How She Had Her Son Potty Trained at 6 Months, Plus Other Parenting Tips From Supermodel Gisele Bündchen

Like some other celebrity moms, Gisele Bündchen has a more unusual approach to parenting. On the other hand, the results of her less conventional methods speak for themselves, and she has many tips and tricks up her sleeve that new parents can make good use of. Her all-natural parenting style helped her raise her son Benjamin and daughter Vivian into well-adjusted tweens and helped her overcome some common struggles moms often face.

1. She always tries to lead by example.

One of the key elements of Gisele Bündchen’s parenting style is leading by example. The supermodel revealed that being a great role model in her kids’ lives is her main priority.

“My main focus with my children is to try to lead by example. I try to show my kids how words have so much power and to use them with care. If they don’t have anything loving to say, then they shouldn’t say anything,” she explained in an interview.

2. She has an all-natural approach when it comes to food and exercise.

Whether it’s getting her children to eat healthy, get enough exercise, or enjoy nature, Bündchen is all about showing her kids the way. That’s why she loves to do activities together, like practicing yoga with her daughter or swimming with her son. The model stresses the importance of natural alternatives, like dipping a cloth into cold milk and wrapping it around her children’s necks when they have a sore throat.

When it comes to exercise, the family does a lot of it together. “We are all pretty active at our home. We do some form of physical exercise every day. It all depends on where we are,” Bündchen shared. Having a nutritious diet is also very important for the supermodel mom, and she and her children have a mostly plant-based diet.

3. She limits her kids’ screen time, but doesn’t completely ban browsing.

Like many children, Gisele Bündchen’s kids have a limit on how much time they can spend online during the day. Her kids have time limits set on their devices, and they cannot use electronics around the table or in bed. The Brazilian model also stresses the importance of kids spending enough time outside and enjoying nature.

On the other hand, Bündchen recognizes the positive impact social media can have, so she’s never considered completely banning it from her home. “Technology and social media can be a wonderful platform to spread positivity and awareness, but I do believe it is important to stay present and mindful of how it is used,” she explained.

4. She’s a huge advocate for breastfeeding, and even used the milk for an unconventional purpose.

“One of the most special moments I’ve shared with my kids was while breastfeeding,” the supermodel wrote in an Instagram post. Bündchen cherished the connection she enjoyed with her babies while nursing them, and also noted that they never got sick while they were being breastfed.

Bündchen also revealed that she used the breastmilk for some less conventional purposes as well. Namely, that she put drops of breast milk in her children’s eyes and noses to ward off bacteria. She also kept bottles of frozen milk in the fridge after she stopped breastfeeding, for these purposes.

5. She had her son potty trained at 6 months by using an interesting technique.

While most parents start potty training their babies between 18 months and 3 years of age, Gisele Bündchen revealed that she had her son fully toilet trained when he was only 6 months old. Although this news shocked quite a few fans, Bündchen also shared that she used a special technique to achieve quick results.

The supermodel carried her baby around naked as part of the toilet training process. She made use of a method called “elimination communication,” that helped her understand her son’s needs better.