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Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right
From potty-training expert and social worker Jamie Glowacki, who’s already helped over half a million families successfully toilet train their preschoolers, comes a newly revised and updated guide that’s “straight-up, parent-tested, and funny to boot” (Amber Dusick, author of Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures).
Worried about potty training? Let Jamie Glowacki, potty-training expert, show you how it’s done. Her six-step, proven process to get your toddler out of diapers and onto the toilet has already worked for tens of thousands of kids and their parents.
Here’s the good news: your child is probably ready to be potty trained EARLIER than you think (ideally, between 20–30 months), and it can be done FASTER than you expect (most kids get the basics in a few days—but Jamie’s got you covered even if it takes a little longer). If you’ve ever said to yourself:
-How do I know if my kid is ready?
-Why won’t my child poop in the potty?
-How do I avoid “potty power struggles”?
-How can I get their daycare provider on board?
-My kid was doing so well—why is he regressing?
-And what about nighttime?!
Oh Crap! Potty Training can solve all of these (and other) common issues. This isn’t theory, you’re not bribing with candy, and there are no gimmicks. This is real-world, from-the-trenches potty training information—all the questions and all the answers you need to do it once and be done with diapers for good.
Worried about potty training? Let Jamie Glowacki, potty-training expert, show you how it’s done. Her six-step, proven process to get your toddler out of diapers and onto the toilet has already worked for tens of thousands of kids and their parents.
Here’s the good news: your child is probably ready to be potty trained EARLIER than you think (ideally, between 20–30 months), and it can be done FASTER than you expect (most kids get the basics in a few days—but Jamie’s got you covered even if it takes a little longer). If you’ve ever said to yourself:
-How do I know if my kid is ready?
-Why won’t my child poop in the potty?
-How do I avoid “potty power struggles”?
-How can I get their daycare provider on board?
-My kid was doing so well—why is he regressing?
-And what about nighttime?!
Oh Crap! Potty Training can solve all of these (and other) common issues. This isn’t theory, you’re not bribing with candy, and there are no gimmicks. This is real-world, from-the-trenches potty training information—all the questions and all the answers you need to do it once and be done with diapers for good.
294 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,782 reviews
June 8, 2016
I really struggled to decide what rating to give this book! I loved the method, but disliked so many other things. To summarize:
5 stars for:
- Her potty training method does, actually work. That would almost merit 5 stars no matter what.
- Her method is based on learning stages, not timetables. This is an excellent way of breaking it down, and teaches potty training in a thorough and not overwhelming way.
- Her style was down-to-earth and realistic, with humor and drama thrown in.
- She has in incredible amount of experience and a broad knowledge base.
1 star for:
- She throws in her opinion on absolutely everything! Food, sleep, discipline, child psychology - if you cut out everything that wasn't directly related to potty training this book would be about 20 pages long.
- Her opinions are nothing more than opinions. She uses no sources, no research, and no references of any kind. This especially bothered me when she explained her own conclusions on how kids think and learn. She sometimes got it right through intuition and experience, but other times completely contradicted actual child development research.
- Her "tell it like it is" style is refreshing in some ways, but can also be sexist, snarky, superior, bossy and wordy.
Averages to 3 stars:
I'm glad I used her method, and applaud her for getting it out there. I would like to slap her editor upside the head for allowing her to fill the book with opinions and distractions!
5 stars for:
- Her potty training method does, actually work. That would almost merit 5 stars no matter what.
- Her method is based on learning stages, not timetables. This is an excellent way of breaking it down, and teaches potty training in a thorough and not overwhelming way.
- Her style was down-to-earth and realistic, with humor and drama thrown in.
- She has in incredible amount of experience and a broad knowledge base.
1 star for:
- She throws in her opinion on absolutely everything! Food, sleep, discipline, child psychology - if you cut out everything that wasn't directly related to potty training this book would be about 20 pages long.
- Her opinions are nothing more than opinions. She uses no sources, no research, and no references of any kind. This especially bothered me when she explained her own conclusions on how kids think and learn. She sometimes got it right through intuition and experience, but other times completely contradicted actual child development research.
- Her "tell it like it is" style is refreshing in some ways, but can also be sexist, snarky, superior, bossy and wordy.
Averages to 3 stars:
I'm glad I used her method, and applaud her for getting it out there. I would like to slap her editor upside the head for allowing her to fill the book with opinions and distractions!
February 29, 2016
I feel conflicted about this book, as it did help me potty train my daughter and I do think the method proposed by the author is a good one. So if you can find a good recap of her method elsewhere, maybe skip the book.
However, it's terribly written, heteronormative, and sexist. And it isn't adequate to say "sorry, dads. Most of the time it's moms I'm working with, so I'm writing for moms." That's not "telling it like it is;" that's reinforcing the way it's always been and diminishing the role of fathers, which is something I'm just sick to death of. The author has a style that she would probably characterize as "no nonsense," but I'd describe it as blustery and jumbled. I guess that this was a self-published book that got picked up by a publisher and kudos to the author. But an editor is sorely needed. And not just to save the author from herself—the book is also poorly organized. I read it cover-to-cover before beginning potty training and often wanted to return to specific sections once we got started. But there's no index, the chapter organization is confusing, and there are few signposts throughout the book to guide you.
That said, her method worked for my 26-month-old daughter (pretty dang painlessly, even!), which is no small thing.
However, it's terribly written, heteronormative, and sexist. And it isn't adequate to say "sorry, dads. Most of the time it's moms I'm working with, so I'm writing for moms." That's not "telling it like it is;" that's reinforcing the way it's always been and diminishing the role of fathers, which is something I'm just sick to death of. The author has a style that she would probably characterize as "no nonsense," but I'd describe it as blustery and jumbled. I guess that this was a self-published book that got picked up by a publisher and kudos to the author. But an editor is sorely needed. And not just to save the author from herself—the book is also poorly organized. I read it cover-to-cover before beginning potty training and often wanted to return to specific sections once we got started. But there's no index, the chapter organization is confusing, and there are few signposts throughout the book to guide you.
That said, her method worked for my 26-month-old daughter (pretty dang painlessly, even!), which is no small thing.
September 12, 2019
This book could have easily been condensed into one page but the author needed a few hundred pages to insult and alienate her male readers
July 29, 2014
Our 23-month-old son is well on his way to joining the ranks of the potty trained (knock on wood). That's in no small part to this book.
Glowacki's biggest strength as a potty training consultant is that she's an acute observer. She doesn't have one-size-fits-all steps for you to follow. Instead, she relays the patterns of how children learn to use the potty, and how their parents guide them.
My only gripe is that the book is written for mothers. It's not really her fault though. She admitted as much and said that the fathers don't contribute as much. She wants them to, and included a Cheat Sheet for them at the end of the book. I also noticed that the Facebook group is like 98% women.
