In our quest to find parents the very best tips and advice on potty training, ParentDish interviewed several parenting experts and authors, to get their take on the process. Beth Feldman, co-author of Peeing in Peace and founder of RoleMommy.com, shares her answers to our burning questions.

ParentDish: As the parent who has been outspoken about many parenting issues and milestones, what potty training advice do you have to share with other parents?

Beth Feldman: My biggest piece of advice to parents who are struggling with a toddler who refuses to ditch their diapers is to take a step back and realize that as stressful as it may seem, by the time they hit college, potty training will have become the least of your worries. Seriously though, do not put pressure on your child to pee or poop in the potty. What you can do is reveal to them that if they can't do it, they're going to miss out on fun things with their friends like camp and school. In order to be a big boy or a big girl, they've got to leave the diapers behind...literally.

ParentDish: What are the main tips or strategies you would share with other parents?

Beth Feldman: Here are some of my tried and true tips:

• Don't rush your child. If you don't have a deadline from summer camp or pre-school then what's the hurry? Your child will give you signs that they're ready for the potty. Like when they start ripping off the straps on their diaper or climbing out of their Pull Ups and walking around the house butt naked.
• Invest in rubber sheets. If you're ready to throw caution to the wind and let your little one sleep in their bed in their undies, then get ready for a few weeks worth of smelly bed-wetting. It's not pretty but that's why you'll need those rubber sheets underneath your regular sheets -- they work wonders while protecting your mattress.
• As much as it drives you nuts, when you're out with your kids in a restaurant and they want to go to the bathroom, take them there as many times as you want. Unfortunately, even though my kids are fully potty trained, we still spend plenty of time in restaurant bathrooms – I'm starting to think I can actually create a Zagat's guide to public toilets.
• When you're ready to dive in and have your child give up their diaper habit, take them underwear or panty shopping. Nothing beats Monday-Friday Disney Princesses or Superheros for those Spider-Man fanatics.
• Once they are able to make it five days in a row without an accident, surprise them with their favorite treat, a small toy or a piggy bank and quarters.
  

ParentDish: Are there any funny anecdotes or horror stories you can share?

Beth Feldman: Biggest setback -- automatic toilets. Just when my daughter had gotten the hang of peeing in the toilet, we went to Disney World and the remote-controlled toilets flushed so loudly that it scared her from peeing on the potty for several days.

This was my favorite essay I've written about our visits to public bathrooms -- this is the down side of potty training -- once your kid becomes addicted to restaurant bathrooms, you'll be pining for the good old days of pull-ups and diapers.

ParentDish: Are there any products you found helpful or indispensable when you were potty training your kids?

Beth Feldman:

• Since we were always on the run, we had this great toilet seat cover from One Step Ahead that folded up and fit in our diaper bag. That way, whenever we'd go to a public toilet, we'd be able to slip the seat right on top and my kids' tiny tushies never touched the millions of germs lurking on the seat below.
• I highly recommend Piddlers Toilet Targets for boys. It was a great way for my son to practice his aim.
• I loved the Once Upon a Potty books since you could select a book for boys or girls. It's always great when you can personalize the experience for your child.
  

ParentDish: Is there a specific method or training video you used when potty training? If so, would you recommend it to other parents?

Beth Feldman: I'm not really into the technical videos -- I prefer funny videos and this one from the Once Upon A Potty folks fits the bill.

**Be sure to check out more great parenting tips and advice from Beth at RoleMommy.com.

It's no wonder that potty training is a milestone parents worry about. It's a lot of work, and when it doesn't happen right away, the results are...messy. So it's easy to see why a one-day potty training method sounds enticing. From diapers to big kid drawers in one day? Sign me up! But is it really possible to potty train a child in one day? Real parents weigh in and share their stories with us.

