QUESTION:

My daughter is now 19 mos old and has been using the big toilet successfully an average of 5 times per week since age 14 mos.

Occassionally she tells me she "has a poopoo coming" and "wants to sit on the toilet" but more often she goes when I put her on the toilet after meals.

Now I really want to make the transition to fully potty trained and I want to use the one day method.

I already bought your CD and book and found them very useful.

My questions are:

1. Should I use the big toilet instead of the little potty since she is used to it?
2. About half the time, when I ask her if she wants to sit on the toilet she says "no." So I’ve been leaving it up to her volition so far. I’m a bit  afraid that she will feel a power struggle with the one day method.

Any advice?

Thank you so much!

Susan

ANSWER:

Hi Susan,

I think that it is great that you want to try the one day method and your questions are very good ones.

You ask about the toilet vs. the potty chair.

Generally speaking, potty chairs is more suitable for the  one day method.

The reasons are:

The one day of training takes place in a large area of the house that has a hard surface, such as the kitchen or a wood floor living room.

This gives you both plenty of "elbow" room for all the activity associated with training day.

Using a small portable potty gives you access to one of these rooms.

Your child will be making lots of practice potty trips to the potty and will learn to undress themselves, sit, dress, and empty the potty.

A small potty chair will allow your child to do all of these exercises without risk of falling off a step stool at the big potty.

 As for your second question concerning a power struggle, you are correct in your assessment of the being a possible area of struggle.

This is why the authors are very adamant that every child MUST pass all sections of the readiness test - (see article At what age should I start potty training? and How do I know if my child is read for potty training?)

The test will allow you to assess your child most accurately. The one day method relies on direct instructions giving by the parent and a cooperative toddler following direction.

If you find that your toddler is unable to cooperate, take some time for a couple of weeks and "create" opportunities for her to cooperate.

Implement your family’s decided upon consequences for undesirable behavior.

After a couple weeks, re-assess with the readiness test.

Also, the best minimum age for most children is about 24 months with 30 months being ideal for the one day method.