stolen from P&CE - baby/toddler related

Vinny2008

http://sewliberated.typepad.com/sew_liberated/2009/04/finnians-montessori-room.html

So, I first saw these pictures and was all impressed.  I think this is, at first glance, a really cute room.  I actually may end up taking away a couple of ideas from it for if and when we ever move.

However, the following things strike me as, "you'll see when you are a parent":

1. Perhaps my kid is just especially aggressive, but he would take a toy and smack it into those mirrors until they were dust.

2.  Picture frames at a toddler's eye line, good in theory, but will just become a fun toy to carry around until dropped.

3.  EC area.  No.  Just no.

BobLoblaw

I saw that this morning. I like the colors a lot, but wtf. The kid isn't even out of the womb yet.

FallinAgain

I generally think Montessori rooms are bsc.  Shiit does not belong in the bedroom.  And rails are good.

CaliopeSpidrman

I think when someone does that much planning in advance they are going to wind up disappointed.

Vinny2008

FallinAgain:

I generally think Montessori rooms are bsc. Right there with you.  Shiit does not belong in the bedroom.  Word (of course, I change his diapers in there, but we'll ignore that small fact).  And rails are good.  Dit-Toe.

See above for NestThis.

Novemberrocks

I think the whole EC concept is one of the dumbest ever.  Ever.  Seriously, who thinks up this crap?

I do like the tranquility of the room.

mulva33

I don't even know what a montessori room is.  My kid has a playroom.  Is that the same thing?  I hung mirrors Liza's playroom at her eye level b/c she is vain.  She hasn't broken them yet, but I remember thinking when I hung them that is was probably a bad idea all around. 

FallinAgain

Yeah, changing diapers v. teaching a toddler that's where it goes to the bathroom is different to me.  And I just don't get what's wrong with teaching them that they go to the bathroom to poop, just like the rest of the humans.

noisy_penguin

It's cute. Entirely impractical, but cute. (Except for the shitter, of course.)

wkatie

I think its highly likely that kids that grow up in this type of environment are going to have a rude awakening when they get off mom's boob and go to college.

mulva33

FallinAgain:

Yeah, changing diapers v. teaching a toddler that's where it goes to the bathroom is different to me.  And I just don't get what's wrong with teaching them that they go to the bathroom to poop, just like the rest of the humans.

seriously.  People like this just piss me off.  I don't know why.  I want to yell, "just be normal for christ's sake."  there is no way this kid is not going to end up a total pansy ass.

FallinAgain

EC is the bscraziest of all the bsc.

katie.i.do

the potty mats/chairs all over the gaddamn room gross me out, it's like they're paper training a puppy. i had a drunk friend who once shat on the kitchen floor at a house party. major party foul. can't help but think this sort of thing leads to such cavalier toilet habits.

 i like the cloth wall stuff-holders though.

Vinny2008

From another blog post, here is her explanation of what a Montessori approach is (I put my comments in bold):

The overwhelming goal of a Montessori approach to education and parenting is this: follow the child. Our aims are simple:

• to prepare an environment that gives the child a high level of independence
• to observe the child living freely within this environment
• to continually adapt the environment based on this particular child's personality and needs, consistent with respecting the needs of the community/family of which he is a part.

Thus, the goal behind Finn's room and our parenting philosophy in general is not to place our own expectations on him and guide him through life on a short leash, but rather to provide him with every opportunity to be himself and to give him the freedom and space in which he can develop and express his own special spirit.

Yeeah.  I place my own expectations on Andy.  Poor kid is never going to learn to be himself or be able to express his own special spirit.

mulva33

I would prefer not to allow my child to live freely while expressing her independence.  If I do that, where is her motiviation to grow up, earn money and go to college so she can get the f' outta my house and be her own person?

SarahBethBR

FallinAgain:

And I just don't get what's wrong with teaching them that they go to the bathroom to poop, just like the rest of the humans.

She says that they would use the bathroom, but the layout isn't conducive to holding a baby above the toilet.

My problem is that, before a certain age, you're not teaching the child anything about the bathroom by holding him over the toilet while he pees.  He has no clue whether he's peeing in a diaper, over a toilet, or on the cat.  He's just peeing.

lisaiesha

That's a very detailed description for one room. I love the furnishings but the no crib, no diapers thing is just too wierd for me. I can't even fathom why you would do that.

lanie30

Yep. Every time I see that I laugh. Kid's still in the womb she's all about "sensory corners."

 Your kid is going to explore everything anyway, WTF good is a "sensory corner." Jo gets a kick out of brushing her teeth in front of the bathroom mirror and sitting with me in the morning while I go through my routine looking into my make up mirror.

I think its very nice that she put such an effort into creating a little room but I don't get it.

