Book Review: Oh Crap! Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki

Jamie Glowacki—potty-training expert, Pied Piper of Poop, and author of the popular guide, OH CRAP! POTTY TRAINING: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right (Touchstone Trade Paperback Original; June 16, 2015; $15.99)—shares her proven 6-step plan to help you toilet train your child quickly and successfully. Watch videos of Jamie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzHFciPMVRc 

Summer – June, July and August – is Potty Training Season as parents prepare kids for pre-school! If you have a toddler, know a toddler, work with toddlers this is the book their parents (caregivers) need for potty training. OH CRAP! POTTY TRAINING is the first and last stop on your potty training journey. It provides real-world, from-the-trenches potty training information—all the questions and all the ANSWERS you need to do it once and be done with diapers for good.  

Tens of thousands of parents have already successfully followed the Oh Crap! method through Jamie’s blog, podcast, and successful self-published book. Now, she brings her expertise to an even wider audience with the book, OH CRAP! POTTY TRAINING which includes a Cheat Sheet giving an easy-to-reference overview of the program, FAQ section and inclusion of the “Dad’s Cheat Sheet” to help understand the basics of the process at a glance. 

Purchase  OH CRAP! POTTY TRAINING on Amazon.
Visit Jamie and OH CRAP! POTTY TRAINING at http://www.jamieglowacki.com/  and on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

Our Thoughts
I seriously can't believe I potty trained my kid in ONE week.  I mean, really.  Blown. Away.

Let me back up a bit.  Our son is 6 with DS/ASD and both speech & motor apraxias.  He's a great kid, but having his brand of motor apraxia means learning purposeful imitated movements is very difficult for him. This means sign language is extraordinarily difficult for him.  He is completely non verbal as well, and we are working with a speech device. He also has a delayed response to some (but not all) external physical stimuli.  I know he's a smart kid - I've seen how quick he can learn!, but he wasn't showing much signs of being ready to be out of diapers.  He would occasionally tell me his diaper was dirty, but it wasn't consistent by any means, and he seemed quite content to spend an entire day in a wet diaper if only I would let him!

The second chapter of OH CRAP! POTTY TRAINING is about the right time (age) frame for potty training your child - between 20 - 30 months old. And let me tell you, Jamie wants to beat you over the head with this information (and says so!).  She also says her biggest fight is with the thought "we're waiting until he's ready" and that trying to potty train a child over 30 months is infinitely harder.  She does address developmental delays near the end of the book - and also says you know your child best. 

Did I mention my son is 6??? 

Now, keep in mind we are working with developmental & physical delays.  At age 6, he still doesn't have a pincer grasp, nor can he wave "bye" or a myriad of other things, let alone dress/undress himself.  He is smart, just not very physically capable yet and has a very difficult time expressing his needs in a way others can understand.  So, what I was looking for with my son was the right "developmental" age, not the physical age.  A lot of things have changed for the better for him regarding his development in the last year, and I felt this was THE TIME to do it.  Plus, I had a good motivator: he was starting summer school soon, with full-day kindergarten a month after that.  That's A LOT of diapers and he already has enough gear to haul to and from school.  (We cloth diaper, which has saved us thousands of dollars - not even kidding, I did a full cost analysis! but they are bulkier than disposables and take up much more room.  Especially 6 yr old sized cloth diapers!)

I made up my mind, we were going to give this a good honest try and I started the day before Jamie's book arrived.  That first day, I lasted all of 3 hours before going back to diapers.  I mainly observed him and what I saw was that he dribbled constantly; it was like there was no shut off valve!  I've observed this kid during a bath, seemingly completely and utterly oblivious to the fact he was peeing; he never even so much as looked down at it.   I spent the next hour or so after putting him back in diapers making phone calls and leaving messages.  (Friends recommended having a lumbar adjustment done - and on Day 3, we had our appointment.  I also explained to him that the diapers were only temporary until we could figure out this dribbling thing.  He seemed to take it well.)

Day 2 went a little better, and Day 3, although I hated to do it, and Jamie definitely doesn't recommend it, he went back in diapers since we were going to be out of the house for a solid 8 hours, and in the vehicle a good majority of that.  But when we got back home, we went back to Naked.  And he was fine with it.

I love how Jamie breaks down the steps into Clueless, I Peed, I'm Peeing, and I Have To Pee.  Even at age 6, I wasn't sure if we were starting with Clueless or I Peed.  On Day 2, he had a couple of what I call "awareness moments" and we CLEARLY moved into I'm Peeing. 

