Re: Spinoff to different parenting styles

DH read about EC/Diaper Free baby when Erik was an infant and was fascinated. I read the book too -its VERY interesting and enlightening, and NOT about potty training (its more parent training).

We didn't get that into it, but Erik now prefers to poop on the potty - he's 10.5 months. When I see Erik grunting, he'll reach for me and I'll take him on the potty to poop there. Its not so different from how some of the mom's were saying their DC always goes in the bumbo or the exersaucer. Its a more comfortable position over the bowl to ease the elimination, and he doesn't soil himself (and I don't have a mess to clean!). Its not everytime, and he obviously wears diapers, but I don't see how its a bad thing.

Babies have a natural desire not to soil themselves - which is why they so often go once you take the restrictive diaper OFF.

Seems ridiculous to judge someone so harshly because of differently parenting methods. Guess I won't be making any new friends now

Message edited 4/20/2009 7:57:22 PM.

Re: Spinoff to different parenting styles

I'm with LB, I don't feel it is developmentally appropriate. Shoot, the things kids are expected to know before they enter kindergarten would have had most of us rejected. I did not have (in the 70s) the skills that kids have today and I'd like to think I am doing pretty well for myself despite that.

I was potty trained at about 3 years old. By today's standards, I'd be shunned from my community and perhaps excommunicated from LIF had it existed back then. Did it hamper my academic/social/emotional development in any way that I was late? I doubt it. Freud's theories on psychosexual development always made me laugh my arse off . I cannot imagine that I sought much pleasure or discomfort in dirty or clean diapers. If someone wants to think that who I am today is based on late potty training, then I think they think too much.

I don't think I would judge a person who did this with their child, but I can't say I'd ask if I could watch and take notes either. It simply doesn't sit right with me. Just as there are those who support it, there are those who graciously oppose. I oppose.

Re: Spinoff to different parenting styles

I made the OP and I just want to clarify that I didn't say I wasn't going to be friends with my friend because she puts her DS on the potty (nobody said that's what *I* said, I just wanted to clarify). My post was more about how different moms can be and me having my own insecurities about maybe not doing the "right" things for my DS or soon enough since our babies are the same exact age. I wasn't criticizing or judging - I was just surprised that she was putting him on the potty because it never occurred to me to do such a thing (whether I would or not is not important). I have been more worried about the basics of sitting him in the highchair, bumbo seat, rolling over, etc. - I haven't even thought about pottys.

I'm definitely not one to judge - again, just wanted feedback on whether or not anyone else felt insecure sometimes when moms with DC's the same age were doing different things that they were.