What do you think of Dr Phil's potty-training method?

[AmyMCGS]

On his primetime show the other night, Dr Phil did a segment on his potty-training method.  He claims he can potty-train any child in one day using his method.  Basically, he gets a doll that will go potty, and he has the child teach the doll how to use the potty.  When the doll squirts water into the potty chair, the parents and everyone went crazy-- party blowers, clapping, the whole works.  Supposedly that reinforcement over the course of a day will convince a child to start using the potty him/herself.

I actually got into a conversation about this tonight at Target with a complete stranger.  DD and I were admiring the pretty baby dolls in a toy aisle when another lady and her three kids came down the aisle.  She was desperately searching for a doll that would use the potty because she'd heard about Dr Phil's method and has tried everything else with her youngest, a three year old boy.  She was going to all the discount stores in our city tonight trying to find a doll to use so she could try it.

DD isn't quite old enough to potty train yet, so I have no experience in this area.   I can see the idea behind it, though, with modeling the behavior and positive reinforcement and all. 

Does this seem like a logical method to you?  or just a waste of time?

[Kimmomo3]

It seems like it should work but it did not for my youngest now 4 and potty trained but not with the Dr. Phil method. She liked it the first time but then just went potty on the floor many times I used his method all day and nothing clicked with her.

[Michelle]

I think every child and situation is different, but I will say that I tried doing something very similar with both of my kids to no avail. Seems too simplistic to me--almost like something that you need to do right when the child would have done it on his own (after many trials and accidents, etc). JMO.

[homesteadmamma]

I dunno, I'm with Michelle in that I think every child is different.

Dd was trained the very first time I put her on the potty. We've never had an accident since, day or night. Obviously she was ready. Ds#1 took a whole lot longer and was quite a bit later when he was trained.

I'm a firm believe in not pushing kids when they aren't ready. When they are ready, it will take a very short time to potty train them. Otherwise, IMO your only going to have a power struggle!!!

[Sara Noel]

I didn't use a peeing doll, but did use a doll and a stuffed animal with the same concept for Zachary.
It was a no go. <--- How funny.

Basically, all it did was make him always want the doll on the potty. It didn't encourage him at all.

He was ready when he was ready. We praised like mad the first time he went in the potty and took him on a special trip to TRU for a surprise. We then used a potty chart and stickers afterward for extra support.

[Missy]

i used a sticker chart as a reward and erick got it. He's never had a mistake since. hannah is not wanting to even try it except during make believe and isn't interested in actually doing anyhitng on the potty...someday soon she will, but not right now. And that's ok, it'll come.

[PrairieRose]

I think in theory it sounds great....but I wonder....how many kids did Dr. Phil potty train himself? I have a feeling the little Mrs. did most of that.