https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:09:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285349 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 07:43:31 +0000 Cherrybee 2285349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We decided to shelve potty training again after a particularly traumatic incident..... She was running about bare-bottomed but was too distracted to sit on the potty when it was clear she needed to go. I tried to encourage her and she ran off..... and promptly started weeing everywhere. There were gallons of it, running across the floor in rivers! I tried to grab her to get her on the potty and she slipped spectacularly on the wee and fell face first into the puddle. I panicked, DH panicked and, without intending to, we managed to make a HUGE drama out of the accident. Poor E was traumatized by our overreaction and we concluded that we (DH and I) were not ready yet! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285311 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 06:10:48 +0000 Bluebonnet 2285311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>OCPT worked for us. </p> <p>I'd agree with @wonderstruck: he may be feeling too much pressure. </p> <p>Is it a power struggle? If so, read those chapters. We had a bit of a power struggle and got through it(but I don't remember exactly what we did that turned the powers ruffle around). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285282 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 01:49:29 +0000 littleblessings 2285282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had tried this method before and it absolutely was the most traumatizing thing in the world. S got to the point where instead of sitting on the potty she would collapse next to it and potty on the floor. I promptly shelved potty training. We are back to potty training but because she asked to. She asked to wear her underwear. It was a control thing. Now that she has control of her potty training experience it is going much smoother minus the poop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285255 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 23:11:37 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2285255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not familiar with the method but my daughter put up a fight as well. She held it til she was going to burst. We did calm down a little about it and used pull ups for going out, and she just got it herself (with the sticker chart motivation) in a couple weeks. In our case I feel like we waited too long to start (2y9m) but every kid is different.. We waited due to other transitions going on in our/her life..but just wanted to say it did work out. He will get it at some point. Sending you hugs, it's hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285249 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 22:50:40 +0000 ALV91711 2285249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't follow a method but tried about a month ago. It was a huge fail. He was excited by underwear and sitting on the potty at first. But he wouldn't pee on it. He definitely had to pee and held it in. He kept running to the potty and getting so frustrated. So by nap time we quit. He just wasn't ready. </p> <p>Now he has peed a few times on the potty and gets excited. He sits on the potty at daycare but is not just quite ready for full out potty training. </p> <p>I think if it isn't working give it a break and try again. They won't be in diapers forever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285243 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 22:26:16 +0000 Mrs. Twine 2285243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't have a method; @Rockies11: posted pretty much identically what we have done. She was super close to underwear around 24 months, and then just decided she didn't care. So we did diapers again. I think most of it might well be laziness on my part, but I just figured that she would get there eventually, and as long as I supported her and made the tools available (we had small potties and potty "lids," as well as books, etc.) she would get there. She's 3.5 now and doing really well with underwear. One day she just decided she wanted to not have the diaper on and she used the potty all day with no accidents. She's had a handful of accidents since then (all pee, so I'm happy!), but is still enjoying being a "big kid." Because I'm lazy we never bothered with rewards or stickers. I emphasized that it feels nice to be clean and dry, and would definitely tell her I was proud of her, but tried to keep things very low-key. I think waiting a bit and trying again sounds like a plan. And nothing wrong with rewards if you want to use them and your child responds well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285198 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:43:31 +0000 hummusgirl 2285198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry you're going through this...sounds traumatizing for everyone involved! We did the Oh Crap method and it worked like a charm, but LO was 34 months. I think you're doing the right thing by stopping and trying again later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285163 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:47:16 +0000 travellingbee 2285163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It worked great for is but it was clearly because he was totally ready. He was fully trained in 3 days. I think their success with potty training depends 95% on their readiness and 5% on method. If he isn't ready, don't torture both of you. Stop and try again in a few months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285141 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:21:29 +0000 catomd00 2285141@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like he isn't ready. 