By Day 6, I was guilty of what Jamie calls "Over Prompting" and we had defiance!!!  Oh boy!!  But, my "village" is AWESOME.  Relatives sent Kaiden a short little cell phone video telling him that he's supposed to use the toilet and to not be stubborn.   And he LOVED it!  It put him right back on track.

By the end of Day 6, he was initiating bathroom visits himself - still requiring clothing and aim help, but doing it! 

This morning we still had a few little mini-accidents here and there for not quite making it to the toilet on time, but we are SO well on our way and I could not be prouder of this kid!!  I absolutely believe that as today ends Day 8, if he didn't need the physical assistance because of his motor skills, he would be 100% able to do this on his own with no looking back.

There is a TON of great info in this book.  Jamie really lays it out for you, the good, the bad, the ugly and how to get back on track.  The tips and tricks outlined in OH CRAP! POTTY TRAINING are incredibly useful - read the book, then read it again and again!

 

Potty Party #Giveaway

We're celebrating National Potty Training Awareness Month in June with a fun Potty Party Caption This Contest co-hosted by pee-kaboo potty, BabyBjörn, Rockin' Green, and PeapodMats! What better way to help out parents through the potty training experience? We have some amazing prizes for you to check out and you can enter the contest by submitting your caption to the photo down below!

• ONE LUCKY WINNER will receive all the prizes!
• Open to U.S. residents only, ages 18 years or older.
• Everyone who enters the giveaway will receive something special after the giveaway as a thank you.
• The giveaway will run through June 30th, 11:59 PM, EDT.
• Entering is easy and can be done below via the Rafflecopter BELOW.

Below the entry widget are all the prizes! Check them out! We also encourage you to check out our sponsors who have amazing blogs you should follow.

Contest Photo:

Submit your creative caption for this photo in the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win big!

REMEMBER….the more points you earn the better chance you have to win!

Please share with friends and family and good luck!

Scroll below the entry form to get more info on our wonderful sponsors and prizes!

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Prizes:

So what are the AMAZING prizes? (Giveaway Open to U.S. residents only): pee-kaboo Reusable Potty Training Sticker The pee-kaboo reusable potty training sticker is a unique and fun way to potty train your child and helps overcome the ultimate potty training obstacle-actually getting your child to want to use the potty again and again. Simply place your sticker in the base of a flat-bottomed portable potty seat and watch what happens. Each time your child successfully uses the potty, “peekaboo!”?, a charming image magically appears. Your child is instantly rewarded for their efforts and is excited to use the potty again! www.peekaboopottysticker.com Baby Bjorn Smart Potty   With its ergonomic design and soft lines, the BabyBjörn Smart Potty creates a comfortable seat for your potty-training little ones. Its small size makes it ideal for families with bathroom space restraints or even for emergencies in the car. And if you're traveling out of town, the Smart Potty is only one pound, so it's lightweight enough to stash into a bag or suitcase and take along. http://www.babybjorn.com Rockin’ Green Rockin’ Green is made for families that care about taking care of themselves and the Earth. We can all do our part for the environment while doing something good for ourselves. Rockin’ Green products are made with a biodegradable plant-based and petroleum-free surfactant. They are septic and grey-water safe. They are never tested on animals. Winner receives a $50 gift card! www.rockingreensoap.com PeapodMats PeapodMats are simply amazing and versatile waterproof mats that are unlike any conventional waterproof mat or cover on the market today! PeapodMats are designed to protect the bed from all sorts of fluids. The big difference? PeapodMats lie flat ON TOP of sheets with a grippy material underneath (WITHOUT flaps, wings, straps or velcro) which means NO more tucking, bunching, or moving. PeapodMats are comfortable and soft to sleep on with no “plastic crinkle” sound or “cold vinyl” feel. PeapodMats are focused on the toddler and schooler age group as they progress through potty training and bedwetting. http://peapodmats.com

Sponsors:

Money Saving ideas, fun challenges, coupons, giveaways, product reviews, freebies and all things frugal www.momsavesmoney.net My blog covers the topics of education, parenting, product reviews, and giveaways! www.textbookmommy.com I am a mom blogger that blogs about all things kids, babies, fashion, going green and so much more. I love letting people know about what works for me in hopes that they love it as much as I do. www.mummyknowsreviews.com I am a lifestyle/mom blogger who blogs about how to save tim and money while having fun with your family. www.arizonafamilies.blogspot.com CTM is focused on delivering positive parenting advice, focusing on great reviews and giveaways and also providing recipes, fun crafts and more! www.iamcapturingthemoment.com Hi there!! I am Stacy aka Dnbuster! I am a proud mom from Texas!! I am an Ambassador for many products. I like to write up reviews for awesome products on my blog and social media sites! http://www.dnbustersplace.com New Age Mama is a blog dedicated to finding you the best products on the market for your home and family. We search the internet so you don't have to. Find reviews, giveaways, freebies and more! http://newagemama.blogspot.com I am a busy lady who takes on too many projects while trying to manage the chaos I call my life. I blog about my life as a mom, wife, business owner, homeschool mom, obsessive organizer,etiquette guru, fitness newbie, paranormal investigator, bigfoot researcher, podcaster, and any other title I decide to give myself. http://thepalmettoqueen.blogspot.com Recipes, reviews, and resources for growing and blended families. http://happyhealthyhip.com/blog I run a family based blog where I have been reviewing products for companies for over 5 years. I review products that families can use, want or need. I always complete my reviews in a timely manner. I love holding giveaways for my readers because it thrills me to see them happy to win. http://mimilovesall8.blogspot.com Ashley is a current nursing student who works the Labor and Delivery floor like she is queen of the playground. She enjoys interacting with the babies while mom rests as well as making sure mom knows the difference between a breast shield and breast pad, a flip and flop. Her short term goals are to grow in her studies, travel the world as a travel nurse, and if God allows – a wife and mother! http://www.ashleysuzanne.com This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. Winner(s) will be contacted by email 48 hours after the giveaway ends. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send an email to Giselle Diaz at giselle@socialmedia22.com. Raha Baby is not liable for any of the products given away. Once the giveaway is over, the brands shown above may send you one email with an exclusive offer as a thank you for entering.

Make Potty Training Fun with the Me-ify Potty Star App!

As moms, watching our kids reach milestones is exciting and thrilling. However, there are a few milestones out there that are just as much a rite of passage for the parents as the child! If you're embarking on the potty training process, it's likely that you're looking for tools and tips to make the process just a little bit easier. We recently discovered a new potty training app that's doing just that and we can't wait to share it with you!

Me-ify Potty Star is the all-inclusive potty training tool for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch! This comprehensive app features a personalized eBook starring your child, 5 interactive potty games, 5 original potty songs, a reusable star rewards chart and helpful potty training tips. Developed with parenting expert Julie A. Ross and created by the producers of PBS KIDS preschool television hits, Super Why! and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, this app offers a rich and engaging learning experience that is based on developmentally appropriate potty training techniques.

My Thoughts

I have two children in various stages of potty training and it's definitely a tough time. My daughter just turned four and she still refuses to poop on the potty. My son is two and I can't even get him to sit on it for more than a second. I found the Me-Ify Potty Star App to be a great tool to encourage both my children to use the potty. The fun games, personalized story, and catchy songs had my kids thinking about potty time in a whole new way.

Getting started wit the Potty Star App is simple. You can download it on iTunes for only $1.99. When you first set it up, it allows you to personalize it to your child. You can add their name, age, and even customize the words you use when they're going potty (wee wee, poop, private parts, etc). It also allows you to speak their name so you can hear it during the story. Next kids can create their avatar. Choose the sex, hair and eye color, and the design you want on their t-shirt. 

Once you have your character created, there are three different interactive areas. There are several games suitable for pre-school children including puzzles, coloring pages, matching, and target practice. All of the games revolve around using the potty or leaning to use big kid underpants. There are also five different songs you can listen too. They are all included in the storybook, but kids can choose to listen to them on their own as well. The story is really adorable. Using your child's name and personal data you entered, it talks about growing up from a baby to a big kid and all the steps of using the potty. It goes over hand washing, flushing and even gas. My kids thought it was hysterical every time their avatars tooted, but they were even more impressed when they started pooping out choo choo trains. That alone has my son wanting to try to use to the potty now. For parents, there is a section of helpful hints on how to get the most out of the app and a star chart to help track your child's process. 

We've only been using the app for a few days, but already my kids are showing more enthusiasm about the potty. They love the games and they sing the songs while they're trying to go. Any parents who are working on potty training should definitely consider getting this app. It's a great resource for kids at all stages of training and makes the process fun for both parents and kids.

***This is a sponsored post. Opinions expressed are still my own and have not been influenced in anyway.***