So c'mon, guys, why the heck are you letting your partner do the heavy lifting for this considerable task, and missing out on watching your child's brain learn a new and intricate skill??
Glowacki's biggest strength as a potty training consultant is that she's an acute observer. She doesn't have one-size-fits-all steps for you to follow. Instead, she relays the patterns of how children learn to use the potty, and how their parents guide them.
My only gripe is that the book is written for mothers. It's not really her fault though. She admitted as much and said that the fathers don't contribute as much. She wants them to, and included a Cheat Sheet for them at the end of the book. I also noticed that the Facebook group is like 98% women.
So c'mon, guys, why the heck are you letting your partner do the heavy lifting for this considerable task, and missing out on watching your child's brain learn a new and intricate skill??
May 21, 2016
This book annoyed the "crap" out of me. The author is full of advice and will tell you how it is, but does not back any of her assertions up with actual research. All of her "knowledge" comes from her own anecdotes of working with kids who are struggling to be potty trained.
Why 2 stars? Well some of the advice seems to make sense, and may be useful when we start to potty train. Maybe.
Some of the advice contradicts itself. For example, you don't want a potty chair out in the playroom because it shouldn't be used as a toy - okay, but she also recommends later having one in the playroom so it is easy for the child to access when he/she needs to go.
Other ridiculous advice - she recommends pulling over on the side of the highway to use a little potty if the child needs to go. Yes, she encourages potty training consistency at the expense of basic safety for you and your child.
Or, if your daycare is unwilling to let your child walk around with a bare bottom, find another daycare immediately - wait lists must not exist where she lives.
And she assumes that if you are a working mom, it must be because you don't have "much of a choice" - I can only imagine what she thinks of women who actually choose to work because they want to.
Her overall attitude is, if you don't agree with her, well then you must have some mental/emotional issue. I tried to look past this and pull out a few gems that might help when we start to potty train, but it was hard to get past the fact that this is all based on the experience of one woman who has only actually potty trained one child.
Why 2 stars? Well some of the advice seems to make sense, and may be useful when we start to potty train. Maybe.
Some of the advice contradicts itself. For example, you don't want a potty chair out in the playroom because it shouldn't be used as a toy - okay, but she also recommends later having one in the playroom so it is easy for the child to access when he/she needs to go.
Other ridiculous advice - she recommends pulling over on the side of the highway to use a little potty if the child needs to go. Yes, she encourages potty training consistency at the expense of basic safety for you and your child.
Or, if your daycare is unwilling to let your child walk around with a bare bottom, find another daycare immediately - wait lists must not exist where she lives.
And she assumes that if you are a working mom, it must be because you don't have "much of a choice" - I can only imagine what she thinks of women who actually choose to work because they want to.
Her overall attitude is, if you don't agree with her, well then you must have some mental/emotional issue. I tried to look past this and pull out a few gems that might help when we start to potty train, but it was hard to get past the fact that this is all based on the experience of one woman who has only actually potty trained one child.
July 20, 2017
Finished this book at 7 months pregnant with #2. The author has given me the courage to try and train my 19 month old before the new baby comes. I will update with a star rating once I see how everything goes!
**Update** What I like about this book is that it clearly lays out a game plan for one method of potty training. Read this book, and you will know how to do the "naked 3 day weekend" potty training strategy. This is the only positive that I took away from it, however.
The author makes it seem like if you do not employ her method successfully between months 20-30, your kid is going to kindergarten in diapers. And it will be all. your. fault. This is the same kind of "you're screwing up your kid" guilt tripping parents (especially moms) get about breastfeeding, epidurals, etc. and I hate it.
While this method does work well for many kids, it does not work well for everyone. My daughter completely freaked out after she peed on the ground a couple of times (part of the learning process set forth in the book), and as a result held her pee for 6-7 hours and did not poop for several days. There was nothing in the book explaining what to do in such a situation, but I did find a small footnote on the author's blog saying that kids like my daughter need a softer approach. Not incredibly helpful.
The more parents you talk to, the more you learn that kids potty train when they are ready, and not all methods work the same for every kid. So by all means try the method in this book with your kid, because it might work. But don't get upset if it doesn't. My daughter ended up responding better to a sticker chart when she was closer to 3 years old (i.e. when she was ready).
**Update** What I like about this book is that it clearly lays out a game plan for one method of potty training. Read this book, and you will know how to do the "naked 3 day weekend" potty training strategy. This is the only positive that I took away from it, however.
The author makes it seem like if you do not employ her method successfully between months 20-30, your kid is going to kindergarten in diapers. And it will be all. your. fault. This is the same kind of "you're screwing up your kid" guilt tripping parents (especially moms) get about breastfeeding, epidurals, etc. and I hate it.
While this method does work well for many kids, it does not work well for everyone. My daughter completely freaked out after she peed on the ground a couple of times (part of the learning process set forth in the book), and as a result held her pee for 6-7 hours and did not poop for several days. There was nothing in the book explaining what to do in such a situation, but I did find a small footnote on the author's blog saying that kids like my daughter need a softer approach. Not incredibly helpful.
The more parents you talk to, the more you learn that kids potty train when they are ready, and not all methods work the same for every kid. So by all means try the method in this book with your kid, because it might work. But don't get upset if it doesn't. My daughter ended up responding better to a sticker chart when she was closer to 3 years old (i.e. when she was ready).
August 30, 2018
I'm glad I didn't pay for this and borrowed it, because I would otherwise have returned it for a refund/and or burned it for a few key reasons that others have mentioned:
1) Tone. This book reads like it was written by that loudmouth female relative who is convinced that her way is the right way and the only way, and any deviation from her technique will lead to DIRE CONSEQUENCES for all involved. In an attempt to sound sassy and authoritative, Glowacki just sounds histrionic and judgmental.
2) Lots and lots of condescension towards men. This is not a good book for male or female readers who consider fathers to be equal partners in parenting.
3) Contempt for working parents/mothers.
A good alternative seems to be Potty Training in 3 Days, which has many of the same precepts and is much less abrasive in tone.
1) Tone. This book reads like it was written by that loudmouth female relative who is convinced that her way is the right way and the only way, and any deviation from her technique will lead to DIRE CONSEQUENCES for all involved. In an attempt to sound sassy and authoritative, Glowacki just sounds histrionic and judgmental.
2) Lots and lots of condescension towards men. This is not a good book for male or female readers who consider fathers to be equal partners in parenting.
3) Contempt for working parents/mothers.
A good alternative seems to be Potty Training in 3 Days, which has many of the same precepts and is much less abrasive in tone.
July 25, 2021
Do you have that one person you don’t really like, but you forget until they talk, and then you’re like, “This is why we don’t hang out.” The author is this person for me.
