Meet Aussie Mom, Sarah Benton
Meet Aussie mom, Sarah Benton, who claims she’s been potty training her baby since he was just three weeks old. Now that he’s nearly one, she insists he’s communicating his bathroom needs through sounds. An “uh-oh” apparently signals a bowel movement on the way, and at night, a little “eh eh” means it’s time to go. Really, Sarah? “LOL” translates to “potty training a three-week-old is a total waste of time.”
The Challenges of Early Potty Training
According to the Daily Gazette, Sarah confessed that the toughest period was between two and four months. She treated it like a project, desperately trying to catch every wee and poop. Her little one took to using an EcoBabyloo (costing around $100), but her husband was too busy with work to pitch in on this training method.
Are You Really Potty Training?
Let’s be real: if you’re the one timing everything, looking for cues, and holding your baby over the potty — you’re not actually potty training them. You’re just training yourself to observe and react. Sarah mentions, “I got good at spotting his signals right after a breastfeeding session because, well, there’s a lot going in, so something’s bound to come out. Plus, he’s super regular in the mornings and after naps.” Babies often follow an adult’s rhythm but at a much quicker pace — so if he pees in his diaper, that’s on you.
Time Sink or Training?
If you want to spend your days glued to your infant so you can brag about their “potty training” success, go for it. But honestly, staring at your child all day and occasionally holding them over a potty isn’t training — it’s a serious time sink. Think of all the books you could have devoured, sweaters you could have knitted, or even foreign languages you could have learned. And let’s not forget all those episodes of Stranger Things you could’ve binged.
The Debate on Potty Training Infants
The idea of potty training infants isn’t new. Elimination Communication suggests that babies are born ready to potty train, and we inadvertently teach them to get used to sitting in dirty diapers. Sure, that’s one perspective. Another is that both cloth and disposable diapers offer parents the freedom to not hover over their little ones all day, hoping to catch them in time before they soak the carpet.
What Does True Potty Training Mean?
If you manage to get a child to a toilet before they can do it themselves, are they really potty trained? If I look at my kid, think she’s about to pee, and rush her to the bathroom for months, she’s not trained. No shade to parents who have the time and energy to do this, but calling it “potty training” seems like a bit of a stretch — a big one.
Further Reading
For more on this topic, check out this article from one of our other blogs, Home Insemination Kit. If you’re on a journey towards parenthood, Make A Mom is a great resource. Additionally, for insights into pregnancy and home insemination, the Cleveland Clinic offers excellent guidance.
Conclusion
In summary, while some parents might have the time and energy to engage in what they call potty training from infancy, it’s essential to remember that true potty training happens when a child can independently recognize their needs and act on them.