Kim Bookout - The Everything Guide to Potty Training: A practical guide to finding the best approach for you and your child

Letter to the Reader

THE

GUIDE TO POTTY TRAINING

Dear Reader,

Congratulations! If you are reading this book, you probably have a son or daughter and are getting ready to begin potty training. As you read these chapters, it is important to remember that every child is different and no one method is perfect for every child. For this reason, there are multiple methods outlined as well as multiple signs identified to help you tailor your potty-training program to fit your child. If you try one program and see your child struggling, do not give up! There are always more ways to teach your child to use the potty, and it may just be that your child is not quite ready yet. Whatever the reason, this book will help you learn more about what to look for, what to teach, and how to help your child ease into a diaper-free world.

Kim Bookout and Karen Williams

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Copyright

Copyright 2010 by F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced

in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions

are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

An Everything Series Book.

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Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.

57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.

www.adamsmedia.com

ISBN 10: 1-4405-0238-2

ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0238-5

eISBN 10: 1-4405-0239-0

eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-0239-2

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is available from the publisher.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

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Dedication

To Ellie for the practical experience; Emma, Rebel, Rosie, and Luke for the preliminary experience; and Tracey for doing it all with me.KW

To my family and friends. KB

Contents

Acknowledgments

We have many people to thank. First, thank you to our mothers and our children for experiencing potty training with us. Thank you also to all of the mothers who shared their potty-training experiences with us and their children who made the stories worth sharing. Thank you to our editor, Brett Shanahan, for your patience and willingness to read chapter after chapter on bodily functions. Thank you to our agent, Gina Panettieri, for helping us along the way. Thank you to Jessica Williams for help with the technical side of things. Finally, thank you to Shannon Penrod for getting the project started and serving as our sounding board along the way.

Introduction

People have used different methods of potty training since the beginning of time. From Elimination Communication, through Two-Day Training, to a Dr. Spock-oriented long process approach, parents have adapted their methods of potty training in order to fit the needs of their children and the lifestyle they are living. In this book you will find a step-by-step explanation of each of these methods, how they can be practiced in daily living, as well as in-depth details to help you determine which method is best for you and your child.

Whether your child is developing on a typical schedule or has special needs, this book will guide you down a successful path to potty training. Included in explaining a variety of approaches, this book provides lists of products to help you in potty training, suggestions for supplies to take with you, and real stories from real parents about each of the methods included. Just as children develop skills at their own pace, potty training must be individualized to meet the needs of the child and parent.

As you consider each approach, it is important to remember that Rome was not built in a day, the Constitution was not written in a day, and your entire potty-training process will also not likely happen in one day either. Even if you find yourself choosing a Baby Boot Camp style of potty training in the actual practice, you will still need to spend ample time preparing yourself and your child before you take action. Knowing this, take a step back, take a deep breath, and relax. You will do fine, and your child will be potty trained. It is important for you to take a stress-free attitude into your childs potty-training experience. By maintaining low expectations in the beginning and admitting that you and your child are only human, you are allowing yourself to be pleasantly surprised by the results without unnecessary pressure on you or your child.