There was someone on one of the boards saying we shouldn't decorate our children's rooms/nurseries with what we want because that's stifling. What if they want cowboys on their walls and not robots!!!?

I figure when Jo gets old enough to say "hey mom. I'd like a yellow wall." We'll work it out together. I don't get this weird stuff.

Vinny2008

My problem with EC is, no matter how hard you try to pay attention, there will be times that you miss Jr.'s "cue," and now you have to clean up a mess on your living room carpet.

No thank you.  Diapers are a pretty cool invention in my opinion.

noisy_penguin

Vinny2008:

Thus, the goal behind Finn's room and our parenting philosophy in general is not to place our own expectations on him and guide him through life on a short leash, but rather to provide him with every opportunity to be himself and to give him the freedom and space in which he can develop and express his own special spirit.

This is what happens when your child expresses his own special spirit.

lanie30

SarahBethBR:

FallinAgain:

And I just don't get what's wrong with teaching them that they go to the bathroom to poop, just like the rest of the humans.

She says that they would use the bathroom, but the layout isn't conducive to holding a baby above the toilet.

My problem is that, before a certain age, you're not teaching the child anything about the bathroom by holding him over the toilet while he pees.  He has no clue whether he's peeing in a diaper, over a toilet, or on the cat.  He's just peeing.

Yeah but they'll say that EC is all about being in touch with their babies. They're more in touch than you. They sense things you can't.

Dude, I do not have time or the desire to sit around watching Jo for pee faces at 2 months old. I find potty training tiresome enough. I like that she knows what she's doing, can climb onto the potty herself, can manage her underwear on her own and yells "I FINISH! UH OH! MOM! I NEED HELP WITH THE DRIPS!" (one day she'll kill me for posting that)

Temp893353375007415

I didn't even know what EC was until reading that blog.  I lke the colors, and I really like that Belle and Boo print.  The Etsy shop is wonderful.

salimoo

I fear for the future. I'm sure November didn't have potty mats and sensory corners and she had an imaginary tuna sandwich for crissakes. How the eff is using a toilet stifling ones creativity? These are the people who grow up and paint with their own menstrual blood and make tree ornaments out of tampons.

Vinny2008

lanie30:

There was someone on one of the boards saying we shouldn't decorate our children's rooms/nurseries with what we want because that's stifling. What if they want cowboys on their walls and not robots!!!?

I figure when Jo gets old enough to say "hey mom. I'd like a yellow wall." We'll work it out together. I don't get this weird stuff.

I was given crazy freedom to decorate my room as a kid/teenager.  I will grant my kids that same freedom.  However, I want my kid to have a bright, fun room now, so I have taken it upon myself to do what I think is cute for the time being.  When he has an opinion, he will decide.

lanie30

I'm not judging you NP. I'm just saying that if you had done what was best for Will and wore him in a toddler carrier for 5 hours, that would not have happened. But whatever. You choose to do what is best for your family and leave him with permanent marker scars.

 

mashedpotato

so she wants to teach her child to be independant and free, but he can't sleep in his own crib err mattress at night?  I don't see how co-sleeping fits in.

I kind of like the branch with the birds though.

FallinAgain

The strangest thing to me is that it looks oddly prison-like with the thin mattress and the toilet across from it. It looks like a pretty prison cell in a lot of ways.

SarahBethBR

Finn is a toddler now and I think things are a little different.  She doesn't quite say he's wearing diapers but I think it might be the case.

(A note about how EC is going ... we're currently experiencing a lack of interest in the potty. Ever since Finn started walking, he's been less concerned with signaling to use the potty, and that's cool (and also quite normal for EC-ers!) He still sits down a few times a day to read books with us, and we still catch most number 2's because that happens somewhat predictably upon waking, but for now, potty time is on the back burner!)

Vinny2008

I saw that too SB.  So, that just makes me wonder all the more, WTF was the point of it?  Good for her for being flexible on it, but still.  I don't get it.

salimoo

SarahBethBR:

Finn is a toddler now and I think things are a little different.  She doesn't quite say he's wearing diapers but I think it might be the case.

(A note about how EC is going ... we're currently experiencing a lack of interest in the potty. Ever since Finn started walking, he's been less concerned with signaling to use the potty, and that's cool (and also quite normal for EC-ers!) He still sits down a few times a day to read books with us, and we still catch most number 2's because that happens somewhat predictably upon waking, but for now, potty time is on the back burner!)

 So he sits down to read a book and poops on the floor? What?

lanie30

FallinAgain:

The strangest thing to me is that it looks oddly prison-like with the thin mattress and the toilet across from it. It looks like a pretty prison cell in a lot of ways.

Very true. I definitely got a weird vibe from it.

I like that she keeps saying "That's fine! That's Normal for EC'ers!!!!" Uh, someone is feeeling uncommmmmmmfortable.