MENA pregnancy/baby/parenting thread

[Jenn! 918]

I guess everyone is busy with theor little ones, I had to really look good for this thread...page 7!! Anyways, I am curious about potty training, I hope some of you have experience with this....

Malak is completely trained (except I don't trust her at night and put her in a pull up), anyway, my husband wants me to train her to clean herself with the bidet...however, I need to learn to use it first (well, first we need to install one). Is there any pointers anyone can give me to help her learn to do this, you can PM me if you would rather (it may be a few days before I respond though). But I want her to know how to do this to make hubby happy.

Hope all your little ones are doing well...they are all growing like weeds and soooooo adorable, every single one of them!!! I can't believe my littlest one will be a year old in less than 2 months! Time flies for real!

Thanks ladies!

Angie

Since your husband is the one who cares about it and already knows how, wouldn't it make sense for him to teach her, or at least help you teach her? I know men can be somewhat useless at times though.

Time sure does fly. Adam is 7.5 months, I can't believe it. He'll be starting "school" in September. He's so close to crawling, but drops and army crawls at the last second instead. Any day now...

We went to take photos this past weekend. I'm sure you all will appreciate him in his Moroccan outfit:

[Miss smarty pants 84]

Aww! How cute. I love that little outfit too!

[Staashi 371]

Since your husband is the one who cares about it and already knows how, wouldn't it make sense for him to teach her, or at least help you teach her? I know men can be somewhat useless at times though.

Time sure does fly. Adam is 7.5 months, I can't believe it. He'll be starting "school" in September. He's so close to crawling, but drops and army crawls at the last second instead. Any day now...

We went to take photos this past weekend. I'm sure you all will appreciate him in his Moroccan outfit:

Jenn - that picture is awesome!!!

About the bidet - we use it in Argentina, but you at least need to be able to sit on it and control the flow of the water. The bidet at my in-laws' is one of those separate toilet looking things. I can just imagine Enzo getting into the bathroom and playing with it all winter long when he's down there. Someday, I will make sure that my hubby teaches him how to use it and clean himself. I don't understand though why one would be teaching a very young child to use this? Is it common for little girls to use one? Is it required by Islamic law? I can see teaching a 6-year old to use one, they understand certain things - but a two-year old...that's asking for trouble (can see the water spraying everywhere now).

[amysaid 9]

Jenn - that picture is awesome!!!

About the bidet - we use it in Argentina, but you at least need to be able to sit on it and control the flow of the water. The bidet at my in-laws' is one of those separate toilet looking things. I can just imagine Enzo getting into the bathroom and playing with it all winter long when he's down there. Someday, I will make sure that my hubby teaches him how to use it and clean himself. I don't understand though why one would be teaching a very young child to use this? Is it common for little girls to use one? Is it required by Islamic law? I can see teaching a 6-year old to use one, they understand certain things - but a two-year old...that's asking for trouble (can see the water spraying everywhere now).

It is required Islamically that you clean yourself with running water after using the toilet... When we were in Egypt, my husband's niece had just been potty trained and whenever she used the toilet, someone just went into the bathroom when she was done to turn the sprayer on for her to clean her up, similar to the way someone would assist a kid here in wiping, or whatnot. At least it gets them used to the concept of using water after toileting.

[Staashi 371]

It is required Islamically that you clean yourself with running water after using the toilet... When we were in Egypt, my husband's niece had just been potty trained and whenever she used the toilet, someone just went into the bathroom when she was done to turn the sprayer on for her to clean her up, similar to the way someone would assist a kid here in wiping, or whatnot. At least it gets them used to the concept of using water after toileting.

Good to know. Just trying to think of how some Bedouin in the middle of the desert does this though?

[amysaid 9]

Good to know. Just trying to think of how some Bedouin in the middle of the desert does this though?

There are some substitutions that can be made if no water is available... like clean sand or dirt. Ouch

Which reminds me of what my grandmother said after meeting my husband: "I didn't know he would have such a good sense of humor! You know, being from the desert and all." Ummmm.

Edited May 25, 2010 by amysaid

[Staashi 371]

There are some substitutions that can be made if no water is available... like clean sand or dirt. Ouch

Which reminds me of what my grandmother said after meeting my husband: "I didn't know he would have such a good sense of humor! You know, being from the desert and all." Ummmm.