27 mo is still quite young. I'd stop for the time being. Physically forcing him to sit if he's hysterical doesn't sound good for anyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285128 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:09:36 +0000 lemondrop 2285128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I didn't read the actual book, but I researched the crap out of the method. By the end of the second day, we quit. I could not face another day of it. It upset all of us and just wasn't working. We went slowly over about 3 months and he's a rockstar now! He wasn't ready until 3.5 though (he's a January '12 model). The first time failure didn't hurt him, it made him a bit less scared when we tried again, despite the absolute terror he initially had. </p> <p>We tried several things- pee outside on a tree (MAJOR FAIL), small potty (FAIL), finally the adult potty with the flip down childseat worked best for us (and my SIL as well). We started with sitting and after a few weeks he went to standing, and pooping. At each major step, we did a short potty chart (5), a long one (15) and then we moved to the next thing upon receiving the big reward. Sometimes we took a week off, like our Yellowstone vaca. After our fail, we bought The Potty Book, Dino vs. Potty, and Even Firefighters Go Potty. All big hits! </p> <p>Most of our first steps of success were purely accidental (ahahahahahaha) dumb luck timing. Mainly the tool I lacked was patience. Working from home, I just could not fathom how time consuming it would he and how I would have to be constantly ON. I tried stickers, they didn't help until pooping consistently. Dum dum pops worked for us, since he's very candy motivated. Later I needed him to spend more time on the potty for poop, so we upgraded to Tootsie Pops. Then stickers for a weekly toy reward for consistent poops, and I wrote down the whole routine from pants down to washing hands, etc. </p> <p>Now he's obsessed with trying every potty he sees. But freaked out by hand dryers... it's always something! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285127 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:09:32 +0000 MoonMoon 2285127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: @knittylady: June'13 high fives :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285124 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 19:07:59 +0000 knittylady 2285124@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: @Ra: Yeah, we're also June '13 and aren't doing anything official yet. The potty is out in the playroom and sometimes mid diaper change he'll get up and use it. I'm a little to intimidated to go beyond that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285108 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:47:11 +0000 Ra 2285108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: Yes! June '13. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285069 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:14:09 +0000 MoonMoon 2285069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: is your LO also a summer '13 baby? Mine is, and he's nowhere near ready to potty train, just not interested. I think your idea to shelve it for a bit is a great one, because I think this process can get antagonistic really quickly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285058 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:59:11 +0000 lawbee11 2285058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: We aren't using that method but I agree with others about trying again in a month or so. We've been potty training this weekend and LO is generally comfortable on the potty but any time she expresses any sort of discomfort or says she wants to get down we immediately say ok and leave the bathroom. We've been doing M&amp;Ms as rewards but we started a sticker chart after nap today and that has helped a ton! I really can't imagine her succeeding without rewards (but I know this is child-dependent). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285055 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:55:31 +0000 blackbird 2285055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: @Applesandbananas: I think lots of kids just need some tangible motivation! We used the short YouTube toy collector videos. She stopped expecting them after using the toilet after a couple weeks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285051 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:51:18 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2285051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rewards were a big help in our house. We bought L a set of seven magic clip dolls. She would look at them in the box while sitting on the potty and was clearly motivated in earning them. We actually did small rewards for every thing along with a sticker chart... and then a bigger reward for ten pees or poops.<br /> She's motivated by stuff more than praise.<br /> It's OK to drop it and pick it up again later. I really think that made the difference for L. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285043 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:40:27 +0000 Applesandbananas 2285043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: what kind of rewards did you use? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285038 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:28:16 +0000 Ra 2285038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I bought a sticker chart that has rows and bought cheap little stuffed animals as rewards for when he finishes each row. He responds well to rewards so no matter when we try again we will use rewards. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285036 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:26:36 +0000 blackbird 2285036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: the book discouraged rewards but they were clutch for us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285035 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:26:11 +0000 Ra 2285035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Yeah. We are going to curb it for a while. You're right, just because this book works for most doesn't mean it's right for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285030 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:12:18 +0000 hilsy85 2285030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: we used a different method, like I said, but rewards were huge for us. We didn't use food, we used small toys from a grab bag. He needed that for motivation. I don't think any method is one siZe fits all so don't worry about doing it in a different way if that works better! My LO never ever was (nor is he now) good about me forcing him to go. It led to some major tantrums and just was not worth it, and it didn't feel right. