No, I am not asking for any LOL.. Why is that people always feel free to give parenting advice even when not asked?

Faith will be 3 in Mid August, she is not potty trained. She is not interested at this time. We have a potty chair, she sits on it, but its normally a fight to get her to use it, so I have stopped.My other 2 kids were potty trained right before their 3rd b-day. I am not worried about it. My friend stopped by to pick something up, she made mention that Faith is too old to be wearing diapers still..I did not say anything,just smiled. My mother also makes comments about Faith still being in diapers.
Why is this everybody elses concern? Nobody is changing her diapers except me and my husband, nobody buys her diapers except me and my husband?
If its not a conern of mine, why does it bother other people?
Anybody else have this sort of parenting advice thrown on them, without being asked???

By Shann on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 05:53 pm:

I have to agree with you Jackie they should mind there own business when she is ready she will start. Mine were fairly easy and They were ready. Just enjoy her and spoil her they tend to grow up to fast. my babies will be 6 in a few months.

By Cocoabutter on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 06:04 pm:

I never had much advice thrown at me, but when I did, I just humored the person. Say, "Oh, okay. I see. Thanks!" And dismiss the subject. They are most likely only trying to share their knowledge and experience with you, and someday you might wish you had someone to give you some insight or advice.

Potty training is one of those sticcky issues that everyone has an opinion on. Most say there is no set age for potty training, just a few standards that are set that keep changing with every new parenting book the gets published. My son was 3-1/2. I tried when he turned 3 and it didn't work. When I tried again, it took 3 days. I would be more worried about a 4 year old who isn't potty trained.

However, with regard to just about everything in life, we as parents can't wait until the child decides they are ready for the next stage in their growth. It is our job to guide them. We as mature adults know, even when the child doesn't, when we see that a child has the potential to succeed, and we must challenge the child to reach that potential, even at these first stages.

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 07:08 pm:

Oh yeat! I remember when my oldest was about 3 and I was pushing his stroller through the flower show, when this older man walked up, took Don's thumb out of his mouth, and said "you're too old to suck your thumb!" I told him he was old enough to know to keep his hands off of other people's children. I was so angry!!!

By Dawnk777 on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 08:23 pm:

No advice from me! Both of mine were over 3. It bothered my mom, but it didn't bother me! For both, when it happened, it happened and was over with in a matter of days.

My SIL wondered, since I knew when Emily was pooping, why don't I put her on the potty chair. SIL has no children. So, one day I tried it. I took off her diaper and had her sit on the potty chair. Nothing happened. Big surprise. I put the diaper back on, and it happened. It happened, when she was ready!

By Nicki on Friday, May 11, 2007 - 10:29 pm:

How true, Dawn. LOL. Jackie, I had LOTS of advice on this subject and many others from a particular family member. After getting myself upset time and again, I decided it was enough. When the advice starts flying, I basically do my best to ignore it and change the subject immediately. It has helped some, but this particular person is stubborn, lol. I guess it has helped me to know I'm not alone. As this thread shows, we all seem to get our share of this stuff. My dd "seemed" potty trained around two, but relapsed during the year. She was still in diapers/pull ups after her third birthday, and it took even longer for her to go #2 in the potty. I got an earful, but I just went with dd's schedule, and all worked out quite nicely. All that advice didn't do much to change my mind or dd's.:-)

By Jackie on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 05:29 am:

The funny thing is that I have 2 older kids, who are potty trained..LOL...sleep in their own beds, and did not use a pacifier past the age of 3..
I find it odd, that people think they need to offer parenting advice to me on my youngest LOL

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 07:50 am:

Yeah, like somehow you forgot how to parent, after the other two, huh? It must be frustrating!

When Emily went in for her 2 year well-child checkup, the doctor said, "Well, you potty-trained one child!" I remember thinking that potty-training one child really didn't make me an expert!