Gina Ford's 'Potty training in one week' - doable or not?

[alicet]

I've seen this book that claims you can potty train in a week. All very attractive sounding as we're on the brink of potty training our 2 year old ds. Before I bought it though I wondered if there is anyone out there who has used it? I couldn't get on with Gina Ford's contented little baby routine as I found it far too rigid and uncompromising for me so I don't think it would be for us if it works in a similar way...

Any other potty training tips will of course be gratefully received!

If you wait til your child is ready, you can potty train in less than 10 minutes! How long does it take for a child to say "I don't want to wear nappies any more" and for you to say "OK, darling, here are some pants and there's the loo"

You can do it earlier if you like, but you will have to resign yourself to lots of washing, wet carpets, wet car seats, wet sofas, lots of stress and limiting your conversation to "Do you need a pee?" "Are you sure, because it's a while til we pass another service station" "Are you sure?" "Shall we just try?"

I bought it fully sceptical with DS1 and it worked

As usual though it is mostly common sense and good tips, and your child must be ready to potty train (there are signs to look out for in the book). It wont work miracles if you have a child who isn't ready.

Completely doable - if they are ready! My DD decided that she wanted to dispense with nappies and use the loo on her 3rd birthday (November), and that was that. OK, maybe a couple of accidents when she got too engrossed in playing etc. Oh and she wouldn't poo in the toilet for a while - would have to get a pull-up before going into the loo and put it on to have a poo...but she decided that at Christmas, she was going to start pooing in the loo too, and she did. Simple, but it would have been a nightmare at 2...bladder/bowel and brain just weren't connected that early for her!
DS was about the same - "trained" in a day, at 3 yrs and 3 months, and travelling long-haul without nappies (and no accidents) a couple of weeks later...
Good luck!

I really am going to write a book called "Potty Training in 10 minutes"!

I used that book, dd was done within a few days just before she turned 2.

I truly believe that if a child is ready it should take 7-10 days to get them to the point of using the potty/toilet and wearing pants but have no knowledge or comment on GF's one week book.

I've no idea about Gina Ford. But if they're ready it can be pretty quick. DS was 2.7, and was dry in a week, and DD was about 2.9 (we waited until she could talk!) and was equally quick. I completely agree with seeker that you have to wait until they're ready. We had a short abortive attempt with DS aged 2 (MIL nagging, grrrrr) and his nursery told us to wait a bit longer to make life easier for all of us. We did, and it did

I used this book as a guide as I really had no clue how to approach the potty training. The general plan did work, and after a week DS was OK - he was a bit slow with the notion of potty training anyway though!

Haven't used any of her other books or guides, and tend to follow my 'instincts' with other aspects of parenting, but had hit a brick wall with how to go about the potty training and so did follow her plan (loosely). There was a bit of good advice in there but can't compare with any other guides to potty training as it was the only one I had used.

Think it largely depends on the child though. My DD (20 months) is already trying to use the toilet herself and so will prob not need to follow this type of 'plan'with her.

Very doable, worked with both my DC BUT they were ready for it as the books says. Only book I have ever read of GF

worked for us -dry within a coupleof days-poos came bit later-its a good guide

I am very definitely with seeker on this one. Offered pants/nappies to DS and DD until they chose to wear pants - one accident each and that was it. No fraught mummy, no wet carpets, no extra washing - just happy mummy and very happy children. They both, incidentally, developed much better bladder control than their friends - playschool couldn't understand why they went to the loo so rarely while other, earlier trained, children went several times per session.

Notabanana - I think that if it takes 7-10 days they weren't ready. I REALLY think that it should take 10 minutes!

Hello

I used the book as a guide and it worked for me with dd (at 2.5 years). I certainly didn't follow it religiously. I agree with everyone who says don't rush into it. I'm sure it only worked for us because she was physically ready and able to understand and communicate at the necessary level.

Star charts and chocolate buttons worked like magic.

We had, I think, a day and half of hell and then pretty much total success from then on. Have had one period of regression when she started nursery. Am expecting another as dc2 due in a few days .

dd1 in a day

dd2 cracked it in a day.

dd3 cracked it last summer in less than a week but regressed when dh was in hospital, finally cracked it properly in well under a week earlier this year.

i waited until they were ready to do it.

have NEVER done a star chart or choc buttons for potty training.

My DS1 would have never been "ready" had I left it to him. He had been continent for ages - well over a year - by the time I got sick of nappies and trousers been flooded with an eight hour wee. I'm a patient soul and I waited until nearly three and a half but sometimes a metaphorical kick up the pants is needed.

I wouldn't bother buying a book, though, it'll just make you feel bad if your child doesn't fit the author's plan.

Should add that the pooing came later with DS - just the weeing was 'sorted' within a week. I think that some children do get the hang of it within a day or immediately, but some (like my DS) meed the incentives of charts. I haven't used charts for anything else, just the potty training.

Agree with ThingOne - some children do need a push and will happily sit in nappies for years if not given a bit if training. My DS was in cloth and I thought that feeling wet would help with training but it didn't - if I hadn't introduced him to the potty and encouraged things, he would still be in nappies now I am sure. My DD on the other hand indicates if she has done something in her nappy and wants to be changed. I have a feelling that she will take to it straight away once she is ready. (DS was ready, just lazy I think!).

took me 4 months with DD1

with DD2 she had one accident, which she cleaned up herself. so i reckon i potty trained her in half an hour. or really she potty trained herself.

if they are physically ready, and they WANT to do it, it is a painless process and certainly doable in a week.

if they aren't physically ready then it will take months, like with DD1.

dd1 it was literally within a day, no bribes or whatever, dry day and night
she has never wet the bed and only wet her pants once, at legoland
but she was ready and nearly three.
it can be quick but if you try and do it before they are physically ready you are just making hassle for yourself and loads of washing

Take a look at this Boot camp thread from Cod potty training she has done a few successful boot camps over the years, maybe it can give you a few pointers.

identical to pregnabrain

Thanks for all your helpful comments.

Ds is 2.4 and for several months has been telling me when he needs a poo and wants to go on the potty. Usually won't when it gets down to it though. However he does ask about twice a day (sometimes not at all and sometimes more) to go on the potty and about half the time has a wee. I have been encouraging him when he wants to but haven't pushed him unbless he has mentioned it. Lots of praise when he does one on there.

This sounded to me like he was probably ready - anything else I should look out for?

It worked for dc1. I think the key is to wait until the child is ready though. Then it is easy. It will be a nightmare and you might give up and set back the whole process if you try to PT too soon.