Though Dr. Phil made the one-day method famous, it's actually been around for a while. Here's the general idea:

• Set yourself with supplies: A child-sized potty, big kid underwear, salty snacks, lots of liquid, party supplies, and a doll that "wets."
• Clear your schedule. Nearly every parent Potty Training Central talked to warned that it's one long day.
• Keep the potty nearby. Many parents corral kids in the kitchen to make messes easy to clean up, others wait for summer and use the backyard instead.
• Help your toddler "teach" the baby doll how to go potty. There are special dolls for this, though a less expensive version will do.
• Put your tot in big kid underwear, then give them free reign on salty snacks and drinks. The extra salt makes them thirsty, which means they drink more and have more opportunity to practice.
• Wait. Read books, play games, make it fun.
• When you see the signs, tell your kiddo to head to the potty. Make a really big deal. And once they're successful, celebrate with a "potty party."

Wendy Sweeney, a Chicago mom of six, shared her experience as a "Potty Whisperer" with the "Today" show last year. Sweeney's made a career out of toilet training toddlers and special needs children using the one day method. Calling it "Booty Camp," Sweeney holds the hands of anxious parents while their kids negotiate the potty and clean up their own messes. "Never ask if they have to go," Sweeney tells "Today," "If you ask them if they have to go potty, then you are the one who is in charge of their body. We're trying to transfer that responsibility over to them. So we just tell them if you have to go potty, go in the potty." Sweeney charges $250, but has a 98 percent success rate.

Teaching tots to be responsible for their own bodies is key to the one-day method. It's easy, during the potty training stage, to unintentionally find yourself in a power struggle with your little one, but by putting toddlers in charge that problem can be eliminated. Cathy DeValk, Iowa mom of four, has trained three of her four kids using this method and says she'll need to buy a second copy of her favorite book to train her fourth. "Basically you are giving the child a lot of opportunity for success," says DeValk, "And having the child 'help' train a baby doll how to go pee/poop in the potty. The child takes responsibility for cleaning up messes, and for cleaning up the used potty chair." DeValk says all three of her kids were trained in less than a day and were dry at night too.

California mom Kathy Partak saw the Dr. Phil special and decided to give the baby boot camp a try. She loaded up on fun snacks, diluted juice, and bought a doll, too. "(My son Mason) was two-and-a-half years old and we went from diapers to underwear. No pull-ups, no diapers at night (Partak woke her sone once or twice a night for a week), and no diapers at pre-school. His pre-school insisted that they have diapers on hand "just in case," and I put my foot down and said absolutely not." But Partak, whose son is now 5, says that she thinks the one-day method isn't necessarily appropriate for every child. "The child has to be ready and the parents have to be committed."

It's recommended that kids be at least two-and-a-half before even attempting one-day potty training. But even then there's no guarantee. Jennifer Chambers, Oregon mom of two boys, agrees. She tried the one-day method with both of her boys, with little success. "My kids didn't care. They had to be ready," says Chambers, who says both of her boys stopped wearing diapers -- suddenly, and with little fanfare -- at about three years old. And Colorado mom EllynAnne Geisel worries that parents are are too stressed about potty training in general. "Children eventually stop wearing diapers and using the facility. Then they move on to other behaviors for which even more books have been written. We can get so caught up in our attempts to control our children's habits that we forget they are children who will one day group up to be teenagers...another story altogether."

If you've got a toddler who's old enough (2.5 years) and who's showing interest in potty training, then the one-day method might just be for you. Load up on juice and treats and donate the rest of those diapers. But keep in mind that no potty training method is one-size-fits-all, so be ready to change course if necessary. And remember, almost every kid gets it eventually...yours will too.

At Potty Training Central, our mission has been very clear: to get our community the very best tips and advice on potty training. So to help us reach our goal, we turned to our very own ParentDish contributor, Kathy Peel -- also known as America's Family Manager. Kathy is the founder and CEO of Family Manager Coaching, as well as the author of several books, including "The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home: Fast Solutions to Hundreds of Everyday Dilemmas" and "The Family Manager Takes Charge: Getting on the Fast Track to a Happy, Organized Home." Our ParentDish editors interviewed Kathy to get her wisdom on the potty training process.

