Customer Reviews

Toilet Training-The Brazelton Way

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book came out when my son had just turned 3. I had been tearing out my hair worrying about potty training, and I believe that if I'd had this book when I was first considering the issue, I'd have had a much easier time of it. The book is short and easy to read, but dense with useful information. Brazelton backs up his "method" with firsthand information about child development. He is a doctor who has seen many children and their parents, not some person who got lucky with a forceful method that they think should work for everyone.

Brazelton stresses that age is not a determinant for potty training readiness. He outlines several readiness signs. If you've researched potty training, most will seem familiar to you. What I found unique about his list is that he indicates that ALL conditions must be met before a child is ready, so there is no guesswork.

Brazelton's "method" isn't a step by step troubleshooting guide. I kept wishing for such a thing, but it doesn't exist because parents need to use judgement and compassion in helping a child achieve this milestone. There is no sure fire recipe. But there are some things you can do that are key: Don't force a child who isn't ready. Don't approach potty training as a discipline issue. Do give children choices. Do remove barriers such as training then while bare bottomed so that they don't need your help with clothing. Don't show your anxiety about training or the child will pick up on it.

The book includes chapters on special situations (constipation, encopresis, etc.). It also gives gender specific advice such as waiting to teach boys to urinate while standing until they are proficient at going "Number 2" in the toilet (once they stand up, it's hard to get them sitting again). I highly recommend this book and would suggest that even parents with children as young as 1 read it to prepare for potty training. Plan on spending at least a few weeks on making the transition, and more realistically, months. My son was 3 years and 3 months before we made any real progress at potty training.

This is NOT the book for anyone who thinks children should train by an arbitrary age. It is NOT for anyone who judges a parent based on when their children learn to use the toilet. It is DEFINITELY NOT for anyone who wants overnight success.

Dr. Brazelton somehow combines being kind, gentle, and respectful of children with being incredibly effective as a parent. This is a thin little book, just over 100 pages, and it clearly, thoroughly explains ways to train, and also addresses any potential problems. I have referred to this book three times since I read it originally with specific problems and to my surprise, they have each been covered in detail in this book. What I especially love about this book is that there are not lots of rules or elaborate plans to remember. It's the kind of book you don't have to take notes on...the information is so logical and instinctive that it somehow just naturally becomes part of your knowledge. There's very little effort involved.

My daughter had several issues while potty training, and I regret that this book wasn't released earlier. After reading the book and implementing some of the things I learned, I realized that her problems were a direct result of some of my actions. Within a few days her potty training was reliable, and more importantly, both she and I were actually enjoying the process. It went from being stressful to me to being kind of touching in a way, as strange as that sounds! She was officially not a baby anymore!

Dr. Brazelton gives frazzled parents a fresh perspective and gently guides us through this exciting (and terrifying!) time in our children's lives. I really appreciate the work he's done and the information he's shared.

I found this book after trying a quickie method. My son did fine peeing in the potty, but after he began holding bowel movements, we found he had been constipated for a while even before we began training. We went back to diapers. After a little looking around, I purchased this book because it addresses problems like that and is very centered on allowing the child to set the pace. This could take months and may include reverting back to previous steps along the way, including getting back in diapers temporarily. I am not against quicker methods, but this is how we will resume training because of our special circumstances. So if you are looking for training in 3 days...this isn't it. But if you want to let your child go about potty training when he is ready and can accept occasional backslides, I would highly recommend this book.

i bought this book because i love brazelton's other best sellers; but i feel that it isn't as strong as his other writings. too much of it is focused on infant and very early toddler details; the digestive system, etc. there isn't enough substantial information for me to really have insight and make good decisions about helping my child toilet learn.

The part of this book that was most helpful was the list of 7 signs Brazelton says are the key to successful toileting. I had a late little guy...works at his own pace. This book, and specifically the list helped me to calm down and watch for ALL 7 signs before guiding my little guy to what he was ready for. My copy is totally worn thin from passing it around to friends. It helped me take myself out of the process and put it firmly where it belongs...on my kiddo!

This was a quick and easy read. It gave me a new perspective on potty training - basically to chill out, give the control/choice back to my toddler, and allow him to feel pride for his accomplishments (rather than making it about pleasing Mom/Dad).

I really appreciate this perspective and potty training is going so much better for us now that I've read this. I highly recommend for both parents and grandparents.

If you A) have a strong willed toddler and/or B) would like to take a relaxed pace with toilet training, this book is the only one you'll need. Brazelton has a clear concise voice and it's a quick read. He is in favor of returning to diapers when a setback occurs, which some readers may not agree with. Not for those in a hurry, this book is a slow and gentle approach that values the child's self-esteem and personal pacing over a more forceful, immediate-gratification approach. I enjoyed reading it and found his "touchpoints" theories on babies' milestones to be relevant and helpful in the potty training process.

Mother's don't always have time to read...so I found this book to be a perfect book for my needs. It is a nice small book with the signs to look for, the false signs that many parents feel are 'signs', what parents do wrong most of the time, what they can do that is correct. the child's perspective on toliet training, etc...and it's 100% in line with my child development back ground...all the information fits well with most parenting styles...atachment parenting all the way to a more structured household. If you have a child that is gearing up to accomplish the big potty, I highly recommend this book before you get started. :)

I purchased this book because I remember respecting and valueing the advice Dr. Brazelton gave when my sons were small (twenty years ago). We had tried the three day potty training method for our three year old daughter, and, although it was successful for the first week, it slowly fell apart so that after two months she was only using the potty about a quarter of the time, and we were cleaning up a lot of pee and poop. Our daughter was very stressed and started wetting the bed, which she had not been doing even before we potty trained her. Brazelton's approach is the opposite of the "quick" potty training methods these days. We have been following it, and our daughter is again her cheerful, relaxed self. I also feel his opinion hits the nail on the head about how the "quick" methods can cause emotional stress and, if pushed, long-term emotional and psychological consequences. I'm glad I discovered this book when I did and was able to see another perspective on potty training and relieve our daughter's stress.

I have literally read at least 10 books on potty training so far (from the library), and this book has been the LEAST helpful as it does not offer any working strategies, just confusing comments about 'waiting until the child is ready' and then judgments about the environmental disaster of disposable diapers.

I am a stay at home mom with my only child who is 33 months and physically capable of 'holding it'. My son was already dealing with bowel withholding before potty training and is in a 'no, no' phase - so I am having a hard time getting him to sit on a potty voluntarily - no matter if there is a little potty he chose, a toilet seat, treats, presents, toys, schedules, charts, practice sessions, or fancy underwear.

I wish I had read 'Diaper Free Before Three' a long time ago (I suggest this if your child is less than 2). But since I followed my sister's advice who said that my son would just 'let me know' around this age and then he would potty train fast; or Vicki Iovine's advice to wait until after 3, I now feel lost.
If your child is not overly sensitive and you are looking for a straightforward method, I do recommend 'Toilet Training in Less than a Day', but I am afraid of having battles all day with no results, or worse, regression. I will post again once I find something that works.