. I had him wear pull ups at night for 2 months before i was brave enough to try underwear at night. lol. the program really does work but like the other post said, 2 1/2 years old is the prime age for everything to click. my other son will be 2 1/2 this month and i plan on using this program again for him next week. and i’ll use it again when my daughter is 2 1/2. good luck to you!
Janet
November 4, 2010
I got the same video at inchbug.com for $17.99. It’s just the video and no doll, though. Haven’t got to watch it yet. Good luck to us both!