I personally think she looks silly, even the kids don’t look amused. Even without the costume she still looks like a clown and dresses like one too!

Well said, Kate at Mar 6, 2007 1:26:01 PM. That was perfectly, calmly stated. This is exactly the point that we should all consider. Each child reaches milestones in their own time, and should receive respect and love as they struggle to reach them. Childrearing is not a competition.

I remember a mantra I had when my daughter was little, from The Baby Whisperer: “Respect the baby”. Well, I guess we could add, “respect the little child.”

The important thing to remember is the AAP provides GUIDELINES and SUGGESTIONS for your baby. These are not rules written in stone.

The APP recommends toilet training at 2 1/2, but I was easily able to do it with my daughter at 13 months. Am I superior? Of course not. Do I judge those whose kids take until they are 4+. Of course not. All kids are different and take different lengths of time to move on to their next stage.

I completely agree, Sarah, but it seems that we are unallowed to say what we think anymore on this site (even though this is America) because certain people visit the site expecting to see all sunshine and rainbows and throw a fit when someone says something they perceive to be mean. Obviously they don’t hold what we think in high regard, yet they take the time out of their busy schedules to lecture us on how we “have to be nice.” No, actually, we don’t. We can say whatever the heck we want whether you like it or not. So deal with it.

Yes, you can say it, but it may not be published or may be edited per the rules of the site. We have tried to allow for more varied discussion of topics as of late, but personal attacks against other posters or insulting comments will not be published.

Some kids don’t like sippy cups and like their bottles. Let the parents decide.

Just my 2 cents…I have had 2 kids that went off the bottle right at a year. Now with my 3rd (who just turned 2 on Sunday) I have bought every sippy cup under the sun and he WILL NOT DRINK FROM THEM! (please do not tell me to hold out and he will eventually get thirsty – no he won’t – I would have him in the ER dehidrated before he give in!) He is starting to just use and open cup but that isn’t at all practice when you are not at home – unless you would like them completely wet down the front. Please remember that every situation is different – yes many people could just take the bottle away just like that but you have know idea what their individual situation is like.

It’s a carnival procession. They probably brought the bottles more for practical reasons than anything else. I’m sure the kids drink out of cups/glasses most of the time, when they’re at home.

Lauren,
Just because AAP say it’s don’t recommend bottles after a certain age, doesn’t mean that everyone here has be such a faschist about when and where a kid gives up his/her bottle. Do you always follow what is recommended? They no longer recommend circumsision for boys, unless it’s for religious reasons. Do you also go around condemning those who have chosen to circumsize? This is ridiculous.

If everyone is this militant about bottles, I can’t imagine how everyone is about other comforting things with their kids.

My bad! I thought I read somewhere that Leni was a boy. I meant the oldest one, not the youngest.
I just said it was a pet peeve. MY pet peeve, not OMG she is a horrible mother and all the other nonsense that I read sometimes in comments. I’m allowed to have a pet peeve.

I hate clowns too. Scared to death of them. I think this picture is horrible because of the fact that they are dressed like clowns. Does that offend anyone? Was that being judgmental or unfair to clowns?

Can we get a grip here? Yes? GREAT!

Well said, Kristin! You stated everything I was thinking!