Yeah, I'd be very "bad mummy" according to this article. I say no, I lift DS around whever he wants even down from high places, I use childcare (and, FWIW, DS had a week with me and we were out for three hours a day meeting new people and animals and DS was bored senseless with this - even with new people every day! - so much so that he ASKED to go to the creche at Church today for the first time in his life), treat DS as a CHILD and not a fully aware adult. And I don't think that's wrong.

I didn't put DS in childcare for socialisation, I did it so I could work. But it hasn't hurt because I picked a "gentle" nursery for him: loads of cuddles and kisses, playing with what he wants when he wants and, best of all for DS, loads of other children with whom to play. I took him to playgroups and friends' houses but that didn't ever last all day like Nursery can. A 2-hour playgroup in the morning and a 2-hour park/friend visit in the afternoon does not cut it with DS.

I will point out that MOST under-2s (and now 2yos) don't want this. My DS is just incredibly social and loves people. Even more than trains. But you can't say "all babies and toddlers just want mum" because although my baby only wanted me, my toddler doesn't. And I think it's great he got enough from me as a baby and young toddler to feel so secure that he now wants to socialise with others (children and adults) and is happy to do so away from me. His carers, even at Nursery, aren't strangers and I do know enough about them to be happy leaving DS with them.

Childcare is SO personal and I know I'm doing the best for DS so this isn't a justification. And I would like to see debate on the greater article rather than just me taking umbridge about the "evil CC" comment when it just ain't so.

The article is a lot about inspiring confidence in our children. I have done that without doing the same as this woman - although I do a lot similar. I let DS set the pace and rule our activities so that I can help him develop - whilst placing limitations (which I can explain when he asks "why", which has just started) upon what we do. DS is very "high maintainence" according to my friends (and his clothes budget LOL) but he's also VERY "well behaved" (ie knows how to behave in adult situations, such as a meal out). Yes, he explores the restaurant and spent a good half-hour enjoying a glass door at the entrance to the restaurant last night, but he also behaved as an adult should when the food arrived. He knows what my expectations of him are - that he sits still and eats - and also knows my tolerances for a 2-year-old - that he doesn't have to sit still before the food arrives and when he gets tired he can tell us and we leave asap. My expectations will never change and DS finds that more comforting than being forced to behave as an adult, because he isn't. But to the outside world, the snapshot of DS is that he is "compliant" because he wants all the compliments when we're out!