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687 reviews for:
Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right
Jamie Glowacki
3.74 AVERAGE
687 reviews for:
Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right
Jamie Glowacki
3.74 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Review for the 2024 version of the book. This method worked for my little one. It divides potty training into blocks so don't get hung up on days. It's easy to skim/read and reference what you need. The author modernized it from the old edition so please get the updated edition. Joining the online community (a Facebook group) for real-time anecdotes helped a lot too
informative
fast-paced
informative
TL;DR: This book is stressful to read, it places a ton of blame on the parent if the method doesn’t work, and it is FULL of tangents that will keep a reader confused. The method itself *may* work for some children, but it also may be very upsetting. Read and use with CAUTION.
Full review:
Omg where do I start??
First, whoever edited this book needs to sort themselves out. A potty training book does not require various paragraphs on how the social climate may be affecting our children so that they want more routine rather than parties, among other things. Umm, what?? I slogged through this one, barely made it to the actual method. It is not a fun, interesting, or straightforward read. It’s honestly difficult to even keep yourself on track with the section you’re reading. I had constant “What chapter is this?” problems.
Second, the “preparation.” Did you ever read those blogs when your babies were babies, and they told you how to make your child nap, and the tone was all “if this doesn’t work for you, then YOU are the problem”? I read a few, and they really did a number on my mental health. I was stressed right out from all that stuff. “Baby lead weaning or all these horrible things will happen!!” Except that it’s not true, and we can all just do what works?
Yeah, this book is absolutely one of those. You have to be perfect, you have to do it right, and if you don’t, “terrible things will happen.” This book is weaponized anxiety. It’s stress as a bludgeoning tool. The beatings continued through the whole thing.
Third, the method. So, basically, you spend an entire week focusing REALLY HARD on your child. Especially the first couple of days. No phone, no work, no phone calls, NOTHING ELSE. And when they pee freely, you rush them to the potty. But, don’t be anxious about it. Be casual. Just fast. Can you do that?
There’s no discussion on when you have to, I dunno, cook food? Clean your house? Maybe take the dogs for a walk or something? You’re just supposed to forget all of that, apparently.
The worst part is the absolute fear-mongering, though. Children referenced in the book, and their problems, are such extreme examples. Instead of reassuring that we can be calm and collected, it feels very much like “If you don’t get this you’ll have a teenager in diapers!” It’s repeated so many times that “only this method works.” Are you sure??
Beyond all of that, this book feels quite sexist. I realize that maybe the author has seen a lot of “checked out” dads and stuff… but that honestly is no excuse. There’s like half a page of “I’m sorry but it’s just happening,” and we’re expected to simply accept that this book will speak disparagingly about dads, and assume it is moms who are reading. Even being a mom who was reading it, that grated on me. What if we didn’t “I’m sorry blah blah,” and instead fixed the issue within the rest of the book?
And that, I think, is the main issue. It’s very specific to the author’s perspective. The author is coming from the direction of “all of these other methods did not work for the children I have seen.” But, guess what? There are hundreds of thousands of children the author has NOT seen! And they’re doing fine.
Read, and use, at your own risk.
Full review:
Omg where do I start??
First, whoever edited this book needs to sort themselves out. A potty training book does not require various paragraphs on how the social climate may be affecting our children so that they want more routine rather than parties, among other things. Umm, what?? I slogged through this one, barely made it to the actual method. It is not a fun, interesting, or straightforward read. It’s honestly difficult to even keep yourself on track with the section you’re reading. I had constant “What chapter is this?” problems.
Second, the “preparation.” Did you ever read those blogs when your babies were babies, and they told you how to make your child nap, and the tone was all “if this doesn’t work for you, then YOU are the problem”? I read a few, and they really did a number on my mental health. I was stressed right out from all that stuff. “Baby lead weaning or all these horrible things will happen!!” Except that it’s not true, and we can all just do what works?
Yeah, this book is absolutely one of those. You have to be perfect, you have to do it right, and if you don’t, “terrible things will happen.” This book is weaponized anxiety. It’s stress as a bludgeoning tool. The beatings continued through the whole thing.
Third, the method. So, basically, you spend an entire week focusing REALLY HARD on your child. Especially the first couple of days. No phone, no work, no phone calls, NOTHING ELSE. And when they pee freely, you rush them to the potty. But, don’t be anxious about it. Be casual. Just fast. Can you do that?
There’s no discussion on when you have to, I dunno, cook food? Clean your house? Maybe take the dogs for a walk or something? You’re just supposed to forget all of that, apparently.
The worst part is the absolute fear-mongering, though. Children referenced in the book, and their problems, are such extreme examples. Instead of reassuring that we can be calm and collected, it feels very much like “If you don’t get this you’ll have a teenager in diapers!” It’s repeated so many times that “only this method works.” Are you sure??
Beyond all of that, this book feels quite sexist. I realize that maybe the author has seen a lot of “checked out” dads and stuff… but that honestly is no excuse. There’s like half a page of “I’m sorry but it’s just happening,” and we’re expected to simply accept that this book will speak disparagingly about dads, and assume it is moms who are reading. Even being a mom who was reading it, that grated on me. What if we didn’t “I’m sorry blah blah,” and instead fixed the issue within the rest of the book?
And that, I think, is the main issue. It’s very specific to the author’s perspective. The author is coming from the direction of “all of these other methods did not work for the children I have seen.” But, guess what? There are hundreds of thousands of children the author has NOT seen! And they’re doing fine.
Read, and use, at your own risk.
Followed this method and it worked for my nearly 3 year old!
I read this book before starting to potty train my 1.5 year old son. While I haven't started the process yet, I will definitely go with the plan the author lays out in this book. However, I could have just used a quick reference guide on the steps instead of reading her judgmental book. Basically if you have tried any other method of potty training before this one, you are WRONG! Her writing is so scattered and annoying that it takes away from the actual reason we are reading this book....to learn how to potty train! Read this book for the process, but skip over all of the extra judgy, fluff.
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.
I'm never nannying again but if I did I would require them to read this before agreeing to start potty training. My life would be so much easier if parents did more research.
And based on how many people think "this is the most effective strategy" means "you're a shit parent" in GR reviews, I'm quadrupling that statement.
And based on how many people think "this is the most effective strategy" means "you're a shit parent" in GR reviews, I'm quadrupling that statement.
medium-paced