Comments on: The bizarre problems of our brave new world

By: rockdalian

rockdalian — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:41:06 +0000

But super-comfortable nappies are not the only problem

As I advance in age it is of some comfort to me that I will be wearing the best.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:03:56 +0000

Trying to keep children eternally children seems to be a Western decadent trait erupting in Britain. of course, I do not live there so cannot really say whether the media is exaggerating or not.

By: soccerdad

soccerdad — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:41:15 +0000

In the brave new world there’s another trend: babies without diapers. Since diapers aren’t enviro-friendly, there’s a movement (no pun intended) to allow babies to toddle about without any sort of inconveniencing material on their bottoms.

I believe that they say that if you look at your baby you can tell when he/she is ready to go.

I have a 21 month old. She sometimes indicates when she’s about to go. However, I’m not about to have a baby make me watch her 24/7 for signs that I need to sit her down on the toilet. And I’m not willing to take the chance that I’ll miss the necessary visual clue.

One of my friends told me that he was considering letting his baby go without diapers, but the idea of moving every two weeks didn’t appeal to him.

I think that still applies.

(Nothing about La Leche children nursing until 5 or older?)

By: suek

suek — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:45:04 +0000

>>In the old days, when cloth diapers ruled, the experience was so miserable that mothers were much more proactive about training their kids, and age two was usually the goal.>>

Heh. I remember those “old days”. In fact, I remember the first disposables. They were plastic panties with huge Kotex-like pads. Do you even know what Kotex is????

>>I’m not just some grumpy old lady looking back to the good ole days.>>

I am. Well, not grumpy, I hope. And I don’t know about the “good ole days” part…but I do find the idea of having children going into first grade without being toilet trained _really_ bizarre! In fact, it seems to me that that was one of the soothing strictures used when Moms seemed to rigid in their discipline and trying to get their kids toilet trained too early “You don’t see children starting first grade in diapers, do you!”…indicating that they’d train themselves when it was “time”. Apparently that wasn’t true!!

By: heather

heather — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:46:37 +0000

I don’t think it’s that bad yet here, but wouldn’t be surprised if we went that way. Haven’t heard of kids in diapers in elem. school, and many preschools won’t take them if they aren’t trained. However, parents are definitely more laid-back about training their kids now. All of the “experts” in the parenting magazines and TV say to wait until the kid is ready, which at best, means age 3. Don’t want to damage their fragile egos by making them accomplish something and grow up. Plenty of 4 year olds still in diapers these days. Frankly, some kids are never ready to stop playing and use the potty, as long as mommy will keep on cleaning up! Why should they go to that effort? Plus, modern diapers keep the kid much more comfortable, so he’s not motivated.

In the old days, when cloth diapers ruled, the experience was so miserable that mothers were much more proactive about training their kids, and age two was usually the goal. But disposables are so much easier on parents now. My s-in-law admitted that she knew her three year old was capable, but that she didn’t want to be bothered with training him, and cleaning up puddles. Just easier to keep changing diapers! And she’s right – it is easier – in the short term! However, I don’t think it does a child any good, and it sure is expensive.

And by the way, I have three young children (5, 3, and 1), so I’m not just some grumpy old lady looking back to the good ole days.