This book is equal parts potty training instruction manual and unsolicited advice. I definitely feel worse about potty training and parenting than I did before I started reading it.
This is why we don’t hang out, Jamie.
This book is equal parts potty training instruction manual and unsolicited advice. I definitely feel worse about potty training and parenting than I did before I started reading it.
This is why we don’t hang out, Jamie.
December 26, 2019
The method is 5 stars. But the book is just bad. Google this method and read some blog posts by parents who have used it. It will probably be more consistent, concise, and maybe even (gasp!) actually list out the steps in an easy-to-refer-to list so you don't have to read long, rambling passages five times over during the process.
June 1, 2016
The good: there are excellent suggestions here for the kinds of language to use when approaching potty training, and the book does a very good job of setting expectations for parents.
Also good: my 3.5yo potty trained in 2 days, with huge credit going to the recommended language in this book. ("On Saturday, the diapers will go away. You don't need them anymore, and I will teach you how to use the potty.")
The less good: as so many people have noted, the tone is over-the-top. The hellfire and brimstone warnings of training a child over 30 months? While I won't discount the trends the author has seen, it set me up for a huge battle that never happened. And it made me second-guess my own instincts to wait to train my kid.
Also less good: yeah, it needs major editing. There's a lot of repetition and contradiction, it takes a long time to get to the point of a chapter, and the information is scattered through a chapter in a way that makes it hard to reference quickly. Tables would have been nice. More bullet points would have been nice. Charts would have been nice.
Speaking of charts: actual scientific research would have been phenomenal. Compiled anecdotes aren't the same as data. Even trends noticed over the length of a practice aren't data. They're just observations. Those are helpful! I trust them to the same extent that I trust my own observations. But they aren't data that help to explain the actual psychological or physiological underpinnings of the process.
Bottom (heh) line: my kid is done with diapers, and I felt empowered to help that happen. But this book needs some tweaking to make it a truly solid resource.
Also good: my 3.5yo potty trained in 2 days, with huge credit going to the recommended language in this book. ("On Saturday, the diapers will go away. You don't need them anymore, and I will teach you how to use the potty.")
The less good: as so many people have noted, the tone is over-the-top. The hellfire and brimstone warnings of training a child over 30 months? While I won't discount the trends the author has seen, it set me up for a huge battle that never happened. And it made me second-guess my own instincts to wait to train my kid.
Also less good: yeah, it needs major editing. There's a lot of repetition and contradiction, it takes a long time to get to the point of a chapter, and the information is scattered through a chapter in a way that makes it hard to reference quickly. Tables would have been nice. More bullet points would have been nice. Charts would have been nice.
Speaking of charts: actual scientific research would have been phenomenal. Compiled anecdotes aren't the same as data. Even trends noticed over the length of a practice aren't data. They're just observations. Those are helpful! I trust them to the same extent that I trust my own observations. But they aren't data that help to explain the actual psychological or physiological underpinnings of the process.
Bottom (heh) line: my kid is done with diapers, and I felt empowered to help that happen. But this book needs some tweaking to make it a truly solid resource.
October 30, 2020
Didn't like the style or tone of this book. Poorly written. Poorly researched. Many of the suggestions have little to no fact to back them up. There is some good info in here, but no different then what other potty training books have in them that are better written and more researched. Feels like a blog of personal opinions that someone just printed into a book. This book desperately needs some editing and fact checking. Hate her "suggested" perfect age for potty training. Does not fit with any of the kids I know. Really this book is about training the parents to know when to take a toddler to the bathroom. In my opinion a child is potty trained when they can take themselves potty (most of the time without being told), clean themselves up, and dress themselves. Would not recommend this to anyone. Do not listen to the author's dietary recommendations. Glad they work for her and her kid but not sure how being a social worker equals being a nutritionist (or for that matter an expert in potty training). Her recommendation that fiber isn't as important as "good fats" is just plain stupid.
February 3, 2020
Potty training advice. Readable. Conversational. Not very easy to implement.
Here's the 6 step process laid out in this book:
1. Potty naked
2. Potty commando
3. Potty places that aren't home
4. Potty with underpants
5. Consistent self-initiation
6. Night or nap
First, get the kid familiar with the potty. Make sure they know what it is for and read some picture books about how potties are used.
Teach kid to dress themselves if possible. A dress up party for practice can help.
Assign chores like having the kid put the dishes in the sink.
Two weeks before potty training: Begin saying, "Thank you for peeing in your potty." every time they use the potty.
One week before potty training: Start talking about throwing away diapers. Talk about the things that big kids do. Talk about the big kid things your child does.
On the day casually announce, "We're going to be using the potty today." Throwing away the diapers and explaining that you are done with diapers forever can help.
Give the kid extra fluids. Popsicles are good.
A facial expression of puzzlement often precedes peeing. For boys, teach them to hold their penis down by doing for him and telling him what you are doing. For poop, offer soft encouragement, but don't distact or pressure. Reading a book can help.
When the child starts to pee, move them onto the potty. Acknowledge that the child has peed in it in a way that makes it clear that this is success.
Let the child dump the poop in the big toilet. If they poop or pees on the floor have him help clean.
Easy catches for potty prompting: Awakening, bedtime, before leaving, arrival, after long sitting, before and after activities.
Night: Monitor fluids for 2-3 hours before sleep. Wake child partway through to pee. Most kids can't do nighttime until 3 or 3.5 years old.
Say, "You have done a good job but nighttime is long so you get a diaper for the night. When you wake up it will come off." Do the same thing for naps.
For behavioral issues around potty training: Small immediate consequences like taking the toy they were holding.
Don't ask if child has to go pee. Say, "Come. It's time to pee."
Do not overprompt. Twice per hour is fine.
Do not beg or bargain.
Do not post on facebook that you are potty training.
Here's the 6 step process laid out in this book:
1. Potty naked
2. Potty commando
3. Potty places that aren't home
4. Potty with underpants
5. Consistent self-initiation
6. Night or nap
First, get the kid familiar with the potty. Make sure they know what it is for and read some picture books about how potties are used.
Teach kid to dress themselves if possible. A dress up party for practice can help.
Assign chores like having the kid put the dishes in the sink.
Two weeks before potty training: Begin saying, "Thank you for peeing in your potty." every time they use the potty.
One week before potty training: Start talking about throwing away diapers. Talk about the things that big kids do. Talk about the big kid things your child does.
On the day casually announce, "We're going to be using the potty today." Throwing away the diapers and explaining that you are done with diapers forever can help.
Give the kid extra fluids. Popsicles are good.
A facial expression of puzzlement often precedes peeing. For boys, teach them to hold their penis down by doing for him and telling him what you are doing. For poop, offer soft encouragement, but don't distact or pressure. Reading a book can help.
When the child starts to pee, move them onto the potty. Acknowledge that the child has peed in it in a way that makes it clear that this is success.