Kathy Peel: When our first-born son reached the happy-toddler age of twenty months, I launched into senior manager mode, scanning current literature and surveying carpool moms about potty training. I sorted through a growing pile of sources (colored tabs were involved) sprouting tips, methods, and child-rearing philosophies all the way from Dr. Dobson to my most opinionated single girlfriends.

After a couple of weeks, I forced shut my three-ring binder and told my husband that many sources I'd read said that girls mature earlier and are easier to potty train than little boys -- and I was out to prove the experts wrong. I was dead set on potty training John by his second birthday. I shared with Bill two important points parents need to discuss before potty training their child.

First, they need to decide what terms they'll use in the teaching process -- and my research varied wildly. Some experts approach potty training quite seriously, suggesting moms not use terms such as "pee and poop," "go big potty," or "number one and number two." I just couldn't buy their hard-line method because, to me, there's something about hearing a two-year-old say he needs to defecate that doesn't sit quite right.

Bill and I decided to go the initials route: "T-T" and "B.M"-and now that our sons are grown, responsible and well-rounded young men, I know there was no harm down. The only glitch was when our third-born son didn't pronounce consonants clearly for a while. He could pronounce the term "T-T" just fine, but "B.M." came out -- so to speak -- "Mia" (pronounced: me-a). This proved to be confusing to babysitters when James would repeat "Mia! Mia! Mia!" They wondered if this might be his grandmother's nickname or if he'd been watching Italian movies. And one time the term caused unnecessary trauma on a family vacation when we stopped for the night at the Casa Mia motel in west Texas. James feared we were staying in a big bathroom.

The second point that parents must decide is what type of reward system they will use when the desired behavior occurs. When I canvassed preschool moms on the topic, one said she kept candy jars in their bathrooms and another confessed that after weeks of frustration, she offered a trip to the toy store for cooperation. Their methods sounded unhealthy and expensive. But the prize for the strangest strategy goes to the mother who told me that she moved their pet bird into the bathroom to give her son some company while he sat. (Stool pigeon crossed my mind, but I kept silent.)

I tried playing mood music and letting the faucet trickle. I promised John that he could wear special Incredible Hulk underwear for a successful bathroom visit. I even bought the lauded Tinkle Star potty chair which played "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" upon victory. Except for the times we poured in water to test it, we never heard the song. After two frustrating months, I threw up my hands and decided that if John wasn't potty trained even by time he turned three, so be it. As it happened, about six months after his second birthday, he decided that he was tired of diapers and wanted to wear big-boy underwear. He had a few accidents over the couple of months, but all in all, he did a great job of potty training himself.

It was then that I recorded in my notebook a third point that I wanted to remember next time around: Don't make a big deal about potty training or try to push a child before he's ready. This saved me a lot of angst the next two go-'rounds.

**Be sure to check out more from Kathy at FamilyManager.com and read all of Kathy's blog posts here on ParentDish.

You've cleared your calendar, covered the furniture with plastic and canceled your subscription to the diaper-of-the-month club. Your little one has exhibited all the signs of being ready to use the toilet and you are both ready to commit to potty training. But if your child is going to take that first, giant step towards Independence and lose the diapers forever, you need a plan. There are many experts out there who claim to have the best method, but every child is different and only you can determine which will work best. Here's a rundown of some of the most popular methods to consider.

Potty Training in One Day
It's Saturday night and your little one is all set to begin big kid daycare on Monday. Just one problem -- his new caregiver has a strict "no diapers" policy. What's a working parent to do? If time is of the essence and potty training just can't wait, Potty Training in One Day may be the method for you. Going from diapers to underpants in one day may sound too good to be true, but some experts say it works for most children. Initially developed by psychologists researching ways to toilet train special-needs children, this method makes use of a doll who models the behavior you are trying to teach your child. Together, you and your child 'teach' the doll to use the potty and immediately celebrate the success with a big party. When your child emulates what he has just seen, he gets a party, too! And if he doesn't get it the first time, repeat, repeat, repeat. According to experts, this repetition will result in muscle memory and eventual potty success.

