Why are you making your baby grow up so fast?

Jennifer - posted on 01/26/2011

Im with you let them be babies they have their whole lives to be grown ups!!!

Bonnie - posted on 12/13/2010

I am expecting my first child, a little girl. Although I have watched several children and babies through my life time. I don't as of yet have an exact opinion on what age is best for potty training, etc. However, I do believe if you use common sense, provide a home of stability, love & surround the child and yourself with a calm, happy environment that things will work themselves out. Children will let you know when they are ready to stop sucking on a pacifier, etc. After all these little souls are new to this earth and if they need a little time to adjust so be it. We all grow up eventually and life does go by so very fast. I think as parents we should provide that safe haven for our children. A place that allows them to grow and reach their potential at their own pace (by providing them with the tools they need). That being said I think if a 4 or 5 year old still are carrying around their safety blanket 24/7 that possibly something else is emotionally lacking from that child's life. Which in my opinion is more of the parents doing rather than the child not being ready or willing to let go.

Leigh - posted on 11/08/2010

every kid is different and is ready at different ages

Danielle - posted on 08/15/2010

iam planning to start toilet trannin soon my girl is 7 months n dummy's bottles and breatfeeding im stoping at 12 months it has nothing do with makin them grow up fast its just what the parents feels is best for there child. u shouldnt judge how sum1 raises there baby. ur way isnt the only way

Michelle - posted on 05/24/2010

i think there is so much conflicting advice out there from proffecionals too experienced parents that its quite daunting for a new parent to know what the best way to do everything is. As a first time mum of twins ive felt a real pressure to do things by the book and to get it right first time, as you cant go back and do it again. Also from what ive read its encouraged to start thinking about potty training from 18 months & to have rid of the dummy by one year (not that my girls are close to either lol). part of the problem lies in the fact that raising children nowadays is completly different from when our parents/grandparents were doing it communities & families arent as close & all that advice/information is lost along the way, with the result being that many mums havent even held a baby before their own. Also i think we expect more from our kids at a young age because we dont want our kids to be the last one to reach their milestones or be at the bottom of the class its so important to have kids aiming high to make sure they have the best chance of a good life & job as adults. i let my kids enjoy their lives & put 100% into them having fun but as a good parent i need to make decisions about what is appropriate & the best for the long run. ive come accross many mums that try to outdo each other with the "my kid did this at 9 months" etc but i think for many mums its more about saying hay ive actually managed to do this right what a relief. as long as i know my girls are roughly at the same stage as everyone else in their age group then im happy.

Casey - posted on 02/13/2010

As an early childhood teacher, I agree. Children will do things at their own rates and while some may be ready to potty train and 19 months, most are not. When it is forced, I think it is sometimes due to financial benefits and sadly sometimes bragging rights. However, Aubrey has a point as well. There is a happy medium.

Aubrey - posted on 02/02/2010

I think that there are some things that are good to break early if thats what works best for your family. i must admit i am a mom who believes its easier to take something away earlier rather than later. I hate seeing 4-5 year olds walking around with the plug in their mouth with crooked rotten teeth,Or with some nasty dirty blanket or teddy bear. The reason these children have problems like that are because they were not nipped in the bud early enough and they then became dependant on them. And how hard is it for a poor mom who cant put her kid in pre school or kindergarden because they waited to late to potty train and now the kid is resistant to learning and cant start school until they are out of diapers? Thats not fair to your child and if any thing that seams to be more inaproprate then teaching them these things at a younger age.

My daughter never did the Nuk thing but she went straight from the boob to the sip cup at 1 yr and the sippy cup to the regular cup at meal times shortly after that. Its all a matter of perspective.

I dont want my little one to grow up too fast but at the same time i am not going to coddle her into being a baby forever. Some times fallowing a childs ques in intrest in things can help them learn faster and become more advanced for their age. These are traits that are going to help them not harm them when they are older. My daughter is going to be 2 in april and uses a fork and spoon to eat drinks out of a cup just like momma, can have almost a full conversation with me, was walking by 10 months, and is already going pee pee on the potty. She can compleatly undress her self, and tell me all her body parts including her knees and elbows. And isnt attatched to any spicific toy or blanket or anything like that. She has security in her self not some object that if gets lost is going to throw her world into a huge commotion. I know shes a baby but shes also a big girl who should be able to keep progressing at her own rate instead of being babied its not unrealistic or inappropriate.

Bottom line every baby develops at a different pace some babys arent ready to do things as soon as others. moms my not be making thier babys grow up fast they are just fallowing thier instincts that their child maybe ready to do something even if it may be a little premature for the stitistics. And who even decides the age ranges for when a child should or shouldnt be doing something? If it works for you and your family no harm done.

Jessica - posted on 02/02/2010

It really should be more about what the child is ready for or wants , not what the mom wants. If the child shows interest at 19 months in potty training, what is wrong? If not so what, wait. But I do think some people try to push their kids so that they can show them off and brag, which is wrong, those parents need to learn how to do something to impress people themselves - not push thier babies too.

Peta - posted on 01/31/2010

I'm sorry but i don't understand why it's a problem to you if parents want to ween the dummy off their children at 5 month old most parents only use them to help their child to settle at nite and to help them to learn to suck and once this is achieved the dummy is not need anymore and toilet training, my son just fully toilet trained at 19 months the cost of nappy is ridiculous and yes he did want to go to the toilet

Whitney - posted on 01/31/2010

I think most parents now a days need to take a course in early childhood to really understand what's apprpriate at the different age levels. Some common sense doesn't come easy, apparently.