Let the child dump the poop in the big toilet. If they poop or pees on the floor have him help clean.
Easy catches for potty prompting: Awakening, bedtime, before leaving, arrival, after long sitting, before and after activities.
Night: Monitor fluids for 2-3 hours before sleep. Wake child partway through to pee. Most kids can't do nighttime until 3 or 3.5 years old.
Say, "You have done a good job but nighttime is long so you get a diaper for the night. When you wake up it will come off." Do the same thing for naps.
For behavioral issues around potty training: Small immediate consequences like taking the toy they were holding.
Don't ask if child has to go pee. Say, "Come. It's time to pee."
Do not overprompt. Twice per hour is fine.
Do not beg or bargain.
Do not post on facebook that you are potty training.
September 3, 2018
My wife and I have been trying to potty train our three year old for the last year and a half. We've been off and on trying to find the right time for him and his particular needs. As you may have guessed, we have completely failed at training this kid up until this point.
Then, after a little research on which book to buy, I decided to get this guide to potty training hoping we could finally figure this shit out (pun intended). It's been about three weeks since I started reading the book, I'm still a little less than half way through it, and my son is already potty trained and doing amazing!! I can't believe how much this book helped me (cause the problems were definitely coming more from me than my son) and how quickly we were able to see success. He still has little accident every now and then but we are seeing steady progression and I'm so proud of my little man.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. If you are struggling with toilet training your toddler or if you're the type of person that benefits from a specific strategy to get things done then do yourself a favor and get this book!
Then, after a little research on which book to buy, I decided to get this guide to potty training hoping we could finally figure this shit out (pun intended). It's been about three weeks since I started reading the book, I'm still a little less than half way through it, and my son is already potty trained and doing amazing!! I can't believe how much this book helped me (cause the problems were definitely coming more from me than my son) and how quickly we were able to see success. He still has little accident every now and then but we are seeing steady progression and I'm so proud of my little man.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. If you are struggling with toilet training your toddler or if you're the type of person that benefits from a specific strategy to get things done then do yourself a favor and get this book!
May 2, 2013
I was holding off on reviewing this one until I saw how things actually turned out. I mean, it's all very well if a book like this is comprehensive and funny and relatable. (Which this one is.) It still doesn't work unless my kid ends up potty trained.
I am happy to report that my kid did end up potty trained! We started on a Monday, and she had it pretty much figured out by that Friday. It's been about ten days now since Potty Training Day One, and she knows exactly what to do when she needs to go. This afternoon I discovered that while my back was turned she had completed all of her business in her toilet without saying a word to me about it. She is happy and proud; we are happy and proud. It's a win for everyone!
I don't usually buy books; I tend to check them out from the library. But the fifteen dollar book is a great trade-off for the forty dollars a month I'm going to spend on diapers.
I am happy to report that my kid did end up potty trained! We started on a Monday, and she had it pretty much figured out by that Friday. It's been about ten days now since Potty Training Day One, and she knows exactly what to do when she needs to go. This afternoon I discovered that while my back was turned she had completed all of her business in her toilet without saying a word to me about it. She is happy and proud; we are happy and proud. It's a win for everyone!
I don't usually buy books; I tend to check them out from the library. But the fifteen dollar book is a great trade-off for the forty dollars a month I'm going to spend on diapers.
November 18, 2021
The methods in this book may or may not work for you and your family. It is not evidence-based, but opinion-based from a self-proclaimed expert. I have several clients and friends who used this or another “quick train” method and it worked great for them. However, I think those kiddos were going to be easy trains regardless and I have just as many friends and clients who struggled with these kinds of methods.
The methods are worth reading and trying just to see if your child will take well to it. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wade through endless amounts of judgy, aggressively critical and snarky opinions (I think she was going for humor but totally failed) to get to the information.
I have several grievances with this book:
First, she likens potty training your kid to house training your dog. She doesn’t seem to understand that children have rich inner worlds and shouldn’t be treated like a dog… she implies that children/parents who have a hard time potty training are failures “if your dog can do it, so can your kid” and other such statements.
Second, she shames families who have a hard time potty training. She believes her approach is a magical cookie cutter fix for every family and if you have a hard time then there is something wrong with your parenting. I think it’s so important when reading this or any other parenting book to remember that you know your child & family best and if this method doesn’t work for you that’s totally fine.
Third, it is quite sexist. She states that she wrote this book specifically for moms. There is a small section for dads where she excessively congratulates dads who do get involved, as if they shouldn’t have to, and generally don’t, think about it at all. I find that insulting to moms and dads alike. She also states that mothers from previous generations did a better job of potty training because they were mostly stay at home moms, and that’s a better way to parent. The methods in her book are definitely not tailored to modern families.
All in all, I would recommend a different “quick train” potty training book. There are tons out there. This one is far too nasty and pushy and the ratio of information to judgy opinions is probably somewhere like 1:5.
The methods are worth reading and trying just to see if your child will take well to it. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wade through endless amounts of judgy, aggressively critical and snarky opinions (I think she was going for humor but totally failed) to get to the information.
I have several grievances with this book:
First, she likens potty training your kid to house training your dog. She doesn’t seem to understand that children have rich inner worlds and shouldn’t be treated like a dog… she implies that children/parents who have a hard time potty training are failures “if your dog can do it, so can your kid” and other such statements.
Second, she shames families who have a hard time potty training. She believes her approach is a magical cookie cutter fix for every family and if you have a hard time then there is something wrong with your parenting. I think it’s so important when reading this or any other parenting book to remember that you know your child & family best and if this method doesn’t work for you that’s totally fine.
Third, it is quite sexist. She states that she wrote this book specifically for moms. There is a small section for dads where she excessively congratulates dads who do get involved, as if they shouldn’t have to, and generally don’t, think about it at all. I find that insulting to moms and dads alike. She also states that mothers from previous generations did a better job of potty training because they were mostly stay at home moms, and that’s a better way to parent. The methods in her book are definitely not tailored to modern families.
All in all, I would recommend a different “quick train” potty training book. There are tons out there. This one is far too nasty and pushy and the ratio of information to judgy opinions is probably somewhere like 1:5.
August 5, 2018
I don’t understand why so many people like this book.
The author’s tone is obnoxious, sexist and condescending. She uses no research to back up her claims. We tried the method and my son just revolted and started peeing on the floor instead. I’ve already missed the “ideal” window so according to her we’re screwed.
I realize her method works for some people but I couldn’t get through the hostility and rudeness in this book. I wanted to throw it across the room.
The author’s tone is obnoxious, sexist and condescending. She uses no research to back up her claims. We tried the method and my son just revolted and started peeing on the floor instead. I’ve already missed the “ideal” window so according to her we’re screwed.