The Naked Method
This method is exactly what it sounds like: With no diapers, pull-ups or underpants to stand in the way, your child is allowed to remain au naturel and ready at all times for nature's call. Of course, this method is only suitable for the parent who can avoid leaving the house for a few days and there is an obvious drawback -- when the inevitable accidents happen, the mess is going to end up on the floor, the couch, or possibly your lap. But many children who wouldn't think twice about going in their underpants will be surprised to see what actually happens when there is no barrier and will choose to go in the potty rather than make a mess.

The Frequency Method
This method is labor-intensive and requires a lot of patience, but is less messy than the Naked Method. Taking your child to the bathroom and having her sit on the toilet every thirty minutes will help her get used to the feel of the potty and eventually result in success, whether intentional or accidental. In addition to regularly scheduled trips to the bathroom, watch her closely for signs she needs to go and when you see them, whisk her away to the potty. You may get lucky and catch her in the act.

Positive Reinforcement Method
For a child who thrives on praise and enjoys rewards (and what child doesn't?), the Positive Reinforcement Method can be a winner. By offering special toys to play with only when he's on the potty and by rewarding success with special treats, your child will be encouraged to do his best to win the prize. Whether it's stars on a chart, a favorite piece of candy, or a new toy, the key word here is 'positive'. Never punish accidents and always follow through with the promised reward.

Disposable Training Pants Method
Absorbent like a diaper but designed like underpants, disposable training pants offer a toilet training child the best of both worlds. Because she can easily pull these pants up and down herself, she can take responsibility for getting herself to the potty when she needs to go. And if she doesn't make it, the mess is contained and easily disposed. While some experts feel these diaper-like pants can actually hinder training, many parents swear by them.

Whichever method you choose, remember to make it fun for your child. Present learning to use the toilet as a positive and exciting adventure and chances are your child will be happy to play along. Don't despair over setbacks and remember that even little children easily pick up on a parent's stress and frustration. Keep it light, keep it positive, and soon you will be diaper-free!

Nobody gives better advice and support on potty training than real parents who have been through it. So in an effort to cast the widest net possible and gather together the most unique ideas, ParentDish teamed up with CafeMom.com -- and their vast network of experienced moms -- to uncover the very best potty training secrets around. Every child is different and not all strategies work for all kids...but having guidance from other parents certainly can't hurt! Check out these suggestions from CafeMom.com's community.

The final question posed to our celebrity mommy friends regarding their potty training experiences had to do with the methods or videos they used -- if any -- while going through the process.

ParentDish asked...Is there a specific method or training video you used when potty training? If so, would you recommend it to other parents?

Joan Lunden
Our methods are:
*Take them to the restroom often.
*Ask them frequently if they have to go.
*Cheer and give positive reinforcement when they ARE successful.
*Most importantly... when they're ready... they're ready.

*Joan is the Host of DIRECTV's "Hometown Heroes," which airs every Sunday at 9am on DIRECTV's 101 Network. Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images.

Melissa Joan Hart
Pull-Ups makes a video that is great and full of advice. But I literally I used the "village" theory of asking everyone that had ever potty trained a child and tried every method until it finally worked.



*Melissa currently stars in "My Fake Fiance," an ABC Family Original Movie co-starring Joey Lawrence. Check local listings for upcoming air times. Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images.

Brooke Burke
The purchase of "Big Girl/Boy" panties/underwear was monumental for all my children. Being able to wear them like mommy and daddy when they are ready to use the potty was always exciting and positive.



*Brooke's website, BabooshBaby.com, features maternity and post-pregnancy products. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images.

Chyler Leigh
We didn't use a specific method, per say, but went with what worked best for us. I think it's a personal thing. There certainly are a lot of different books and websites that have tons of testimonials and ideas, so I think it's up to you to figure out what works best for you.


*Chyler plays the role of intern Lexie Gray on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.

Nancy O'Dell
Because Ashby Loves Elmo, we got her Elmo's Potty Time DVD. For ourselves, I have the book, "Potty Training for Dummies."





*Nancy is the author of "Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant" and is also the host of "Access Hollywood." Photo: Lester Cohen, Getty Images.