Dontcha just love grandmothers - kids don't say the darndest things - grammies do...Whenever mine used to visit us in Los Angeles, (coming from Florida) she would always exclaim out loud in the most crowded of restaurants - "I can't believe all the mixed marriages you people have out here. Is that even allowed?"

Edited May 25, 2010 by Staashi

[sandinista! 1,816]

my understanding was that it was a requirement to wash up in that manner to be in the proper state for prayers. my potty training 2 year old is not praying yet. though she does come over and sit with us when we're praying sometimes, whether she's wearing a diaper, a brand new pullup or whatever. not.an.issue.

Dontcha just love grandmothers - kids don't say the darndest things - grammies do...Whenever mine used to visit us in Los Angeles, (coming from Florida) she would always exclaim out loud in the most crowded of restaurants - "I can't believe all the mixed marriages you people have out here. Is that even allowed?"

ohhh God!!! even i'm blushing after reading that!

[Berber Mama 5]

Since your husband is the one who cares about it and already knows how, wouldn't it make sense for him to teach her, or at least help you teach her? I know men can be somewhat useless at times though.

Time sure does fly. Adam is 7.5 months, I can't believe it. He'll be starting "school" in September. He's so close to crawling, but drops and army crawls at the last second instead. Any day now...

We went to take photos this past weekend. I'm sure you all will appreciate him in his Moroccan outfit:

OMG, how cute is that. He is a doll. Where on earth did you get the outfit? Was it special made?

[sandinista! 1,816]

OMG, how cute is that. He is a doll. Where on earth did you get the outfit? Was it special made?

i know, right? it's ridiculous how cute he looks! i bought that same outfit for my son in morocco, sans the hat, several years ago, and thought it was pretty darn cute, but on a baby-just killer!

[amysaid 9]

my understanding was that it was a requirement to wash up in that manner to be in the proper state for prayers. my potty training 2 year old is not praying yet. though she does come over and sit with us when we're praying sometimes, whether she's wearing a diaper, a brand new pullup or whatever. not.an.issue.

Right, it is a requirement for prayer, but since it will be a habit that they have to get used to when they are praying, it's a lot more effective to begin that habit when they are learning their toileting habits to begin with. That way you don't have to break a bad habit later (like using toilet paper.) After over a year of using a sprayer in our house, my six year old still prefers TP because that's what she used when she began toileting independently. With our future kids, we'll just plan to teach them how to use the sprayer from the get-go.

[JeanneVictoria 55]

Since your husband is the one who cares about it and already knows how, wouldn't it make sense for him to teach her, or at least help you teach her? I know men can be somewhat useless at times though.

Time sure does fly. Adam is 7.5 months, I can't believe it. He'll be starting "school" in September. He's so close to crawling, but drops and army crawls at the last second instead. Any day now...

We went to take photos this past weekend. I'm sure you all will appreciate him in his Moroccan outfit:

What a picture!!!! I love it! Love those little feet! This picture is priceless.

[sandinista! 1,816]

Right, it is a requirement for prayer, but since it will be a habit that they have to get used to when they are praying, it's a lot more effective to begin that habit when they are learning their toileting habits to begin with. That way you don't have to break a bad habit later (like using toilet paper.) After over a year of using a sprayer in our house, my six year old still prefers TP because that's what she used when she began toileting independently. With our future kids, we'll just plan to teach them how to use the sprayer from the get-go.

regardless of anything, it would be up to parents to determine when they feel would be the best time for their child to learn how to do this, because individual experiences can vary widely. it was never an issue at all in our home with my older child. i only said something because it's disingenuous to tell people that 3 year olds or their parents have any religious obligation to clean up their 3 year old any certain way after toileting. it's an individual preference at that point in time, nothing more. not.an.obligation.

[Jenn! 918]

Thanks, everyone! I am in love with the pic too. I don't think we'll put the outfit on him for another while - it was way too big! But we had to make sure we got a pic for my MIL to take back to Morocco with her (she brought the outfit with her). It must be the "go-to" special occasion outfit for little ones.

[amysaid 9]

regardless of anything, it would be up to parents to determine when they feel would be the best time for their child to learn how to do this, because individual experiences can vary widely. it was never an issue at all in our home with my older child. i only said something because it's disingenuous to tell people that 3 year olds or their parents have any religious obligation to clean up their 3 year old any certain way after toileting. it's an individual preference at that point in time, nothing more. not.an.obligation.

I wasn't telling anyone to do or not do anything. The question I answered originally was asking how to teach their potty-trained child to use a sprayer to clean themselves. not.an.issue.