I realize her method works for some people but I couldn’t get through the hostility and rudeness in this book. I wanted to throw it across the room.
August 11, 2022
I liked this book but I haven't actually started potty training yet so we'll see how it goes. I appreciated the tone and the no rewards approach. She seems to know what she is talking about and to be reasonable about how to get results.
November 3, 2016
This woman is a charlatan.
October 31, 2021
DNF I can’t stand the author’s tone. Do not recommend for anyone who struggles with anxiety.
June 18, 2016
I will admit that I didn't read this whole book. I absolutely hated the tone of it, I was put off from the first ten pages. I also think it was pretty poorly written and I didn't like the "written for moms" aspect of it. That said, her advice (for daytime) is pretty solid and has worked well for my 2.5 year old. I think we waited until the right time with my daughter. We probably could have done it earlier but I'm glad we waited until she was naturally holding it on her own. I also think she is batshit crazy for recommending waking your kid up to pee in the middle of the night. We work for how long to get our kids to sleep through and then you want me to go wake them up? Hell no! Maybe if you have a kid that struggles with bedwetting but for a toddler? Bleh. No. We need our sleep.
March 19, 2024
No. no, no, no, nooo. This book was so detrimental. The methodology in and of itself may work for some kids, so first off, if you want the method, here is it without reading the book:
1) View the process as "blocks" not in time or days, and look for progress, not perfecton. Move to the next block only when your child has completed the preceding block and only then.
Block one: Child is naked and you watch them closely (don't do anything this day except watch, no outings, nothing). Help child make the connection from "clueless to I'm peeing, to I peed, to I've peed." Lead the child to a small potty as you continue to close the gaps between the awareness progression. Don't over-prompt, every 30 minutes is good, "Let's go to the potty." Casually, celebrate success and casually address accidents "Oh you put your pee on the floor, pee goes in the potty."
Block two: Commando, no undies, but pants, same thing as block one.
Block three: Pee and poop out of your house, commando (start with small, quick outings)
Block Four: Pee and poop with underwear, in and out of the house
Block Five: Help them consistently self-initiate
Block Six: Night training
Okay, methodology is sound and has some good stuff *if it fits your child*. Herein lies the biggest problem with the entire book: what if this doesn't fit your child? Well.... according to the author - it should. Period. Literally, it *will* work. So again, what if it isn't working? Let's paint a picture: Your child is literally crying at the first mention of the potty, will not sit on it (arching back, screaming), has peed all over your house, cries when and before she pees, you're crying...you get the picture. But, you've read this book and the thought that "maybe she isn't ready creeps to your mind" BUT WAIT - she says that's a myth (another huge problem). She spends at least the first third of the book talking about how "being ready" is a myth and you only truly have between ages 22 and 30 months to potty train your child or "horrific" things will happen. I won't even mention her superior, shaming tone throughout the book. But combine those things together and bam, you are in a predicament: it can't be that your child isn't ready because that apparently is a myth so YOU as the mom or dad must be the problem (which she says so in the book). Hmmm, well my 26 month old was decently interested in the potty, no big reactions one way or the other, we went through the proper preparations and began the method. On the first day, at about the 4th or 5th time she peed on the floor she was so totally terrified of what was coming out of her body that the potty became an absolutely terrifying, dreaded, totally undesirable thing. But this book says "being ready" isn't real, so I persist. The book doesn't talk about fear, it just says help her make the connection (see block one). Well, she's definitely making a connection, but it's not a good connection: "This is terrifying and I have no control of it but I know it's connected to the potty and I will absolutely not sit on that thing." Nothing in the book addresses this, it simply says stay in the block. Well I guess it means I explained it wrong. So I persist. But explaining something unitl you are blue in the face is still different than experiencing it. If I am the best communicator in the entire world and explain perfectly what skydiving is, it will still be different (AND POSSIBLY TERRIFYING) once the actual thing happens. Peeing to a child who has only ever peed in a warm diaper or bath surely has the potential to be the same?! So after my LO is screaming and crying my mind goes to maybe she really isn't ready, again. I mean peeing in a potty is a physical, psychological and emotional thing (she's only ever worn a diaper - talk about a security blanket), if those three pieces aren't in place, of course she isn't ready! I mean can I simply look at an 8 month old and say you are showing signs to crawl, you reach for toys, you plank, you are kinda of upset when you can't move, let's do this - crawling!!. Block of the calendar, we are not going anywhere, you are crawling this weekend. What!?! NO! If her muscles aren't developed for that coordination, she isn't going to crawl no matter what I do: she. isn't. ready. (wait, readiness is a myth according to the book, see the problem?). Which is another part of the problem of the book - she says if they show enough signs of capability and are in the right age range, you can do this and it will work. Talk about pressure on the parent and child. Pressure! Problem three with this book: you must both "watch them like a hawk" and be completely "casual" - what, please release a parenting book on how to watch your 26 month old "like a hawk," be super casual andddd see them about to pee all over your floor for the 5th time. Show me, please.
Additional problems I will not elaborate on: 1) she is just so condescending and mean in her book, 2) she at one point says a motivator to get them trained early is awesome "Bragging rights" - when is it okay to use our children to bolster our own identity? 3) She completely disregards any other method (where else in parenting do we see a one-size-fits-all approach to ... anything?!?...) as leading to "horrific" issues down the road, which is interesting as a pediatric urologist has come out against this method saying if used before they are ready, it simply teaches the kid to hold pee and poop as long as possible, ignore their bodily signals until they are unable to and then release in the potty, leading to bedwetting and constipation issues well into elementary agee. 4) She is also sexist throughout the book. 5) And again, tone: If your child isn't trained with her method, on the timeline you decide within her age range - you are the problem and your child is going to have major problems (what. the actual. heck.?!)
Again, I am sure the method works for some, so please USE it!! And I am so so so happy if it is successful for you, but ask a friend or find a blog post to use it, DON'T READ THIS BOOK, because on the off chance, you use this method and it starts to go south for you and your child and you've read this book, you will be so messed up in the head from reading it that it will cause more problems.
Yes, I am this passionate. I plan to update when we successfully potty train our little one *** when she is ready *** and I will humbly and happily, take back anything I said that I need to.
Update: I still stand by this review. We did almost opposite of everything she wrote 😂 (I.e. underwear, rewards, etc) and had success. Again, this method I’m sure can work, but it is not the *only* method.
1) View the process as "blocks" not in time or days, and look for progress, not perfecton. Move to the next block only when your child has completed the preceding block and only then.
Block one: Child is naked and you watch them closely (don't do anything this day except watch, no outings, nothing). Help child make the connection from "clueless to I'm peeing, to I peed, to I've peed." Lead the child to a small potty as you continue to close the gaps between the awareness progression. Don't over-prompt, every 30 minutes is good, "Let's go to the potty." Casually, celebrate success and casually address accidents "Oh you put your pee on the floor, pee goes in the potty."
