The 3
day potty training or Intensive toilet training methods have become
increasingly popular due to the demands of modern living and parent's time.
Often, parents have to "schedule" time to take care of teaching this
essential skill to their toddler. The benefits of using an intensive method far
outweigh the drawbacks in trying to "let it take care of itself" and
responsible parenthood requires taking the time.
I used
Carol Cline's 3 day potty training method and found it simple to understand,
implement and very useful. It was a successful method for us and I wrote the
following article as a guide for parents who are considering using this method.
It is simply a quick overview of what the book covers, chapter by chapter, so
you can have an idea of what kind of content is in the book before you buy.
The book
describes how to potty train in 3 days. It is 136 pages long and can easily be
read in a few hours. I would imagine that the book is engagingly read by all
parents about to embark on toilet training toddlers. However, Carol Cline
intersperses the methodology with an historical overview of the process and
general advice, gained from experience, of what to expect from your toddler
during this time and also what you may experience yourself.
Chapter 1:
The first chapter debunks the modern myth that children can toilet train
themselves and that the later parents leave it to toilet train their children,
the easier it will be. Children are potty trained later in the USA and Canada
than in most of the world. She promotes a potty training method that is child
centred and caring; but one that is also consistent and achieves results. Her
belief is that potty training is a mutual achievement between the child and the
parent and will deepen the relationship between them. This premise is carried
throughout the book.
Chapter 2:
This chapter sets out what is the best age to start potty training and includes
guidelines for potty training toddlers aged between 18-24 months old with
specific advice for parents who are trying to potty train older children.
Chapter 3:
The key to successful potty training is knowing when your child is ready. This
chapter goes into detail on the potty training readiness signs so you will know
when the best time to start potty training your child is.
Chapter 4:
Believe it or not, you need to prepare yourself first and then prepare your
child. This chapter takes you through the necessity of relaxing through the
process, how to handle your own expectations, what you should expect using the
method, what to do and what not to do.
Chapter 5:
This chapter takes you from your own expectations and the "adult
mind" into the mind of your child so you can prepare them for their
journey ahead. It explains the sequence of how children learn which helps you
know what's going on. It also details what you can do beforehand to make the
learning process easier e.g. taking "no-pressure" potty breaks before
you actually start training so your child starts to become familiar with the
process.
Chapter 6
and 7: These chapters take you step-by-step through what you need to have done
before you start your "potty training in 3 days method" from clearing
your schedule to the best foods to buy at the supermarket.
Chapter 8:
This is the heart of the book. The pre-potty training "work" in the
preceding chapters is not onerous and if the advice in them is followed, you
will have done a lot of preparation that will reap rewards on your potty
training days. The method is not set in stone but can be adapted to suit your
family situation and needs. However, it does emphasise the need to be
persistent, consistent, patient, loving and staying positive. It is a method
that works with your child and treats them kindly throughout the process. It is
a child centered approach that refocuses the adult mind into thinking of the
world of a child. One of the best things about this method is that Carol Cline
describes a very simple tool to encourage your toddler to use the potty that
avoids the perennial "no".
The
chapter also includes advice about night time potty training and observations and
insights from other parents who have used the method. I found the chapter very,
very useful - not least because of the methodology itself. It walks you through
what you should expect, how you may feel, what to do if it goes badly and even
what to do if it goes well!
Chapter 9:
This chapter is a surprise inclusion. For those of us who are a little
"rusty" on biology 101, this is the chapter to read! It is a basic
biology lesson on our bodily functions. It then gives advice and guidance on
how to ensure children adopt a healthy urination and bowel movement pattern.
Chapter
10: This is the chapter where Carol Cline leads you past thinking in terms of
just potty training at home. It details how to approach potty training with
your child's entire development and social situation in mind. As such it
extends to teaching your child how to wipe their bum (with a novel system that
won't block your plumbing with toilet paper) and how to wash their hands. At
the end of the chapter, you won't be thinking about your child as a potty
training toddler but as a "big kid" able to handle himself at
kindergarten and pre-school.
Chapter
11: If you are about to start potty training a boy, a girl or twins this
chapter will prove invaluable. It dismisses some of the myths and re-inforces
the belief that every child is an individual. It deals with some typical
obstacles and how to get past them in a positive way. If potty training has not
worked for you in the past, or if you have a particularly stubborn child, then
Carol Cline provides some very good adaptations to the method to cope with this
situation. From the child's perspective, Carol Cline again puts you in their
shoes and deals with some common fears your child may have and how to deal with
them. I found the part on incentives and rewards particularly useful and it is
something that I have put into practice in other areas of my parenting.
Chapter
12: Parents of children with Autism, Asperger's and Down Syndrome face
particular challenges in trying to potty train. The chapter deals with these
issues and covers area such as language issues, sensory problems, the stress of
learning a new skill and visual aids to potty training. It also includes some
observations and advice from parents who have been through and are going through
a similar situation.
Chapter
13: This covers in a little more detail the "bumps in the road" and
how to respond to them in a positive way.
Chapter
14: It may be that you feel that your child may have a medical problem and this
chapter points you in the right direction on how to recognise it and what to do
about it.
Chapter
15: "Out in the world" is the title of this chapter and this is where
you will spend most of your time with your potty training toddler! It covers
everything from going to the mall and on long haul flights; what to bring and
suggestions for how to explain to your toddler about "special
situations". Like any parent, I found planning trips and outings more
stressful than I would like in the beginning and Carol Cline puts it into
perspective so you can emerge from a trip to the mall having enjoyed yourself
rather than making potty training the centre of your world.
In order
to gain the most from the book, I would suggest purchasing it a month before
you plan to potty train. You will have the time to read the book a few times
and really absorb the methodology. This makes it easier to "get
ahead" on the practical stuff like clearing your schedule and getting
everything organised.
