There has been a lot of publicity around Dr Phil's guide to potty training. It is one of many options available to you. In order for you to decide whether it is right for your child, here is a step by step guide to Dr. Phil’s method.

Step 1: Teach a doll that wets
Dr Phil's approach is based on demonstrating to your child what is involved in potty training and he recommends that you do this by letting your child watch you train an anotomically correct doll how to go potty. You can let your child name the doll and give it something to drink as a way to get started. Then walk the doll to the potty chair with your child. Pull the doll's big kid underwear down and watch the doll go potty.

Step 2: Throw a party for the doll
When the doll successfully goes to the bathroom, you and your child can celebrate by having a potty party! Make it a real occasion with party hats, cake etc and really try to celebrate. Make sure that you give lots of attention to the doll so that your child understands that going potty is a good thing and gets excited about doing it.

Now you can explain to your child that when he goes potty, he will have a potty party too.

Step 3: Throw out all diapers
Just like with your doll, your child needs to begin wearing underwear. Instead of getting into a discussion about whether your child should wear diapers or underwear, it is better to take away the diaper option by removing all of them from view and preferably from the house. This move is also for you because it may be tempting to use them whenever you are frustrated by your child’s progress which may undermine the process.

Step 4: Drink lots of fluids
Make sure you give your child plenty of fluids to drink which will naturally bring about the urge for your child to go. The sooner he has to go potty, the sooner you can begin potty training.

Step 5: Take trips to the potty when the child has an accident
In the beginning you will need to ask your child if he needs to go potty. Your child might tell you that he doesn’t and that's OK. Because you've given your child plenty of fluids, you know that he will soon need to go so just wait it out. If your child has an accident in his underpants, don't snap or yell or say you knew they needed to go. You want this to be a positive experience for your child so instead, take your child to the potty, pull down their underwear, and have your child sit on the potty. Do this 10 times in a row. This builds muscle memory and your child will eventually go on his own.

Step 6: Don’t forget to celebrate!
When your child successfully goes potty without your help, don’t forget to throw him a potty party. You can also enlist a friend or family member to play your child's favorite superhero and let your child call the superhero to report the good news.

If your child has an accident, all you have to do is simply take him/her to the bathroom ten times in a row like you did before. This will help to continue to build muscle memory.

Remember to keep up the positive reinforcement.