AIBU to seriously doubt some of the claims in the Oh Crap potty training book, and to find the author's style a bit, um, strident?

[AuntVictoria]

I've never read a parenting book quite like the Oh Crap method. Firstly, the author claims if children aren't night trained by 3 and a half their bladder begins to entrophy - isn't this total rubbish? I thought a hormone dictated whether children could stay dry overnight. Likewise, the author claims if you leave potty training til after 30 months you're setting yourself up for real problems, but anecdotally I know plenty of people who have trained at 3+ without a problem.

I also find the author's style rather abrasive and hectoring. She says in an early chapter (and I'm paraphrasing here) that if you're waiting until your child is ready, you're just putting training off and implies you're lazy and just need to get on with it. She also later literally says don't come crying to her if you decide to skip the commando stage and have lots of accidents. Most parenting books are a bit more supportive and diplomatic?!

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with her method, I'm using it myself, but she doesn't sound like someone I'd want to go for a drink with in real life

I’ve not read this book, mine are long past this but mine were very different and both DS. DS I done more or less easily at 2.3, the second at 3. Nursery told me not to rush with DS2 and they were right. He simply said one morning a few days after being 3 that he wanted to wear proper pants. Not one single accident. I’d tried at about 2.6 putting myself under pressure but it wasn’t the right time.

I absolutely hate this book. To the degree that I tore it up and put it in recycling so that no one would get it 2nd hand. The advice, for me, was terrible and it caused medical issues for my DD as she started withholding stool. It was an awful approach and I wish I had never used it and that I had approached toilet training as I approach most things with DD - at her pace.

I found the book good but we only read the day time bit because we were prompted to start training when he was waking up with dry nappy every night (around 2.5). He wasn't ready but we tried again with the same method at 3 and it worked like a dream.

Same as plumpootle. I wish we'd never used this book. It's full of nonsense pseudoscience, the method will not work for every child and it can be very traumatic for sensitive kids. I think it's an extremely irresponsible book actually.

Mine also went in the recycling!