The Controversy over Infant Potty Training

For new and young parents, the concept of infant potty training is really causing some doubts whether this method is really worth the efforts. While this concept seems extreme to some conservative parents, it's not a relatively new idea. In the early part of 20th century, it was a trend where most young children are already toilet trained by the age of 18 months. In the other parts of the world like Asia, babies are already trained well enough before turning two.

The objective of the idea of infant potty training is to toilet train the infant at such a very young age, even beginning the training from birth. It has caused some opposing views on the topic. Most experts from the medical field agree that at this stage, the infant is not yet physically ready for the development required to really learn to control the bladder movement. In this method, it is mostly the parent who is taught how to hold the infant on until the infant successfully goes.

Anti-infant-potty-training groups emphasize the futility of forcing the child to be trained something even before the child is ready for these trainings. They relate this situation to teaching an infant how to walk just right after birth. The baby is obviously not ready and, for them, the moment spent holding an infant on the potty seat is just a complete waste of time.

Proponents of the method claim there are many benefits to infant potty training. Infant potty training can be a form of bonding for the baby and the mother; it allows the infant to feel the mother more comfortably through this bonding time together. This concept lets the baby to be more independent thereby reducing diaper waste.

But does infant potty training really work? Yes, the method really works for those who believe in it and only with much effort from the parent. It takes your solid commitment as an adult and a few months of practice.

Infant potty training is a true test of instinct. Most mothers instinctively identify patterns when their infants need to go. As a rule of the thumb, infant potty training is all about communication between you and your baby. So be prepared for some long bonding time.

The controversy of this concept should not really create confusion especially to mothers looking for ways to explore their child's abilities. It is only dependent with the parent to test what best works with their beloved babies.