Well, Dr. Spock, you've been a decent companion these last few weeks. You've stuck with me through the flood of 2014, an epic ski weekend, and a trip to the beach.
Just kidding. I guess it was more like 5 trips to the grocery store, 15 loads of laundry, and a visit from the in-laws.
If you missed out last time, I have been reading Dr. Spock's The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care. It continues to amuse and befuddle me. It causes me to overuse the phrase, "In our parents' generation..." occasionally with some eye rolling.
I think I'm pretty good at getting Penelope outdoors to play in the sunshine and fresh air. However, Dr. Spock recommends babies over 10 pounds be outside for 2 to 3 hours a day, as long it's above freezing and not bitter winds. Three hours at 35 degrees and I would shrivel up and die! After being boggled by that, I read that Dr. Spock "wouldn't keep him out all by himself for more than an hour when he is awake." So I can leave my child unattended outside for an hour while I go inside and take a nap?! This is sounding a little more appealing.
One benefit to living in the mid 20th century would be putting your baby to sleep on their stomach, and not feeling like you were going to kill your baby. SIDS is not mentioned by Dr. Spock. However, the baby is likely shivering to hard to stop breathing...parents are supposed to let the nursery temperature fall to 60 degrees at night. Brr.
The use of the pacifier was common then, but "if you are disgusted by the appearance of a pacifier in a baby's or child's mouth, you'd better not use one; it wouldn't be good for you or your feelings for the child." I had to chuckle at this. They even talked about feelings back then!
Oh dear. On to potty training. Surprisingly the main advice from Dr. Spock matches most of the mainstream advice given today - when your child shows signs of being ready, they will train easily. However, the timing is quite different. 'Early' developers begin potty training between 7 and 12 months, and 'late' between 18 and 24 months (with only occasional accidents between two and three.) I find the age today of potty training varies more, with many children still in diapers until 3 or 4, and nobody really concerned by it. (Except a few great grandmas!)
But I suppose if you are harboring bad 'feelings' toward your child, you better get potty training.
Bahahaha. I just picture letting your 11lb baby (in my case, 1 month old) go outside all by himself in 35 degree weather for an hour while we sit inside an watch from the window. Not sure about that parenting book lol And HOW did they get a baby under a year potty trained?! They basically can't walk or speak. . . do they just look at you knowingly? Pray tell, cause my 2 year 4 month old certainly doesn't seem too into it.
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