Toilet training part II

I went to a WI talk years ago about the new style washable nappies, (after my babies were grown up. They had their cousin's terry squares.) We were told disposables would remain in landfill for five hundred years. If Queen Elizabeth the first had been in disposables they would still exist. I was horrified. I have stopped using daily pads for slightly iffy bladder. I made pads from towelling and flannel and stitched them in my knickers, work fine and go in the normal wash. Having solved that, and got the final grandchild in washable, my husband developed prostate cancer and the treatment he has had has left him incontinent. I can't see a way to get round that issue with washable but I'm open to suggestions.

I've heard that aswell ,it's a big concern for the world
But if I had my way disposable nappies would be limited ,I know they have there place but terry nappies these days are much better for babies and toddlers, and obviously the environmental effect aswell ,they will last each child at least 3 years

I agree, but it’s not just nappies. I have been reading about the environmental effect of fast fashion which end up on huge fabric mountains in the third world. Very worrying.

I know this is an old post but thought I'd reply, ive been looking after my grandson for a little while now due to family circumstances and never liked disposables and started using terry nappies on him ,never like the fact that all those paper nappies in land fill and feel terrys especially today are much better and nicer on a child's skin ,my grandson is much happier wearing his terry nappies and never had nappy rash

Precisely Daddima, that’s exactly how it happened.

No one is suggesting a child that young has control of their bladder and bowels, but it saved lots of wet, or better still, dirty nappies, and surprisingly, by about two years of age, most children were out of nappies, and didn’t regress, so something was working.

Unlike the children starting school now still in nappies.

Calendargirl

^toilet training to start at around 6 to 8 months^

‘Start’ being the operative word.

So, how would you ‘start’? I genuinely can’t imagine how. You can sit the child on a potty, but they are not really controlling the muscles used in elimination, are they? I’d imagine a reflex can be triggered by the sensation of sitting on the potty, rather than the child being in control of bladder or bowels.

People often used to hold their small babies over a potty when I had my children in the 70 s. I didn’t but in those days they were usually dry by day before they were 2, my dd was 18 months and maybe a little longer til they were dry at night.

I had never heard of disposable nappies til later and they were much too expensive to buy so I carried on with my bucket and wooden spoon in the corner of the kitchen. Luckily not for too long.

toilet training to start at around 6 to 8 months

‘Start’ being the operative word.

Calendargirl

^the new guidance around toilet training is to start around 6 to 8 months when baby can sit up… it’s called potty learning…I think this is a result of so many children starting school in nappies these days^

Hallelujah! Has the penny finally dropped with all these so-called experts?

‘Potty learning’ indeed! Do they think giving it a trendy, re-branded name will make us think they have re-invented the wheel?

To me a child is toilet trained when they learn that they need to empty their bowels or bladder, and either go and do so by themselves, or communicate to their caregiver. I have never encountered a six or eight month old who could do that.

How about incontinence pads?
Perhaps people should start wearing towelling nappies.

There are lots of parents using cloth nappies for environmental reasons though - four of my seven grandchildren had cloth nappies.
Both my daughters used them for their children.
My son's three children all had disposable nappies.

I know several of my daughters' friends used cloth nappies too as they all gifted the outgrown ones to each other.
They also got a council (I think) grant to get started.

Isn’t that elimination communication?

Well, well, well,

They could have saved themselves a lot of trouble if they would only listen to the Auld Wives!

But when has the world ever done that?

^’Potty learning’ indeed! Do they think giving it a trendy, re-branded name will make us think they have re-invented the wheel?

Yes-though actually it’s more to persuade young parents that this is the way to go.

the new guidance around toilet training is to start around 6 to 8 months when baby can sit up… it’s called potty learning…I think this is a result of so many children starting school in nappies these days

Hallelujah! Has the penny finally dropped with all these so-called experts?

‘Potty learning’ indeed! Do they think giving it a trendy, re-branded name will make us think they have re-invented the wheel?

I really wanted to use reusable but struggled with getting them dry, fitting them under clothes, and a very grumpy baby when she was in them. Her grandma said there was no way she was dealing with cloth nappies! She was out of nappies at two. Both myself and my daughter use reusable sanitary products though.

BlueBelle

Why do people suggest that mums only work today !! Look at mums in the war and after My own mum worked 8 till 6 with only Sunday off most of my childhood and still managed without disposable nappies
I wouldn’t be so against them if they were only used for 6 months but they are used for years children are starting school in them that’s not through mums working its because its too easy and sorry but it makes for lazy patenting

That's why we were toilet trained much earlier.
No wet or soiled nappies to deal without a washing machine, no soggy nappies hanging down our legs when we were 3 or 4!
We were generally toilet trained by about 15 months, 18 months at the latest.

Why do people suggest that mums only work today !! Look at mums in the war and after My own mum worked 8 till 6 with only Sunday off most of my childhood and still managed without disposable nappies
I wouldn’t be so against them if they were only used for 6 months but they are used for years children are starting school in them that’s not through mums working its because its too easy and sorry but it makes for lazy patenting

I know I shouldn’t really say it, but I think today’s disposable napping are absolutely brilliant!
They fit so well, they don’t leak at all, so the clothes stay dry.

Honestly it was a revelation to me when I first encountered them with my grandchildren.

Yes obviously there is the environmental issue, but honestly, would anyone want to go back to towelling nappies, which, despite my best efforts with the awful plastic pants, still leaked onto the clothes.

I believe there are biodegradable ones around now but from what I’ve heard they are not very effective.

I don’t know what the answer is.
I certainly can’t see busy modern mums giving them up.

Many Councils will provide yellow bags for clinical waste, eg nappies, incontinence pads.

My daughter used reusable nappies for her two. I was looking after them during the week so she would usually put them through the washing machine and hang them up to dry. When they were dry I would sit and put them back together (they were made in several pieces) while the baby slept. Saved a lot of money on disposables and she got a grant from the council when she bought them. My mother in law was a much worse problem with her incontinence pads. She wore them all the time and seemed to get through dozens. I asked the Council about disposal and was told they should just go in the normal rubbish bin. I used to feel sorry for the bin men because they absolutely stank of ammonia.

I used Terry nappies for my first and was constantly soaking, washing and drying them, while working full time. It was onerous. My second child, I used disposable nappies and what a difference! They freed me up to actually spend time with my children after work. If you have the ability to not work, then real nappies are fine. I know there is a movement for reusable period products and incontinence pads. Not for me. Disposable all the way

My 2.5yo GS was toilet-trained by his nursery last week. It took three days. Two days and several changes of clothes, the third day, the penny dropped and there’s been hardly an accident since. He’s waking up dry most mornings, too. He’s very proud of himself.

The nursery doesn’t bother with a potty, they go straight for toilet usage with a step. I guess it’s a win for them, too, with fewer nappies to change!

Used disposables for my 3 in the 90s ....I worked so didn't have time or inclination to be washing reusable nappies....never knew anyone using them at that time so things must have moved on by early 90s .... the new guidance around toilet training is to start around 6 to 8 months when babies can sit up ...its called potty learning ....I think this is as a result of so many children starting school in nappies these days

No, used them with my own children and GS and would do it all over again, purely for the convenience factor. I wouldn't have had the time (nor the inclination) to deal with terry nappies, and I certainly wouldn't be using anything other than disposable pants or pads if I needed to now either.