Block two: Commando, no undies, but pants, same thing as block one.
Block three: Pee and poop out of your house, commando (start with small, quick outings)
Block Four: Pee and poop with underwear, in and out of the house
Block Five: Help them consistently self-initiate
Block Six: Night training
Okay, methodology is sound and has some good stuff *if it fits your child*. Herein lies the biggest problem with the entire book: what if this doesn't fit your child? Well.... according to the author - it should. Period. Literally, it *will* work. So again, what if it isn't working? Let's paint a picture: Your child is literally crying at the first mention of the potty, will not sit on it (arching back, screaming), has peed all over your house, cries when and before she pees, you're crying...you get the picture. But, you've read this book and the thought that "maybe she isn't ready creeps to your mind" BUT WAIT - she says that's a myth (another huge problem). She spends at least the first third of the book talking about how "being ready" is a myth and you only truly have between ages 22 and 30 months to potty train your child or "horrific" things will happen. I won't even mention her superior, shaming tone throughout the book. But combine those things together and bam, you are in a predicament: it can't be that your child isn't ready because that apparently is a myth so YOU as the mom or dad must be the problem (which she says so in the book). Hmmm, well my 26 month old was decently interested in the potty, no big reactions one way or the other, we went through the proper preparations and began the method. On the first day, at about the 4th or 5th time she peed on the floor she was so totally terrified of what was coming out of her body that the potty became an absolutely terrifying, dreaded, totally undesirable thing. But this book says "being ready" isn't real, so I persist. The book doesn't talk about fear, it just says help her make the connection (see block one). Well, she's definitely making a connection, but it's not a good connection: "This is terrifying and I have no control of it but I know it's connected to the potty and I will absolutely not sit on that thing." Nothing in the book addresses this, it simply says stay in the block. Well I guess it means I explained it wrong. So I persist. But explaining something unitl you are blue in the face is still different than experiencing it. If I am the best communicator in the entire world and explain perfectly what skydiving is, it will still be different (AND POSSIBLY TERRIFYING) once the actual thing happens. Peeing to a child who has only ever peed in a warm diaper or bath surely has the potential to be the same?! So after my LO is screaming and crying my mind goes to maybe she really isn't ready, again. I mean peeing in a potty is a physical, psychological and emotional thing (she's only ever worn a diaper - talk about a security blanket), if those three pieces aren't in place, of course she isn't ready! I mean can I simply look at an 8 month old and say you are showing signs to crawl, you reach for toys, you plank, you are kinda of upset when you can't move, let's do this - crawling!!. Block of the calendar, we are not going anywhere, you are crawling this weekend. What!?! NO! If her muscles aren't developed for that coordination, she isn't going to crawl no matter what I do: she. isn't. ready. (wait, readiness is a myth according to the book, see the problem?). Which is another part of the problem of the book - she says if they show enough signs of capability and are in the right age range, you can do this and it will work. Talk about pressure on the parent and child. Pressure! Problem three with this book: you must both "watch them like a hawk" and be completely "casual" - what, please release a parenting book on how to watch your 26 month old "like a hawk," be super casual andddd see them about to pee all over your floor for the 5th time. Show me, please.
Additional problems I will not elaborate on: 1) she is just so condescending and mean in her book, 2) she at one point says a motivator to get them trained early is awesome "Bragging rights" - when is it okay to use our children to bolster our own identity? 3) She completely disregards any other method (where else in parenting do we see a one-size-fits-all approach to ... anything?!?...) as leading to "horrific" issues down the road, which is interesting as a pediatric urologist has come out against this method saying if used before they are ready, it simply teaches the kid to hold pee and poop as long as possible, ignore their bodily signals until they are unable to and then release in the potty, leading to bedwetting and constipation issues well into elementary agee. 4) She is also sexist throughout the book. 5) And again, tone: If your child isn't trained with her method, on the timeline you decide within her age range - you are the problem and your child is going to have major problems (what. the actual. heck.?!)
Again, I am sure the method works for some, so please USE it!! And I am so so so happy if it is successful for you, but ask a friend or find a blog post to use it, DON'T READ THIS BOOK, because on the off chance, you use this method and it starts to go south for you and your child and you've read this book, you will be so messed up in the head from reading it that it will cause more problems.
Yes, I am this passionate. I plan to update when we successfully potty train our little one *** when she is ready *** and I will humbly and happily, take back anything I said that I need to.
Update: I still stand by this review. We did almost opposite of everything she wrote 😂 (I.e. underwear, rewards, etc) and had success. Again, this method I’m sure can work, but it is not the *only* method.
February 1, 2018
3.5 stars overall. The method of potty training made sense to me, the book was easy to read, and for the most part I didn’t mind the writing style. It’s hard to review parenting books, because on the one hand there is the actual content of the book to discuss. On the other hand, there is the quality of the book and how well it is written, which might affect understanding of the content.This book would have benefited greatly from a better editor to cut down on some of the rambling, blog post-esque chapters, as well as a parent-in-the-trenches editor. I’m a firm believer that all parenting books should have an editor who is a parent going through the topic at the time of reading/editing. It would really help to catch all the times when the author is unclear or doesn’t give enough information. It’s easy to gloss over those when you’re not going through it!
The method employed by Glowacki is one of potty training phases: naked time, commando time, and then finally underwear. I like that she emphasizes potty training as phases of learning that can take different amounts of time for different kids. I think that lessens pressure on parents and kids to be achieving X by a predetermined time. BUT, There was a poorly written sentence in the book that really confused me for awhile about this. Generally, the book is written in easy-to-read second person. It is an exchange between Glowacki, the author, and me, the reader. However, all of a sudden she switches to a broad “our” meaning “civilized society.” She states “Our 24 hour system dictates that we move on to the next day.” After all this talk directly to me, the reader, about potty training as phases of learning, this threw me off because I assumed “our” and “we” meant the same audience (aka Glowacki and me, the reader) as it had previously. I thought, “Wait a second, WHAT is our 24 hour system, Glowacki??? I thought we were doing phases! Did I miss something??” It took me awhile to realize she meant that I should be thinking of potty training in terms of phases as opposed to how society thinks in terms of 24 hour days. Maybe that was stupid of me, but the abrupt shift really bothered and confused me, and almost made me toss the book altogether.
