Stress-Free Potty Training: A Commonsense Guide to Finding the Right Approach for Your Child
Stress-Free Potty Training: A Commonsense Guide to Finding the Right Approach for Your Child
No two children experience the toilet-training process in exactly the same way. While some kids might be afraid to even go near the bathroom, others may know when to go…but still never seem to make it there in time. This helpful guide takes the stress out of this challenging rite of passage, giving parents much-needed advice to help them identify what approach will work for their child’s temperament. The book distinguishes between common childhood personality types, providing easy techniques tailor-fit for all kinds of kids, whether they’re stubborn or willful, clinging to diapers, afraid to move on, or just late-bloomers. The book shows how to:
determine a child’s readiness to begin potty training * gradually move children past their existing comfort zone, without causing undue pressure * handle accidents and temporary setbacks This straight-talking guide enables readers to help every child make this important life transition free of worry and in the way that’s right for him or her.
No two children experience the toilet-training process in exactly the same way. While some kids might be afraid to even go near the bathroom, others may know when to go…but still never seem to make it there in time. This helpful guide takes the stress out of this challenging rite of passage, giving parents much-needed advice to help them identify what approach will work for their child’s temperament. The book distinguishes between common childhood personality types, providing easy techniques tailor-fit for all kinds of kids, whether they’re stubborn or willful, clinging to diapers, afraid to move on, or just late-bloomers. The book shows how to:
determine a child’s readiness to begin potty training • gradually move children past their existing comfort zone, without causing undue pressure • handle accidents and temporary setbacks
This straight-talking guide enables readers to help every child make this important life transition free of worry and in the way that’s right for him or her.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Excellent Format, Intelligent & Well-Researched
Admittedly, I’ve read my fair share of potty-training tomes touting the “one-day-and-you’re-done” theories and have only become more intimidated & frustrated, further from potty training our toddler than before. Therefore I was skeptical as I believe potty training is not “Stress-Free” but I now believe that the subtitle “Common Sense” is much more applicable after reading Dr. Stavinoha’s book. His approach is just what we have searched for & intuitively knew: not all children are the same (and why would we want that?).
However, after reading “Stress Free”, I was relieved to learn that we’re not the only family for whom this is a tough process (and no, it is NOT done in a day) and that like most people we are not behind because we didn’t train my child as 3 month old infant. In fact, once I read the book, I was confident that my child can learn quickly when we’re aware of the signs (that she’s ready) and we’re consistent.
This book is a fairly quick read with well organized & concise with an emphasis listening to your child, maintaining a consistent routine & once you’ve begun, he recommends encouraging your child with love & affection rather than stickers, toys, gadgets, et al — common sense, indeed! I highly recommend this book and am grateful for my good friend who told me about it, too. Best of luck & don’t fret: your child won’t go to college in diapers!
5 Stars I LOVE this book!!
As the title says, I love this book! My toddler is starting to show interest in the potty. She’s my first child so I had no idea how to go about potty training. I’m no longer anxious or fearful of this endeavor. This book helped me decide which tricks are best for my little girl. I really like that they start the book off w/ a short quiz on your child’s personality type. It really helps to customize the training to your unique child. It’s a great book and I strongly recommend it to anyone who is potty training their toddler.
5 Stars Very helpful
With this being our first child, we found this book very helpful. It is very thoughtful and much better than the “one-size-fits-all” approaches to potty training. I feel like the book has also helped us to become better parents as well as potty-trainers.
4 Stars Potty training mom
This book was helpful for me in identifying/making-us-aware-of my 3 1/2 year old’s personality. This is helpful with daily activities and disciplining. It’s an easy read. Our trouble with our daughter is not with using the toilet for pee… but using it for poop. I was hoping that this book would tell me something I did not already know. I’m looking for the magic fix! We’ll just have to keep using the pull-ups and wait it out. UGGGGG!
5 Stars I Wish I Had Read This Book a Year Ago
This book gives great, sound advice that tells you how to tailor your potty training to your child’s personality.
You first take a quiz to determine your child’s personality type, then it gives you universal potty training techniques followed by techniques for each of the 5 personality types.
It teaches you ways to prepare your child for potty-training months before you actually think you’ll go diaper-free, so read this early–when your child is around 12-18 months.
Just before I read this book, I started my 3rd attempt at potty-training my nearly 3 year old twin boys and was finally having some success. When I read it, a lot of the the tips it gave were the things I had already figured out after much trial and error (and frustration). If I had read this book a year ago, I think I would have saved myself much of that frustration.
Filed under: Parenting Advice Book Reviews