What are your unpopular parenting opinion?

[michellet86]

There is no right answer to all t he parenting chive we make daily. I'm interested to hear everyone's opinions

Mine is that you don't need to rush your kid to A&E for anything unless it's life, limb or loss of eye sight. A&Es are already packed with kids who don't need to be there

*bit

I agree that children don't need to be rushed to A&E for everything. They also do not require constant snacks and/or screens to keep them occupied. Children need to be a little bored so they learn to amuse themselves, even when very young.

Most unpopular of all, I believe that they should largely be seen and not heard unless it is a child centred activity. I'll get my coat before I'm massacred by the MN posse!

Teaching your kid to take deep breaths and engaging with their feelings when they’re upset isn’t having no boundaries.

I also believe it’s important to apologise to your children if you think you handled something badly or made a mistake. Modelling accountability and all that.

This is all stuff I do in my own parenting, I don’t really tend to pay attention to what other parents are doing unless I think it’s something useful I can put into my own parenting or someone is asking for advice. In fact that’s another opinion- I don’t wanna be in a parenting race!

Another one: Holidays with under 5s are not fun. Maybe even not worth it for under 8s as they won't remember anything anyway

This isn't an unpopular opinion, its an Olympic sport on Mumsnet. You shouldn't go to A&E unless you've been dead for 3 days

Massively unpopular opinion you share with my mum (who is a wonderful human being) but not with my husband. The world definitely revolves around our child 🤣🌎

That having a routine for babies and toddlers benefits them as well as the parents.

That toddlers are capable of understanding the word no. Boundaries need to be put in place and kept.

That if they aren’t doing all domestic chores and cooking a three course meal by the age of 8, they won’t be held back in life, and will still be able to live as independent adults!

That keeping an eye on your young teenagers phone is probably very wise.

Family location sharing on phones is absolutely fine and does not resemble stalking in any way.

I believe in limiting TV time especially for young children. Not sure what the right limit is, but just not all day TV. I think it's very distracting and it's good for them to do other things.

That fussy eating should not be tolerated. There is a difference between ‘don’t like’ and ‘not my favourite’ and kids need to learn that not all nutritious food is delicious. It’s ok to eat delicious food sometimes and it’s ok for food to be uninspiring but nutritionally sound.

Sleep training is essential.

Babies are not robots and forcing them to adhere to ridiculous feeding schedules and routines is ridiculous. Feed your hungry baby when they tell you, not the clock. Put your tired baby down for a nap when they’re tired, not because Gina Ford has rammed her fist up your arse to make your parrot her shitehouse theories.

Baby Showers and 1st birthday parities are self indulgent twaddle that is just a present grab. 2nd baby baby showers…. You can absolutely fuck right off.

My unpopular observation/opinion is that parents of boys don't tell them off enough.

That playing with your children excessively is a waste of time, erodes your authority, and prevents them enough time and space to develop a rich inner world.

@SpongeBabeSquarePants Hahaha, I just came to say the exact opposite - that holidays with under 5s are fab. And I'm someone who's last holiday before I got pregnancy with DC1 was flying out to Napa wine tasting and then going to a festival in San Francisco, so absolutely not used to child friendly trips.

What a stupid thread.

That children do as you do and not as you say.

Yeah right

Controlled crying was a life saver for me snd every one of my toddlers
Hate lshowey off loud parenting
Hate school uniforms
Let your teenager have bodily autonomy on clothes makeup hair sensible piercings snd post 16 sensible tattoos
Never be smug about your parenting ability it will bite you up the arse
Endless warnings snd telling offs don't trump one sharp smack on the arse I know I don't care too old!

I'm a feminist but I very unpopularly believe that MOST girls are delightful and biddable when small, then a screaming nightmare when hormones hit. MOST boys are effing ghastly when small then easily maintained once they get to secondary school.

Please don't tell me I'm wrong because YOUR daughter etc. Cheers.

Smacking is abuse no matter how you try to dress it up and you'd (rightly) be arrested for assault if you did it to an adult.

My unpopular opinion is that more parents need to say 'No' more often to their precious offspring.

That, if possible, children thrive on having one of their parents at home to look after them.

My answer was always "how does she know what she's supposed to be doing? She hasn't read the book!"

Completely agree with this

Breastfeeding is lovely if that’s what you want to do but not an urgent requirement.

My unpopular opinion is that parents of boys don't tell them off enough.