Oftentimes, celebrities get access to the latest and greatest in fashion, gadgets and gear before the rest of us can get our hands on it. Assuming the same holds true for potty training products, we wanted to find out which hot products our celebrity mom friends couldn't live without while training their toddlers.

ParentDish asked...Are there any products you found helpful or indispensable when you were potty training your kid(s)?

Nancy O'Dell
Our daughter, Ashby, loves Elmo! So we started her with the "Potty Time With Elmo" book. It's really cute and has buttons she can press which make sounds. The buttons are things involved with going to the potty like toilet paper and the flush. And they make the sounds those items make, so Ashby quickly learned the names of those things.

We also got the Fisher-Price Fun to Learn Potty. It's a little miniature version of a real potty. The songs and encouraging phrases this chair belts out makes it entertaining versus intimidating.

We also have the Potty Monkey. It is a cute stuffed animal which reminds a child to go every 30 or 90 minutes.

*Nancy is the author of "Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant" and is also the host of "Access Hollywood." Photo: Lester Cohen, Getty Images.

Joan Lunden
We love the smaller seats that fit right over your existing toilet seat that allows the children to feel secure and not at risk of falling in! We also use little step-ups so they can get on and off on their own, and of course, Pull-Ups are necessary for in between times and at bedtime. They help the transition from diapers to underwear.

*Joan is the Host of DIRECTV's "Hometown Heroes," which airs every Sunday at 9am on DIRECTV's 101 Network. Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images.

Melissa Joan Hart
Pull-Ups definitely made him feel independent, and a climb-up potty seat helped too. The Bjorn Little Potty is good on the go.





*Melissa currently stars in "My Fake Fiance," an ABC Family Original Movie co-starring Joey Lawrence. Check local listings for upcoming air times. Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images.

Brooke Burke
I never used any products, or bribes. All my girls started when they were ready and it was a natural transition.





*Brooke's website, BabooshBaby.com, features maternity and post-pregnancy products. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images.

Chandra Wilson
I liked to use the sticker reward system on the potty by having the girls pick out their own victory sticker to place on the potty each time they used it.



*Chandra will join the Broadway cast of "Chicago" this summer in the role of Matron "Mama" Morton. She also plays Chief Resident Miranda Bailey on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images.

Melora Hardin
Yes, the little seats that go on the potty that make them smaller, so they don't fall in. A step-stool is also key to help them get up on the potty.



*Melora recently directed, starred and co-produced a film called "YOU," which was released via the internet on Mother's Day, May 8, 2009. Melora is also well-known for her role as Jan on NBC's "The Office." Photo: David Livingston, Getty Images.

Chyler Leigh
Pull-Ups were a great benefit to us in getting our son prepared for training. We are currently going through the process again with our daughter, who's also in Pull-Ups. I think it gives them the advantage of being able to pull the pants up themselves, feeling what it's like to be a big boy or girl, but still allows for accidents while they are grasping the concept of knowing when they have to "go".

*Chyler plays the role of intern Lexie Gray on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.

We ran a series of potty training questions past some of ParentDish's celebrity mommy friends, who were generous enough to share their experiences with us. So far, we have heard some of their best advice, as well as some specific tips and strategies. Now we move on to the inevitable silly potty stories!

ParentDish asked...Do you have any funny potty training anecdotes or horror stories you can share?

Chyler Leigh
Once my son (who's now 5), became aware that he had to poop at around 2 years old, he would hide and/or suddenly become very quiet. One day we had put him in his room for his nap and he decided that he no longer wanted to keep his dirty diaper on. Well, since he had been making noise and suddenly got quiet, I figured that he had either fallen asleep very quickly or was up to no good. My husband ran upstairs to check on him and then immediately yelled for me. Assuming the worst, I headed up. And sure enough, my son had taken his dirty diaper (and all that was inside of it) and smeared it all over the wall. Unfortunately for us, we had a short cut shag carpet that the remnants of poo easily burrowed into. That's when we knew that it was time to look into potty training.

*Chyler plays the role of intern Lexie Gray on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.

