Books About Potty Training

Trip to the Library for Nannies and Au Pairs

Stress-Free Potty Training by Sara Au and Peter L. Stavinoha, Ph.D. explains just like every child has a different personality, the successful method to use to potty train each child will be different.



Dr. Jim Sears shared his potty training tips for working moms on television series, The Doctors. The first thing caregivers need to do is to watch for signs of readiness. Dr. Sears mentions that the child must be physiologically ready to potty train and have the motor skills, cognitive skills, and social skills to potty train. His familiy's potty training method is described in The Baby Book, a very popular book for parents worldwide. To read our article about this method click here.



In No Cry Potty Training Solution, Elizabeth Pantley explains that potty training can be natural, easy, and peaceful. The book tells caregivers and parents how to determine the right time to start potty training, create a simple and effective potty plan, increase the child's self-esteem and independence, motivate a reluctant potty user, and includes complete bathroom safety checklists and childproofing strategies.



The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Toilet Training is similar to many other potty training books explaining that each child is an individual therefore no two children will learn to use the potty in the same way. The book is factual and covers how to make potty training as positive as possible for both you and the child.




Dr. T. Berry Brazelton has a calm and positive approach to child rearing. He is credited for the child-centered potty training method and includes studies of different toilet training methods proving the positive approach is more successful than reprimands or punishments. His book series, The Brazelton Way, explains that the child decides when she is ready to use the potty.



Dr. Benjamin Spock method of potty training is similar to both the Child-Orientated potty training method and Dr. Sears method in potty training in that they all encourage caregivers not to force children to use the toilet.



Click here for our summary of Elimination Communication. The terms elimination communication and natural infant hygiene were coined by Ingrid Bauer and are used interchangeably in her book, Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygeine. The method is a form of infant potty training.

Infant Potty Training is described by author Laurie Boucke in her book Infant Potty Training: A Gentle and Primeval Method Adapted to Modern Living. She reports a surge of interest in gentle, natural methods of potty training used for centuries in Asia and Africa.

In their book Toilet Training in Less Than a Day Azrin and Foxx emphasize the importance of timing. In their book, the authors specify that kids should be 20-months or older, and they should meet several developmental criteria. They use rewards and negative consequences. Click here to see our summary of the method. Television host Dr. Phil uses ideas from this method.

We have discussed how the Azrin and Foxx potty training method is used in Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day by Teri Crane which outlines a three-step program that includes role playing with a doll, practice runs with the child, and a “potty party." Dr. Phil recommends the potty party too.

The Naked and $75 Method is described in Dr. John Rosemond's book Making the Terrible Twos Terrific. He recommends keeping children naked for a few days until they are trained.

Potty Training Bootcamp by Suzanne Riffel combines Dr. Rosemond's naked and $75 approach to toilet training, timer potty training, and one day potty training methods. You can purchase this book by clicking below.



What to Expect the Toddler Years by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff, and Sandee Hathaway has a chapter discussing potty training. They list the Do's and Don'ts of potty training and discuss training pants. This is a very popular book.