DD - I can see this argument is totally pointless with you. You have no idea what im trying to say, and have your mind set. I am no expert...certainly not, not even close, but I am well read, I have researched may many scientist, both psychological and pedagogical...and I know alot about childrens development, because its part of my profession. I have read many books on parenting, and many are the same. TH is awful. What I am saying is, theory or not, disproven in the future or not, popular right now or not, TH methods are not compatible with CURRENT understandings of child development. What are methods based on? How can she justify her methods? What has guided her? Is she well researched? If she cant even base her methods on current research...WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW AND SO FAR...I wouldnt trust it, not at all.

And to the doctor who said, if you think you turned out ok, then do what your parents and grandparents did...very interesting. My parents smacked me, I turned out ok, but I know there are other ways to discipline a child, so I do otherwise. My parents smoked around me, I turned out ok, but I choose not to smoke around my children. There are loads of people in the world who 'turned out ok', who didnt have good parents, so really...it means bugger all! WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU DO BETTER!

But I do agree that parenting is trial and error, you need to do what is RIGHT for your child. And I do agree, that one should read up, just not TH!