There were some chapters that rambled without getting to the point that was promised. In the poop chapter, Glowacki goes on and on for a couple of pages about the “poop problem” in current society and how pooping wasn’t such a problem in the past. What is the current poop problem? I have no idea. Do we as a society poop too much? Too little? Is it too difficult? Too black or green instead of brown? Eventually she settles down to discussing poop and your child-in-potty-training, but even then it isn’t clear as to what possible potty training poop problem she is addressing. It’s the longest chapter in the book, and unfortunately also the most confusing. Another chapter that didn’t deliver as promised is the one titled “Daycare and Other Caregivers.” The entire chapter is devoted to discussing daycare. Um, what about the other caregivers part? My husband and I can’t be the only parents in the world who have a secondary caregiver that is not daycare, right? I was hoping for some tips on dealing with other caregivers, such as grandparents, a nanny, a friend, etc., but no dice. That chapter should just be titled “Daycare.” As with most parenting books, there is also the obligatory “here’s why this method is the best and all the others fail” chapter, but thankfully it was pretty short. However, the chapter did provide a good theoretical foundation for the actions of the actual method, and also helped in combating some of the “why can’t you just use pull ups?” questions.
The most useful part of the book, in my opinion, was the language that Glowacki suggests throughout for teaching how to use the potty. It’s simple, straightforward, and easily understood by a toddler.
Overall it was a quick, easy read with a method that worked for us! I can’t say that last bit about any of the other parenting books I’ve read.
The method employed by Glowacki is one of potty training phases: naked time, commando time, and then finally underwear. I like that she emphasizes potty training as phases of learning that can take different amounts of time for different kids. I think that lessens pressure on parents and kids to be achieving X by a predetermined time. BUT, There was a poorly written sentence in the book that really confused me for awhile about this. Generally, the book is written in easy-to-read second person. It is an exchange between Glowacki, the author, and me, the reader. However, all of a sudden she switches to a broad “our” meaning “civilized society.” She states “Our 24 hour system dictates that we move on to the next day.” After all this talk directly to me, the reader, about potty training as phases of learning, this threw me off because I assumed “our” and “we” meant the same audience (aka Glowacki and me, the reader) as it had previously. I thought, “Wait a second, WHAT is our 24 hour system, Glowacki??? I thought we were doing phases! Did I miss something??” It took me awhile to realize she meant that I should be thinking of potty training in terms of phases as opposed to how society thinks in terms of 24 hour days. Maybe that was stupid of me, but the abrupt shift really bothered and confused me, and almost made me toss the book altogether.
There were some chapters that rambled without getting to the point that was promised. In the poop chapter, Glowacki goes on and on for a couple of pages about the “poop problem” in current society and how pooping wasn’t such a problem in the past. What is the current poop problem? I have no idea. Do we as a society poop too much? Too little? Is it too difficult? Too black or green instead of brown? Eventually she settles down to discussing poop and your child-in-potty-training, but even then it isn’t clear as to what possible potty training poop problem she is addressing. It’s the longest chapter in the book, and unfortunately also the most confusing. Another chapter that didn’t deliver as promised is the one titled “Daycare and Other Caregivers.” The entire chapter is devoted to discussing daycare. Um, what about the other caregivers part? My husband and I can’t be the only parents in the world who have a secondary caregiver that is not daycare, right? I was hoping for some tips on dealing with other caregivers, such as grandparents, a nanny, a friend, etc., but no dice. That chapter should just be titled “Daycare.” As with most parenting books, there is also the obligatory “here’s why this method is the best and all the others fail” chapter, but thankfully it was pretty short. However, the chapter did provide a good theoretical foundation for the actions of the actual method, and also helped in combating some of the “why can’t you just use pull ups?” questions.
The most useful part of the book, in my opinion, was the language that Glowacki suggests throughout for teaching how to use the potty. It’s simple, straightforward, and easily understood by a toddler.
Overall it was a quick, easy read with a method that worked for us! I can’t say that last bit about any of the other parenting books I’ve read.
Currently reading
October 10, 2025One of my more intellectually rigorous undertakings this year. I am sure the goodreads community will be eager to hear our review.
April 16, 2022
We know several people who have used this method and swear by it. It’s laid out clearly and she addresses almost any major concern someone could have. Going in to Potty Training I’m feeling prepared and confident.
So why such a low score? First and foremost - the book is both incredibly heteronormative and aggressive with the application of gender norms for absolutely no reason. She even acknowledges this and says “that’s my experience so I’m going with it.” There’s literally a section with “tips for dads” that talks about how frazzled your wife will be when you get home from a long day of work.
Issue Number 2: she editorializes and includes her opinions on other aspects of child rearing as fact. I don’t need to know her thoughts on Montessori and Waldorf methods. This becomes especially egregious in the “Behavior vs Potty Training” chapter.
Issue Number 3: writing style. There are multiple places in the book where she says something like “you just have to move. Just kidding. But actually I’m not. Sort of.” And that would be fine in a humor book, but this is an instructional book and you shouldn’t have to question whether the author is making a joke or not. Beyond that, there are places in the book that are clearly pulled straight from her blog (mentioning old “posts”). For a book that’s been around for 10+ years with numerous editions, that’s just not great.
All-in-all, it’s maybe worth reading for the content, but be ready to be annoyed and I’m going to be trying to find other resources with similar content to recommend to friends.
So why such a low score? First and foremost - the book is both incredibly heteronormative and aggressive with the application of gender norms for absolutely no reason. She even acknowledges this and says “that’s my experience so I’m going with it.” There’s literally a section with “tips for dads” that talks about how frazzled your wife will be when you get home from a long day of work.
Issue Number 2: she editorializes and includes her opinions on other aspects of child rearing as fact. I don’t need to know her thoughts on Montessori and Waldorf methods. This becomes especially egregious in the “Behavior vs Potty Training” chapter.
Issue Number 3: writing style. There are multiple places in the book where she says something like “you just have to move. Just kidding. But actually I’m not. Sort of.” And that would be fine in a humor book, but this is an instructional book and you shouldn’t have to question whether the author is making a joke or not. Beyond that, there are places in the book that are clearly pulled straight from her blog (mentioning old “posts”). For a book that’s been around for 10+ years with numerous editions, that’s just not great.
All-in-all, it’s maybe worth reading for the content, but be ready to be annoyed and I’m going to be trying to find other resources with similar content to recommend to friends.
December 17, 2022
Pros:
• I feel more confident about potty training in a few months!
• Breaking down potty training into blocks rather than days is so helpful.
• The author provides a lot of helpful language around potty and how to communicate with your child.
• I actually did laugh out loud a few times.
Cons:
• this book is about 4x longer than it needs to be.
• The author goes on so many random tangents and provides her unsolicited opinion on every parenting issue under the sun.
• It’s terribly unorganized and is therefore super repetitive. It’s also terribly edited. There were multiple times the author would say something like “This post is really important” which was super confusing until I realized the section had to have been copied and pasted directly from a blog post into the manuscript.
• This book claims to be a “Modern Parents Guide”, but the author seems to look down on working moms and assumes that dads have zero interest in being involved in potty training. Her tone towards fathers was very patronizing and really bothered me.
• I feel more confident about potty training in a few months!
