Why do parents now want kids to grow up so fast?

Question

I see so many parents wanting to potty train under age 2 and taking bottle away early, sending kids to schools at age 2. I have 5 and they grow up way to fast. Don't push your babies. Let them be babies because you are going to miss it. If you are teaching your child to be so independant at a young age they will start feeling they deserve to be independant at ages they shouldnt be. It is not a competition raising kids to see who can get their trained younger or whos kid is smarter. Let babies be babies. I miss my babies!!!! I miss cuddle time and that special bonding time we had while changing diapers. Singing songs and playing patticake with feet. Enjoy your baby and let them be babies.

I guess my thing with the bottle is more personal. I let my boys have them till age 2 but after 1 it was just water. Made them feel safe. I remember my sis in law bragging my neice was off the bottle at 10 mos old and my son was just a month younger. She went from a bottle at night to a sippy cup and had that sippy cup at night till she was 5 years old. I waited till my son was a little older and by 2 he felt more secure at night and moved onto a stuffed animal. I have no issue with starting things young but I see all to often parents getting mad and frustrated because there child is not trained by age 2 or off the bottle and feel they are making their child smarter or better then other kids because their kid was so young. They will think differently when their child is doing other things to young when they get older because they were made to grow up to fast.

I think 4 year old preschool a couple times a week is great if you can afford it. I saw a question on this board the other day and her 1 year old was in some special school already and it was not for special needs.

Answer 1

I SO feel the same way you do, and it's nice to see for a change! I'm not for letting kids have bottles and pacifiers till age 3 or whatever, but I do feel many parents are in a hurry to move on. I never even thought about letting my daughter hold her own bottle, I was just used to feeding her and getting to hold her the whole time - so it bothers me when I hear parents complaining that their 6 month old won't hold their own bottle! I agree with the school thing too. I know they have programs for 3 & 4 yr. olds, but I don't plan on sending my daughter until age 4. She will be going to school for 13 yrs. regardless, so why rush it if it's not necessary? A couple of my brothers never went to preschool, and they were above average as far as school was concerned. I see no reason for a 2 yr. old to be going to school regularly. Mine gets enough interaction at the sitters around her and her kids, and learns just as much as she would at a preschool program. I could go on and on, but you know what I mean cuz you feel the same way. I'm all for letting kids learn things in order to be independent in certain ways, but sometimes nowadays it's too rushed.

Answer 2

I agree but I am trying to potty train my 21 mo. We have been working on it for about 4 mos now and if he goes thats great but if not, no big deal. It will happen eventually! My reason is to get him into a 1/2 day, twice a week, preschool type program where he can meet and play with other children, outside of the park and home environment. I hate it that he is growing up so fast!

Answer 3

Here is how I see it. You get all the information you can get from your doctor, books and internet. You love your child as the special individual he or she is and then you give the kid whatever resources the child needs at whatever age. Just like you the parent is unique and unline any other so is your child. If you take time to know your child, the child will show you in mannerisms what and when they need what.
My child let go of pacifier in 1 month, breast feeding at 2 years, slept on its own at 1 year. Loves sports even though my husband & I play none. Love your child, know your child.

Answer 4

I don't think a lot of people feel it is a competition first off. There are many parents who must get their children out of diapers ASAP. There are ways to introduce a potty to a child without force. I know sure as heck I would like my son out of diapers by two or shortly there after. I put a little potty in our bathroom and he's been showing a lot of interest in it lately and is begining to 'get' the concept. How is a child supposed to automatically one day decide that they are going to go potty? My cousin came to live with my husband and I at three years of age. We waited for interest [that's what his grandmother told us to do] but at four years he still showed NO interest. I was changing diapers on a FOUR year old who just wasn't ready. He still poops in his pants at times now and he's five! That's not happening to my son! I refuse to change another three or four year old's DIAPER.

My son has been drinking out of a sippy since he was about eleven months. We got him started at about ten months and by twelve months he doesn't even like bottles. Why did we do this? Again, my cousin, at three years old he was still drinking out of a bottle!

It's not about people wanting their kids to grow up fast. My boys go to the park every day to play. My boys paint, cook, read, learn, and just have fun everyday. How is a sippy cup or big boy underwear holding them back from being kids? I don't want them to grow up too fast but I also don't want them to stay babies until they are three. Kids do need to grow up--it's not parents in this generation either. My parents had all of their kids potty trained by eighteen months. Why? Because it's not nessecary to keep kids in diapers.

As for school--how is that hindering a child's ability at all? That's getting them interested in school that perhaps the parent doesn't know how to do. There's nothing wrong with TEACHING children how to be successful. What's wrong is HOLDING them back!

Answer 5

I agree we want them to talk and walk. Then they won't shut up and be still. I miss all those baby moments too. My youngest is four and no matter how much I tried to keep him a baby he matured really fast. Now at four he is so smart that I can not keep him challenged. So he is going to head start this next school year to be challenged and socialized. My other three just cruised through life, no big deals. But in today's society we are much more knowledgeable and understand more now what's going on with our kids that it's hard to slow down.

Answer 6

Thanks i totallly agree especially my bf or men my son is 7 and to me he is still my baby and my girl is 5 and my newest arrival is 3 months today. yes let them be babies , cause time flies and once they decide they are big its over. My mom and/or dad told me I was too old for dolls when I was 12 and so after that I wanted to have babies or so I wanted them to think cause they bursted my baby bubble for say.Its not like I was gonna necessarily play house or with my dools I just collected them for a hobby .They were my pride and joy , Apart of me grew up the instant they told me that no lie . I wasn't their baby anymore . After that it was more less all about me . Adolessents would shortly kick in but they should have just let nature take its course . I agree.Sincereley .Mom of three .Kary

Answer 7

i could never understand that kinda mentality. OK... they need the training and its so neat to see them achieve the "milestones" but yes some parents treat it like a competition.
And... when they start school and go out "into the world" they grow up even faster. society today seems to push our children into adulthood at an alarmingly early age. and i would lay a lot of the blame on the media and music industry.

Answer 8

I agree 100%. My youngest is going to be 9yrs. old in Sept. I can't believe how fast time goes. I still remember being pregnant with her like it was yesterday.!! Parents should just slow down and enjoy their little ones because they won't be little tomorrow.

Answer 9

I don't think it's rushing to try to teach them things early. I was potty trained before I was two. My mom worked days and dad worked nights, so he kept me during the day. He said he was just tired of changing diapers! : ) So, he potty trained me early. I think the longer you let a child have a bottle, the harder it is to take it away. They become too attached.

Answer 10

I agree. I think parent rush things because they think it will be "easier" when the child sleeps through the night, walks, talks, goes to school, etc.