Melora Hardin
My first daughter potty trained herself by 18 months (because of the cloth diapers -- I'm convinced). Our second daughter didn't get out of nighttime diapers until she was a little over 4, but as soon as she said to me she wanted to not wear a diaper to bed, we started letting her go and there have been many wet beds to deal with, but we have a great waterproof mattress cover (from Pottery Barn Kids) under the sheets. We still take her to the bathroom in the middle of the night when one of us gets up to go. It's pretty funny because she stays asleep when we put her on the potty -- we can plop her right back on the bed after and she never even notices. Now she rarely has an accident. When she does have an accident, we try to make light of it and tell her it's no big deal, but when there are dry sheets we always try to make sure and tell her how proud we are of her.

*Melora recently directed, starred and co-produced a film called "YOU," which was released via the internet on Mother's Day, May 8, 2009. Melora is also well-known for her role as Jan on NBC's "The Office." Photo: David Livingston, Getty Images.

Brooke Burke
I potty trained my first daughter on an island, she was able to go in nature when she felt the sensation, so there were no accidents trying to make it to a restroom.



*Brooke's website, BabooshBaby.com, features maternity and post-pregnancy products. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images.

Melissa Joan Hart
Too many to count. But I did end up cutting a hole in Mason's diaper to try to get him to go #2 on the potty, and when it fell out of his diaper, he ran around the bathroom, yelling and stepping in it. It was traumatic, but it worked.


*Melissa currently stars in "My Fake Fiance," an ABC Family Original Movie co-starring Joey Lawrence. Check local listings for upcoming air times. Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images.

Nancy O'Dell
Chocolate seems to work wonders! Ashby takes after her father and LOVES anything chocolate....M&Ms, chocolate chip cookies, etc. After she has a successful potty time, I sometimes give her a sweet surprise! Now she can't wait to go the the potty because she loves to get her M&M's after!

*Nancy is the author of "Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant" and is also the host of "Access Hollywood." Photo: Lester Cohen, Getty Images.

Chandra Wilson
I would have my girls spend time sitting (on the potty) until the tinkle showed up. Then we would "pat, pat, pat, pat, put it in the potty" with the tissue.



*Chandra will join the Broadway cast of "Chicago" this summer in the role of Matron "Mama" Morton. She also plays Chief Resident Miranda Bailey on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images.

Joan Lunden
Well with twins, when one has to go, it gives the other the idea that maybe THEY have to go too! In fact, one time I went into my twins' Max and Kate's room and smelled something suspicious. I looked in the toilet, looked around the room, but found nothing. Later that evening, when I still smelled the suspect odor, I asked the kids about it and found out that while one had been using the toilet, the other had to go so badly that he went number 2 in the trash can!!

*Joan is the Host of DIRECTV's "Hometown Heroes," which airs every Sunday at 9am on DIRECTV's 101 Network. Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images.

Our celebrity potty training information session continues, with the next question we posed to our celebrity mommy friends.

ParentDish asked...What are the main potty training tips or strategies you would share with other parents?

Joan Lunden
It's all about making it fun! For the girls, we entice them with princess undies or any of their other favorite characters. They also loved the little potties that make sounds, sing songs, and look pretty in their bathroom! For the boys, it's more about making it into a game. We use the old Cheerio trick to help practice with aim -- toss a few Cheerios into the toilet and have them try to hit them. When they can do it, it's exciting for them!

*Joan is the Host of DIRECTV's "Hometown Heroes," which airs every Sunday at 9am on DIRECTV's 101 Network. Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images.

Melora Hardin
The other great thing about cloth diapers is because you change them more often, you are able to notice when they are going for an hour or more without going in the diaper. That means they have the muscles to hold their pee which means they are ready for the potty. Once I noticed that with my kids, I would let them go without a diaper and remind them often (every 15-20 minutes) by asking if they needed to go pee. We had a few accidents, but we never shamed them and always made it a fun idea to make it to the potty on time.

