Look, Ma, no diaper!

Specialties Pediatric

Published

Look, Ma, no diaper!

Some local parents are embracing a technique for potty training infants

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DOVER -- On a sunny weekday midmorning, Hannah Rothstein,4 months old, coos in her mother's lap at the kitchen table. Her older brother, Samuel, who is almost 3, plays in the backyard with a baby sitter. It's a typical suburban scene, except for one detail. Amid the accouterments of modern parenting -- bouncy seat on the floor, cellphone on the counter -- one kind of baby care basic is conspicuously absent.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/07/05/look_ma_no_diaper/

Looks like the parent is training themself, not the child. I think this mother's version of attachment parenting is to attach a potty to the kids bum from birth on. ITA witwh Dr. Brazelton's comments on this.

The payoff for me was the pics in the Globe of Mom tossing the urine down her sink!!! YUUUUUCK!

Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Very interesting. Seems like alot of work though. :)

Well, this could start some interesting discussions.

My Mum told me I was toilet trained by 12 months. That was in the days of square terry nappies and no washing machines. I don't think I was scarred for life by the experience.

My oldest was toilet trained at 23 months with bowels being the hardest. Used to hide by the garden shed and come back with full training pants, but the dog would always let me know that he'd done it. So, I just sat him down at the "usual" time and within the week mission accomplished.

The youngest was finally done at 28 months.

An Asian doctor who used to see my kids felt delayed toilet training was a western thing. He felt disposable diapers were the root of it and advised everyone to use cloth, because "a wet toddler is a toddler who will pick it up pretty fast".

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I think this is the mom being trained (someone else said the same thing). Get a grip. A child isn't physiologically able to control their urination/defecation until they are older. This is Mommy training and I think (personal opinion here) its too weird! Both my sons were completely potty-trained at 2 years of age - never an accident. I spent time with my babies treating them like babies: playing with them, holding them, loving them. There is time enough to be get potty-trained.

Specializes in ER, L&D, postpartum, Peds.
I think this is the mom being trained (someone else said the same thing). Get a grip. A child isn't physiologically able to control their urination/defecation until they are older. This is Mommy training and I think (personal opinion here) its too weird! Both my sons were completely potty-trained at 2 years of age - never an accident. I spent time with my babies treating them like babies: playing with them, holding them, loving them. There is time enough to be get potty-trained.

I don't think it's about "potty training" them. I think it's about being in touch with your baby's needs at all times. I have several friends who practice elimination communication (EC for short) and they swear by it, although I just don't have the patience (plus I work outside the home). Yes, I suppose I hang out with a bunch of hippies....but I have heard of things ALOT weirder than this. "Weird" is relative anyway.

Trying thinking "outside the box" a little more and these things will start to make perfect sense.

I agree that it is more training the mom to pick up on cues from the child and requires no real work from the child other than pooping and peeing.

However, as someone in the article said, if it resonates, do it, if not then don't.

It just seems like alot of work "catching" the child and having the child "wear" a tiny plastic potty while her mom holds her . .. .I dunno, for me it doesn't resonate and I'M A CO-SLEEPER AND EXTENDED BREASTFEEDER"!!!! :chuckle

Attachment parenting is what I practice but this just goes to far and doesn't resonate with me.

steph

However, as someone in the article said, if it resonates, do it, if not then don't.

It just seems like alot of work "catching" the child and having the child "wear" a tiny plastic potty while her mom holds her . .. .I dunno, for me it doesn't resonate and I'M A CO-SLEEPER AND EXTENDED BREASTFEEDER"!!!! :chuckle

Attachment parenting is what I practice but this just goes to far and doesn't resonate with me.

steph

:yeahthat:

I too have a lot of friends that do ECing and have very busy on line lists to support it, but it just doesn't sound like something that would work for me and my 15mo cloth diapered sweetie isn't missing a thing!!

Michelle

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