Potty training a baby?!?!? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

BabyJulie · 07-26-2006, 08:18 PM

Whats up with this new fad on teaching a baby to eliminate without diapers? I read about it in a magazine and I just dont think its right. I mean DS is 13 months old and he will stay in diapers as long as his chubby butt feels the need!

I just got through potty training my puppy, and that only took me two months I cant imagine having to run to the bathroom every fifteen minutes for months on end with a baby!

Why take the innocence away so young? I may be a first time mom but I think its better to wait unil baby can communicate his/her needs and shows resistance to having a soiled diaper. My aunt started potty training her son at 1 year old and the kid is 8 and still pees at night. Just my opinion but id like to get both sides of the story!

debating · 07-26-2006, 08:55 PM

We just had a thread on this, it's probably not far down the list. Weepyone started it, it's about "elimination communication". I do it. Well, I *try* to do it (when I remember... lol

).

I can assure you that I certainly don't run to the toilet every 15 minutes. It's really no different then changing diapers, schedule wise - after feeding, after waking, at certain times during the day, etc.

It's also not new. In fact, it's quite ancient. Many cultures don't even use diapers, but instead use an absorbent cloth laid under baby's bottom to catch any messes. Disposable diapers have only been around since they 50's, and before that cloth was used, and even then, many mothers would leave their children bare on the bottoms to prevent excessive laundry. My mom did "elimination communication" with my sisters and I without even knowing such a term existed.

And it's not so much about "training" a baby, because like our other post explained, you really can't train them until the muscle and nerve function is in place to physically hold it, but, you can certainly eliminate the need to use diapers.

Plus, there is the issue of helping the environment. I've cut way down on the amount of diapers I'm using, which will no doubt help with the environment.

You should scroll down a few pages (if that) to read the other thread, there's a lot of good info in it.

BioAdoptMom3 · 07-26-2006, 09:13 PM

I know that some parents do this with great results and if it works for them I say go for it. I am like you though. I really see no reason to worry about it.
At my ped's advice with our first child, we encouraged in many different ways from the time they could walk, but other than that we let them train themselves by telling us they were ready. All three did just that and all three were within a month or two of their third birthdays. Some parents may think that is old for potty training, but that day, the day they said they had to go, in all three cases, was it, literally. There were no more accidents although I did put them in pull ups at night until their fifth birthdays. I can tell you too that when your child is ten no one in the world is going to care how old he or she was when he was potty trained. For the EC to work too I think you have to be the type of parent who is home and available to do it. I had no choice but to work so I wasn't home. Even in the evenings, especially after our third was born we had little league games, band concerts, etc. and it would have never worked. Don't sweat it either way. I would do whatever works best for you and your baby.

Nancy

barbicus · 07-26-2006, 10:49 PM

If i had the time to try this "EC" i don't really know that i would. I use cloth diapers and find that sometimes DS can go and hour or so without soiling at all.If i was taking him to the bathroom everytime I "thought" he had to go... Geez that would prob. take an hour out of my day. I work as well- so maybe my view would be a little different if i really did have the time. However, I did read in one of the posts that making a "psss" sound will encourage your baby to go. I've tried that and it works fabulous. (most of the time) Less peepee in the face for me. I agree with BioMom- just do whatever feels right for you and your baby. I find more, that the moms who are lucky enough to stay at home have more time to try all these neat little things.I wish i was that lucky!
If using diapers for you and your little man works- then by all means- stick to it.
barbicus

cattieos · 07-26-2006, 11:10 PM

My MIL's Mother says that her children were all potty trained at 4 months, but MIL says that is crazy, because she remebers her younger sister being in diapers at 3. the thing that gets me about it is that newborns and very young babies don't pee alot at a time, but they pee all the time. Just like little dribbles here and there. And if you have a boy leaving them without a diaper on is like leaving a water hose on and flying around! I can see that I might could get DS over the toilet for a stinky, cause I can usually tell when he is going to do it. But, he doesn't do it all at once, it takes him about five or 10 minutes sometimes, so I would have to just hold him over the toilet, and the way he squirms all that would do is end up with him, and me too, in the toilet!
It is true that other cultures do it, and I think that if you HAD to do it, then it would be alot easier. But I have the choice of picking diapers, which to me seems alot easier! But, like many have said, it's a personal choice and it isn't wrong to do either. It's just what works best for your baby, and you.