Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

As I was washing my 14 month old DD's bottles this morning I was wishing that they were gone by now and thinking about how difficult it has been trying to eliminate her last 2 bottles of the day (am and pm). Then I began to think...are we under too much pressure to make our kids grow up faster than generations before???

This is coming from someone who already bought a potty and took the nuk away at 9 months. But I'm beginning to wonder if I need to be putting this much focus on eliminating the bottle already. It's the last thing linking her to babyhood

Thoughts?

Now ladies....please play nice

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I think generally speaking, yes, there is a LOT of pressure on kids to grow up "fast" nowadays, due to both societal influences and the dynamic of dual working couples, which is the new norm.
Kids are exposed to a LOT more "stuff" now, and I feel like it's wonderful and scary at the same time...
But on the bottle issue, our ped said to get rid of them at 12 months and that's what we did, I honestly thought the concern was more about his teeth than "pushing" him into toddlerhood? And yes, I found it really hard to throw out those bottles, I just had to bite the bullet and dump 'em or else I knew we'd always default to those and we'd have a tough time ditching them!!!

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to do away with bottles at 14 months. It isn't like you are dressing her in grown-up clothes and trying to make her do things that are too advanced for her age.
My parents had me off a bottle around that age, and that was 30 years ago.
I think there have ALWAYS been parents who encourage their kids to do things earlier, and other parents who are ok with hanging on to the baby stuff a little longer.
Both methods are fine, it is up to you which way you want to be. But I don't think this has anything to do with our generation trying to make kids grow up to fast.

ETA: I DO think there are other things out there that are exposing kids to more grown up things than in past generations - like tv, video games, etc, but not the bottle/paci/potty thing.

Message edited 11/10/2009 10:23:51 AM.

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I agree there is so much pressure. I kept the morning bottle (his fave bottle) until he was 16 months!!!

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I agree and disagree with this.

I think as babies, no, there isn't pressure. in fact, from what I heard, babies were more independant (crawled & walked sooner than today's babies). My mom had us on the bottle till 18 mos (I won't do this, but my mom did). Either way we turned out a'ok. Same with potty training. My mom tells me that most kids are potty trained by 2 but when I come on LIF that doesn't seem to be the norm anymore.

Now, once I think the pre-teen years come, yes, I do think there is pressure to be more adultish. For example, I played with Barbies till I was about 10 years old. My neice was told by her friends that and age 8 she was too old. Not saying this is wrong or right, but I do think there is a pressure to have pre-teens act older.

Message edited 11/10/2009 10:37:37 AM.

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I agree with you.

That is why my 17 months still gets one bottle a day and I am okay with it. It's our night time snuggle bottle story time.

They do grow so fast. But you have to do what you are comfortable with, and don't let anyone tell you that it's wrong. You know what's best for your child.

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I do and I don't. My ped said they wanted Kaydyn off bottles by 18 months. She was soooo attached to her bottles that we had to go cold turkey and I actually threw out ALL her bottles so there was no going back.

As far as potty training and stuff. My mom tells me all the time how my sisters and I were all potty trained by the time we were 2...if not within a few months of that. My oldest sister was actually potty trained before my 2nd sister came along and they are only 18 months apart.

And I agree with Kerry about pre-teens/teens. There are so many more/higher expectations for these kids and they do grow up faster than we did. My niece went to a birthday party when she was 9 and all the girls made fun of her because she was wearing a 1 piece and they called her a baby. I remember still playing with dolls and stuff at her age and wore whatever my parents bought.

Message edited 11/10/2009 10:31:49 AM.

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I don't know about the bottles - I'm not sure that generations before held on to them any longer. My mother (who had her first baby in 1965)switched us all to cups on our first birthday. Maybe it was easier since we were nursed and then switched to a bottle around 6 months.

Before formula became so prevalent, children were nursed well beyond the first year. There are medical benefits to nursing all the way until age five. Even today you don't hear any doctors saying the child has to give up nursing at a year, so why the bottle? I know the nipples are different, maybe that really affects tooth development?

With training I think we are actually prolonging it beyond what previous generations did. All but 2 of my siblings (i am 1 of 7) were trained between 18 and 22 months. My mom said when we woke up dry from our naps she started training. My grandmother thought my mother waited too long to train us, that she sould have started putting us on a potty at 1 year

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

Sometimes, I think it's the exact opposite. When I was growing up, we were latch-key kids, fending for ourselves, riding our bikes throughout the neighborhood at a young age, etc. We were taught very early to be very independent.

Now, DC are driven everywhere, everything is scheduled, many parents "hover", even in college and after college. Kids never have to take responsibility for their actions, etc, etc....

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

OK so clearly I don't know much about generations past

Maybe it's just that I FEEL like Sydnie is growing up too fast

I guess you guys are right. Maybe it's not a generation thing, it's a to each his own thing. And for me, I'd like to keep her my baby FOREVER!!!!

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

Posted by mikeswife06

And for me, I'd like to keep her my baby FOREVER!!!!

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I think you should do what makes you comfortable. She won't be drinking it forever right and its only twice a day. I think if DS enjoys drinking form his bottle I would let him have it until his 2nd birthday. After that I would take it away.

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

My daughter wasn't off the bottle until 19months. And she is now 3 and still has a pacifier. I know some people think that is insane but I am completely comfortable with my decision. I just don't see the need to rush. My daughter had 1 bottle a day and it was first thing in the morning. We sat on the couch together and she drank it. As for the binky, I know its time. I sucked my thumb until I was around 11 or 12 and I think I am a very content person and I remember the soothing feeling I got when I sucked my thumb. WHich is why I have let her have it so long. She is a child that needs the comfort. I don't think its wrong to take these things away sooner, I just did/am doing what works for my child and my child alone. Even my husband feels she shouldn't have the binky but I am the one who has to do it and deal with her all day so I have chosen to wait. All and all, I honeslty feel like things are rushed. Not so much growing up too fast, but the pressure of doing it.

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

Funny you say this because I JUST packed up RJ's bottles the other day. I love reading your posts because I can totally relate to Syd being they are literally the same exact age!
I think part of it is first baby syndrome. With DD #1 I had the mentality of "ooh, that was fun, but let's see if we can get her to the next level". So I would push and push. Now with DS #2, I want to savor him being a baby.

DD walked at 10 months, DS still isn't walking at 14. DD was vocal and had words at 11-12 months, DS has nothing at 14 months.

I do think they grow up fast no matter what we do. Time flies when you are having fun. Get DH on board for #2 and start the fun again

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

This is why I am trying not to pressure DS to walk before he's ready (although it's hard!). When he crawls he is still my little baby

I agree with you - I don't think there is anything wrong with not rushing getting rid of the bottles. But the potty... you and I might have to talk

Re: Kids growing up too fast...what do YOU think?

I agree that in general children grow up fast in our society. However, I do not see how holding onto bottles, binkies or other aspects that remind us of them as infants is helpful in keeping children from growing up faster. When we allow our children to hold on to these items too long we are not benefiting them.

Change is hard but it is part of life, every new step our children take toward growing up is an experience for us to have in this lifetime and cherish. Do not look at it as letting go of your baby but as getting to know your newly emerging toddler.