[JeanLynn81]

Came across this article today while reading the news.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/drop-th...28092309990001

So tell me what you think. Could this work?

I tend to agree with most of the responders to that article, that it doesn't sound sanitary at all and probably is a bad idea. I'd hate to teach my daughter that its okay to go wherever she wants.

[siageah]

I probably would try it if I had another child. All it is is paying attention to your child's signals and getting the child to an appropriate place to eliminate. Many parents use the toilet or a potty or a bowl for the process. A tree is just as good as anyplace (for a child of any age) if the need to there and there isn't a quick alternative.

It certainly beats disposables, and I say that as someone who used disposables, for the environment.

I think it is just another method for raising your child and one group shouldn't be pitted against the other. We have enough of that with breast vs bottle, cloth vs sposies, vax vs non-vax, etc.

[twinzplus3]

I think it's a great idea. . .sort of. What I like about it is the emphasis on paying such close attention to your cild's cues.

However, I cannot fathom personally doing it with twins. It is simply beyond my comprehension!

[allybama]

I couldn't imagine having the time to do this....MAYBE if I only had one child it MIGHT be feasible....

[twinzplus3]

I don't think it would be more time consuming than going out and buying diapers, or washing cloth ones. Most moms I know that ec also sling so that they can read the cues on their babies as they're body tenses before needing to go. Then you just take them and go.

One thing that I realized is that you'd think there would be a lot of accidents but there really aren't. The baby is essentially trained from early on.

[QueenAngie]

I'm thinking that it is more the mother's trained to potty her child
and watch for cues that baby has a full bladder or stool at age 14 weeks.

My Mom always said if the baby is coordinated to walk and run, then the same muscles for stool and bladder are also strong enough to toilet.

Did you read that the toddler did the sign language for toilet? I find that interesting too.

[mollymae]

If you have enough time and nothing else to do than be with one child then I think it might work. If you co sleep with a baby how would it work at night time?

Angie, toilet training isn't just about whether muscles are strong enough it about signals to the brain which until they are working then the only person who is trained is the parent.

I've had 2 trained at 22 months, 0ne at 33 month and Josh is nearly 3 and is only just showing signs that he might be ready soon.

[amholb0]

It's not something I would do but, I'm certainly not going to critize anyone for trying this method.

[twinzplus3]

If you co-sleep you put something absorbant under the baby (or get messy I guess?). I know others who co-sleep and ec, but cloth diaper at night.

[jadis]

Ewwww- if other parents want to deal with this, they can knock themselves out. I have a hard enough time cleaning up after the two grownups and three pets in the house, let alone dealing with a free-range baby who may or may not pop a squat on the kitchen floor if I get distracted for a few moments. I know she will create allllll kinds of messes, but I plan on avoiding the more obvious if at all possible

May work for other people- but would I ever fathom it? Hells no. I will diaper until she is old enough to be an active participant in the toilet-training process.