*Melora recently directed, starred and co-produced a film called "YOU," which was released via the internet on Mother's Day, May 8, 2009. Melora is also well-known for her role as Jan on NBC's "The Office." Photo: David Livingston, Getty Images.

Chandra Wilson
The girls were more likely to want to use the potty when they wore underwear. They didn't like getting those wet.





*Chandra will join the Broadway cast of "Chicago" this summer in the role of Matron "Mama" Morton. She also plays Chief Resident Miranda Bailey on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images.

Nancy O'Dell
Make it a routine. We found that putting Ashby on the potty seat at least 2-3 times a day, but at the same time every day, seemed to help. She accepted (that) going to the potty was supposed to be a part of her routine. Ashby loves to imitate everything we do and repeat everything we say. So showing her with actions seems to work and we explain the actions step by step. For example, "This is the flush. After you go to potty, flush the toilet, and then watch as everything disappears!"

Don't get angry. I'm a big believer in positive reinforcement with no negativity! Sure, a child is gonna have accidents along the training path, but I feel it is no reason to talk sternly to your child. Then, they will associate going to the bathroom with negativity. And, it's only recently that their muscle development even allows them to hold it!

*Nancy is the author of "Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant" and is also the host of "Access Hollywood." Photo: Lester Cohen, Getty Images.

Ali Landry
I would ask my daughter if she wanted to sit on the potty...and if she did, no matter if she would go or not, I would give her a sticker. Then, once they get used to sitting and it is very comfortable...take a few hours in a day or an entire day to devote to potty training. Take the diaper off....put the panties on, (and know that they will have accidents...but it its part of it), thoroughly explain to them what is going on and what is expected of them. Have your stickers ready, ask them every 15 to 20 minutes if they want to go potty, and when you hear that first tinkling sound of pee pee in the potty...have a party!

After your child gets used to the idea of sitting on the potty, I think that it is pretty much on the parent. From here on out you really need to be consistent and patient. This is the step we are on; Estela has accidents all of the time. I usually ask her if she wants to go potty...she sits...she wants her sticker...she says she is all done, and then gets up -- and then pee pees on the floor on the side of the potty! I have accepted it, but I make sure the potty is on the stone floor in the bathroom and not the carpet. STICKERS, PATIENCE, CONSISTENCY.

*Ali hosts the online "Spotlight to Nightlight" video series featuring celebrity moms on Yahoo! OMG! Photo: Valerie Macon, Getty Images.

Chyler Leigh
Well, after so many trials and errors we decided to break it down to the basics. If you make the mess, you clean it up. I don't know that this would work for everyone, but it definitely worked for us. We had our son in Pull-Ups for a while, which helped him at least feel like he was one step closer to getting out of diapers. Shortly after we put him in underwear, knowing that accidents were sure to follow. He did pretty well going pee-pee on the potty, with a few accidents along the way. But when he refused to poop on the potty, we decided to let him clean up his own
mess. And he was not very happy about it. It took three times of him standing in the bathtub, take off his pants and underwear, and wipe himself clean. We'd bring a trash bag, tons of wipes, and a new pair of underwear. He would have to do the whole thing himself and quickly realized that it was no longer worth pooping in his underwear. He'd much rather stay clean.

*Chyler plays the role of intern Lexie Gray on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.

Brooke Burke
I purchased a kids' potty by age one and kept it in my bathroom, in hopes to spike some interest. I allowed all my girls to join me in the bathroom, which made the experience more familiar. When they were interested, I would sit them on the toilet even if they could not go. I always used gave huge praises when they were successful.

*Brooke's website, BabooshBaby.com, features maternity and post-pregnancy products. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images.

Melissa Joan Hart
1) Make sure your child is ready or showing signs of readiness.
2) make it fun and light
3) bribery works!



*Melissa currently stars in "My Fake Fiance," an ABC Family Original Movie co-starring Joey Lawrence. Check local listings for upcoming air times. Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images.

We all know potty training our little ones can be a long and difficult process. Parents of toddlers must be patient, ready and willing to negotiate and prepared to rely on a little bribery, if necessary! Many parents may assume that potty training is somehow easier for celebrities -- but in reality, of course, the process is no different. In an effort to get the latest Tinseltown lowdown on potty training, ParentDish reached out to some celebrity moms of toddlers to get their top tips and advice.

