Anyone want to join me in my "let 'em be children fgs" campaign?

[hunkermunker]

It involves NOT setting arbitrary dates for things such as:

stopping bottles/breastfeeding
being out of nappies
sucking thumbs/fingers
having a comfort blanket

and probably lots more things I can think of.

Because all this sort of judgemental "ooh, I hate seeing a child of x age doing y thing" stuff is bullshit and none of anyone else's business. All children develop and achieve things at different ages and it would be very nice if people realised that once in a while.

No?

I not only admit to re-reading Enid Blyton books in my 30's but I have recently bought my daughter me the new 'Anne Digby' Naughiest Girl books

We have no routine, we sleep, feed, nurse, potty, bath, play etc all on demand. Depending on how my daughter and I feel and what we have to do that day and I find this is the best way for us.

Though my mother keeps telling me we NEED a routine...nope, can't see it myself.

This is one of my biggest bug bears and something that I battle with my DH about. I find our society really Victorian in its attitudes to children still, 'people' expect them to behave like adults when they are out but my kids are 3 and 6 and as such act accordingly (DH is of the seen and not heard brigade), god help them when they are teenagers as there is no place for them either. We shouldn't bother socialising our children as no one wants to see them til they are civilised human beings, yet are perfectly happy to take my money and rob me blind for their non family friendly activities. Call me cynical...

When I was pg, DP bought me a box set of old Disney movies - Dumbo, cindarella etc because I absolutely loved them as a child and had very fond memories of watching them together with my parents and siblings, it was cosy and 'homely'.
He told me they were for us to watch with the baby when 'it' was old enough.
This thread has reminded me of them and I dont think DS would sit and watch them just yet, but I cant wait! and fully expect to subject him to 'Disney weekends' til he's at least 15

Way hey yes- so agree! kids are meant to be kids; what eprson in their right mnd would choose to fill thier home with premature teenagers anyhow?

I suck my thumb btw, can't say it has adversely affected my life!

In my cruellest moments I love pointing out to competiotive Mummies that ds1 reached every milestone early- walking at 10 months, for example- yet has Sn and a reading age half his chronological. AKA: there is no such thing as a guarantee love!.

DS3 also Sn still in nappies and the professionals seem to make out like we chose not to train him- yeah OKaaaaay- at the age of 4+ we WANT him to be causing us to spend a fortune on nappies and to have the prospect of a newborn and 4 .9 year old both needing changing........ , when HE'S BLOODY RAEDY

Oh my gosh, x-post - that was in relation to my own post...

LOL scaremy

Thanks Hunk! Loving this thread! I was starting to feel like a freak because my son (3 in Feb) shows no interest in using the potty or toilet. I keep getting disapproving / pitying comments from other mums / random women in supermarkes etc. :-)

LA

dont like them in nappies or suckling bottle in public over 2.3 but.....

agree in principle

RK, if you agree in principle, why have the age limit for bottles and nappies? And why 2.3? That's very young for being out of nappies, especially for boys.

roy

i tried to interest my ds in potty training when he was 2.9, he was not physically capable of doing it. i let him decide when to wear big boy pants, and he was about 3.2 ish.

let kids be kids for goodness sake, why is our society so eager for children to grow up so fast. it makes me very and

DS1 wasn't ready At All when he was 2.3. Knew the alphabet though

meant 2 1/2 tbh
just think its natural ..babies can pot train from 18/19months and i think ost cultures do - ours did before disposables
bottles - humans dont need to suckle on them - can use a cup
dont mind thumb sucking - i still do and am adult

i also dont let my babies have mobiles or use msn (some of them are in their teens) so i truly am in no hurry for them to grow up

no roy my son could not potty train at that age. he was not physically able to do it. maybe your children could, but mine couldn't, not didn't want to, but couldn't. why would i want to put myself and my son through the distress of trying to do something he couldn't do. and what difference does it make to you whether my son wears a nappy or not

But you're suggesting that because some children can do something, all should and that sort of talk has no place on this thread

i just think its not nice for the child once they are aware
but hark i agree with hunker bar this point!

Mine weren't trained until over 3 regardless of Sn or NT (I have a variety) and that was with washables, all boys. DS1 3.8, ds2 3, ds3 ???? counting! (4.3)

Only person it affects is me. he was trained for 6 months but regressed.

I want to join. DD is 3.5 and shows no sign of being dry at night. Does it matter, of course not, she's brilliant at other things and she'll get it eventually.
Only reason I switched from bottles to cups at 12 months was 'cos I read somewhere it's better for their teeth.

But they're often NOT aware, that's the whole point, RK!

It's not about saying to a child who wants to use the toilet "no, you must soil yourself"

RoyKinnear,

But the whole point of this thread is not too say 'all children must'...it is to understand that all children will do what is best for them and their family.

In my humble opinion, I believe all babies are capable of being clean and dry from being very young (much younger than 18 months) but that does not follow that I should demand that you should use this type of parenting on your children. Hence you should not expect other people to do things your way either.

well maybe i have different experiences but i do have boys

ok moves off thread despite agreeing with idea of it

ALL baies witches everywhere? - surely you aloow for SN children, or those who have delayed sensory development, or communication issues/