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285028 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 17:02:33 +0000 petunia354 2285028@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: Owen was like that too, we gave up day 2 and tried again over 2 months later and it made a world of difference! He wouldn't take any reward the first round but he's been all about it the second round. He isn't 100% trained but it's definitely been more productive and lessential traumatizing for all! I'm a big believer that they will do it when they are ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285022 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:55:41 +0000 Mamasig 2285022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS1 does the same thing. He is very resistant to the potty. Physically, I think he can do it. Mentally, he's just not there. He also freaks out if I force him. So we don't. It feels traumatizing. At this point, he's finally trying the potty at school but not at home consistently. So we're just waiting and going on his timeline. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285021 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:49:37 +0000 Ra 2285021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wonderstruck: He's been like this since the beginning. I haven't been promoting him at all. If he pees, I just *try* to sit him on the potty. And then all hell breaks loose.</p> <p>I know they discourage rewards but I needed to do *something* to make it a positive experience as he is trembling and sobbing in my arms each time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285018 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:41:50 +0000 wonderstruck 2285018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We were having a similar problem and I actually talked to one of the experts with the Oh Crap! method about it just earlier this week. A couple things I think they would say about this:</p> <p>1. He's likely feeling too much pressure. This can be caused by over-prompting, too much praise when they do go (sounds weird but it was totally true for my son), or just in general you guys being pretty stressed about the whole thing.</p> <p>2. The sticker chart is something they would actually discourage. But some kids do need some tweaking of the plan. Like with my son, if I see he's doing a potty dance but he screams when I prompt, even if it's just a throwaway prompt, I say, "Hey! Let's be silly and go eat some fruit snacks in the bathroom!" and he'll happily sit on the potty giggling the whole time.</p> <p>Once we got to the point where he was screaming over the potty (happened on day 2 or 3) we had to majorly back off. How that would look really depends though - has it been like this since the beginning, or gotten worse over time? Does he seem to want some privacy or independence about it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285017 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:32:43 +0000 BandDmommy 2285017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: I'd stop. We did potty boot camp and it worked great. I'd give him a few months and try again. No need to traumatize the sweet boy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285016 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:30:16 +0000 Rockies11 2285016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have read the method and decided against it, for a number of reasons based on my LO's personality and my parenting style. My LO would freak the hell out if I tried to make her sit on the potty. Also, she freaks the hell out if she pees on the floor - hysterical sobs. So I just can't imagine this being successful for us. </p> <p>I try in general to never put us in a situation where we could get into a power struggle, and doubly so where the power struggle is over my LO's body. We have been doing this method instead, which is light and fun and cooperative: <a href="http://www.ahaparenting.com/Ages-stages/toddlers/easy-toilet-potty-training" rel="nofollow">http://www.ahaparenting.com/Ages-stages/toddlers/easy-toilet-potty-training</a>. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285015 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:27:50 +0000 Ra 2285015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Applesandbananas: We bought him an Elmo potty book, too. He has several potty books and he loves them. My husband and I are both open door poopers (TMI, sorry) so he's very used to seeing us use the potty. He knows pee and poop go in the potty. He talks about us using the potty and how the dogs potty outside. We try super hard to normalize it. He just fights it!</p> <p>We had a similar issue with feeding. He was really late feeding himself, 12 months-ish. Our pediatrician was convinced something was wrong with him and made us go to OT, early intervention, a neurologist, everything. Then, one day, he just started feeding himself like it was no big deal. So part of me feels like he will do it when he's ready. But then the author makes me feel like a naive idiot for thinking that way. So now I'm confused and upset and a mess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-the-oh-crap-method-not-work-for-anyone#post-2285009 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 16:17:16 +0000 Applesandbananas 2285009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: does he like any characters? We got an Elmo potty book and that's been helpful. Have you talked to him about the potty and let him watch you guys? </p>