• Breaking down potty training into blocks rather than days is so helpful.
• The author provides a lot of helpful language around potty and how to communicate with your child.
• I actually did laugh out loud a few times.
Cons:
• this book is about 4x longer than it needs to be.
• The author goes on so many random tangents and provides her unsolicited opinion on every parenting issue under the sun.
• It’s terribly unorganized and is therefore super repetitive. It’s also terribly edited. There were multiple times the author would say something like “This post is really important” which was super confusing until I realized the section had to have been copied and pasted directly from a blog post into the manuscript.
• This book claims to be a “Modern Parents Guide”, but the author seems to look down on working moms and assumes that dads have zero interest in being involved in potty training. Her tone towards fathers was very patronizing and really bothered me.
September 30, 2014
I had such a hard time potty training my son. We had three different attempts from the age of 2 and 1/2 on and he fought me tooth and nail each time. This book was a lifesaver and I wish I would have read it a long time ago. There is a bit of profanity, but her advice is fantastic. The best takeaways for us were: 1) not making it rewards based, 2) starting naked and then going commando for a long time ( no pull-ups at all) 3) not constantly asking if he has to go, but just telling him when it was time to go and 4) don't expect to be done in 3 days (it's unrealistic for a lot of kids to master it that quickly and I think I had unrealistic expectations on my previous attempts). He's been doing great 2 weeks later. This is by far the best potty training advice I have received and I would recommend it to everyone. Start early!
April 23, 2018
Kid #2
FAIL.
Kid #1
Day 1 - naked day, kid did awesome. Days 2 - 4 were rough...sometimes painfully rough, but the book warned me this would happen so we stuck with it and made some adjustments. Day 5 everything clicked. I'm writing this review on Day 7 and am confident he will do well when I send him to daycare next week. I decided not to night train since I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I can't lift him out of his crib, but he woke up dry this morning so I may try night training too.
Occasionally, the author goes off on some weird tangents, but otherwise the book is awesome and she knows what she's talking about when it comes to potty training.
FAIL.
Kid #1
Day 1 - naked day, kid did awesome. Days 2 - 4 were rough...sometimes painfully rough, but the book warned me this would happen so we stuck with it and made some adjustments. Day 5 everything clicked. I'm writing this review on Day 7 and am confident he will do well when I send him to daycare next week. I decided not to night train since I'm 30 weeks pregnant and I can't lift him out of his crib, but he woke up dry this morning so I may try night training too.
Occasionally, the author goes off on some weird tangents, but otherwise the book is awesome and she knows what she's talking about when it comes to potty training.
March 20, 2025
Who gon’ pray for me?
February 13, 2022
While there are parts of this book that are helpful, those sections are undermined by the author being…honestly, a little unhinged. She seems out-of-touch and so completely convinced that her method is the best that she denigrates any method or person who strays from her method. She makes it very clear that if her method doesn’t work, it’s YOUR fault. The first 2.5 hours (on audiobook) don’t contain any potty training advice at all, but are just a justification for why her method is the only one, and you’re a horrible parent if you don’t follow her method. Throughout the book, the mom-shaming is pervasive and unnecessary.
The good advice in this book is juxtaposed with the author’s off-topic rants. She feels the need to give her unsolicited opinion on everything, from why children are so anxious these days, to sleep training, to Facebook posts, to overscheduling children, even to the speed of movie previews (they’re too fast). Several times, she goes off on a tangent about “Big Diaper”: how other potty training experts are paid by Big Diaper to prolong potty training so that diaper companies make more money.
The sexism in this book also needs to be addressed. There is a specific section of the book just for dads, that summarizes the steps in a few pages. The author repeatedly says that this book is for moms, for a variety of reasons, mostly because (I’m paraphrasing) “in this day and age, dads are usually the breadwinner and out of the house for most of the day.” She also suggests that dads get their wife drunk, since potty training is so hard on them. That type of sexist, heteronormative language is completely unnecessary in 2022. That section could have been called a cheat sheet or something else that made it not sexist. Earlier in the book, there’s a whole section about how dads don’t potty train, so you should (and again, paraphrasing) “have a heart to heart with them to get them on board, preferably after sex.” Just…wow.
If you’re a *parent* looking for a potty training book, I found Potty Training in 3 Days much more informative, helpful, and to-the-point. The potty training methods in both books are mostly the same except 3 Days skips the mom-guilt and is an overall gentler method. There are a few things I did the Oh Crap way, such as using a potty chair instead of the adult toilet, but in that regard, I would say that you know your child best, so choose what you think will work best for them. All potty training experts think their way is best, so it’s worth a Google search to see what different methods are out there so you can make the best decision for your individual child.
I almost stopped listening after the first 2.5 hours of mom-shaming, but I hate-listened to the rest so I could give a comprehensive review. I’m surprised an editor wasn’t able to reign in the author, because a book just containing the potty training method would have been useful.
That begs the question: could I buy a copy of “Oh Crap” without the bullsh**?
The good advice in this book is juxtaposed with the author’s off-topic rants. She feels the need to give her unsolicited opinion on everything, from why children are so anxious these days, to sleep training, to Facebook posts, to overscheduling children, even to the speed of movie previews (they’re too fast). Several times, she goes off on a tangent about “Big Diaper”: how other potty training experts are paid by Big Diaper to prolong potty training so that diaper companies make more money.
The sexism in this book also needs to be addressed. There is a specific section of the book just for dads, that summarizes the steps in a few pages. The author repeatedly says that this book is for moms, for a variety of reasons, mostly because (I’m paraphrasing) “in this day and age, dads are usually the breadwinner and out of the house for most of the day.” She also suggests that dads get their wife drunk, since potty training is so hard on them. That type of sexist, heteronormative language is completely unnecessary in 2022. That section could have been called a cheat sheet or something else that made it not sexist. Earlier in the book, there’s a whole section about how dads don’t potty train, so you should (and again, paraphrasing) “have a heart to heart with them to get them on board, preferably after sex.” Just…wow.
If you’re a *parent* looking for a potty training book, I found Potty Training in 3 Days much more informative, helpful, and to-the-point. The potty training methods in both books are mostly the same except 3 Days skips the mom-guilt and is an overall gentler method. There are a few things I did the Oh Crap way, such as using a potty chair instead of the adult toilet, but in that regard, I would say that you know your child best, so choose what you think will work best for them. All potty training experts think their way is best, so it’s worth a Google search to see what different methods are out there so you can make the best decision for your individual child.
I almost stopped listening after the first 2.5 hours of mom-shaming, but I hate-listened to the rest so I could give a comprehensive review. I’m surprised an editor wasn’t able to reign in the author, because a book just containing the potty training method would have been useful.
That begs the question: could I buy a copy of “Oh Crap” without the bullsh**?
December 21, 2024
I enjoyed the ending
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