ParentDish asked...As a parent of a small child or children, what potty training advice do you have to share with other parents?

Melissa Joan Hart
1) Make sure your child is ready or showing signs of readiness.
2) Make it fun and light.
3) Bribery works!



*Melissa currently stars in "My Fake Fiance," an ABC Family Original Movie co-starring Joey Lawrence. Check local listings for upcoming air times. Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images.

Joan Lunden
First of all, I will tell you from my experience, girls are much easier than boys in this area. Also, it is important to remember that all children are different and not all kids progress at the same pace.



*Joan is the Host of DIRECTV's "Hometown Heroes," which airs every Sunday at 9am on DIRECTV's 101 Network. Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images.

Ali Landry
Pray! Ha ha, no, just joking. First off, I would say buy a potty (always do your research online for parent reviews before purchasing an item) and put it in the bathroom so they can begin to feel comfortable with it. Then take her to the bathroom with you and tell her that mommy is going to potty...I would always act like it was a really great, fun exciting thing.

*Ali hosts the online "Spotlight to Nightlight" video series featuring celebrity moms on Yahoo! OMG! Photo: Valerie Macon, Getty Images.

Melora Hardin
Two words -- cloth diapers. Children can feel the wetness on them so they are more uncomfortable -- a little more work for parents because you have to change them more often, but they are better for the environment and help get the kids more interested in potty training. I recommend getting a service (Dy-Dee Diaper Service) or washing them yourself.

*Melora recently directed, starred and co-produced a film called "YOU," which was released via the internet on Mother's Day, May 8, 2009. Melora is also well-known for her role as Jan on NBC's "The Office." Photo: David Livingston, Getty Images.

Betty Hayes
This is a tough one for me because I never was one of those moms who demanded that their child be potty trained by (the age of) one and a half. We had the attitude that when they are ready they will be ready. We also had the challenge that every potty training session involved more than one child. With two sets of twins and a set of sextuplets, you can imagine that we were in no rush to push them. When everyone was about three, I took them to the store and let them each pick out their own character underwear. They were thrilled with their purchase so therefore couldn't wait to wear their big boy/girl underpants. In each case it took them about a week to get the hang of going to the bathroom without any accidents.

*Betty, her husband Eric and her 10 children star in TLC's reality series, "Table for 12." Photo: Zave Smith, TLC.

Brooke Burke
All children are ready at different times.







*Brooke's website, BabooshBaby.com, features maternity and post-pregnancy products. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images.

Chyler Leigh
Consistency is key. Once you make the decision to potty train and your child is showing signs of readiness, stick to it and REMAIN CALM. It can be very frustrating (for all parties included) during the training process, but the cooler and more enthusiastic you stay about it, the better your child will do.

*Chyler plays the role of intern Lexie Gray on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.

Chandra Wilson
The best potty training advice I can give is to BE PATIENT. It took a good year for both of my girls to use the potty consistently, and my son is a whole other animal. He's going to take even more time because he can't decide from one instance to the next if he wants to stand, sit, squat or use this other weird forward entry thing he's come up with.

*Chandra will join the Broadway cast of "Chicago" this summer in the role of Matron "Mama" Morton. She also plays Chief Resident Miranda Bailey on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images.

Nancy O'Dell
We actually just started potty-training our daughter, Ashby, not long ago (when she was around 21 months), because she was showing us signs she was ready. And that would probably be my biggest piece of advice...make sure your toddler is ready. Ashby is catching on quickly and I think it is because she was ready. I think if we had tried to get her to potty train earlier, it wouldn't have meant she would finish learning earlier...but rather, the process would have taken longer. The biggest sign which showed us she was ready is that she actually started telling us when she was getting ready for a poopy. Then she would tell us she had a poopy in her diaper!

*Nancy is the author of "Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant" and is also the host of "Access Hollywood." Photo: Lester Cohen, Getty Images.