To ask for your controversial parenting tips?!

[Napqueen1234]

No judgement here. I want to know what you do day to day that works for you/your family but others may think are a bit crazy or controversial.

Today I told a friend that every day when kids are in bed (3 and 1) I tidy the whole downstairs and put all toys away so I can have a completely toy/child free evening. we just have one living room so all their toys downstairs are there and I can’t relax unless it’s tidy. It takes maybe 5/10 mins and is so worth it. My friend was shocked and said she could never be bothered to do that every day (fair enough) and thought it was mad considering it gets immediately destroyed by 6:30 the next morning. I wouldn’t even consider not tidying but to each their own and wouldn’t matter to me if someone else didn’t!

Ok not particularly controversial but anyone else have anything more juicy??

When they are older and don't want to do something and argue, a simple statement "I gave you life" wins every argument

Don’t put them on their back to sleep.

No.

No no no.

This is in direct contradiction to substantial evidence that shows sleeping in a supine position (on their back) is one of the single most significant actions in reducing the risk of SIDS.

Co-sleep if you want to, use a cot, use a basket, whatever - but you should always place your baby on their back to sleep and not on their front or side.

Back for sleeping, tummy for playing, regular position changes during the day, all of this will lessen the chances of a flat head.

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/sleeping-position/

I dropped me child at school in doggy socks and no shoes and handed the shoes to her teacher once because she refused to put her shoes on and kicked me when I tried. So we drove to school that day but I made her walk from the car to the school (I did try again to get her to put her shoes on first to avoid wet socks but she still refused). The teacher was beaming and said “bravo mum”.

Oh I like the invisible dummy!! Will keep that in my box of tricks for when it's time!!! I have even given up trying to limit use during the day during lockdown!!

😂

Hmm, as a teacher - if I sent the children home partially dressed because they ‘refused’ the patents would go nuts at me. Works both ways y’know!!

#parents

I tell my DC that if another child is physically aggressive with them, to shove them over. If they get into trouble for it I’m happy to go into school and take the blame. Although DS knows he’s never to do this to a girl. ‘Use your words’ doesn’t apply to bullies.

I parented before social media, Mumsnet, WhatsApp groups and shock horror .......I went with my gut instinct , which probably included a lot of the above ...and read a few books 🤣🤣

When mine were little, if something like teething was disturbing their sleep and keeping us all up, I’d give them a dose of Piriton to knock them out. Worked a treat. A friend of mine who is a dentist suggested it.

I never had stairgates as I thought they were a bigger hazard for adults to fall over and it was far safer to teach the children to go up and down safely. Worked for us even though the mil didn't agree and 'helpfully' bought one for her flat with 5 steps and then let us take the set home! Needless to say they weren't used!

@EmpressoftheMundane

Co-sleep with your baby. Don’t put them on their back to sleep. Lots of sleep for everyone, beautiful round head, earlier musketeers development.

That is freaking dangerous advice! She said controversial not bloody life threatening

I tidy my teen girls rooms for them . They also do no chores . Just not worth the stress of me moaning , them stropping and doing a crappy job of it after i finally lost my shit. Much easier to just do it myself . Plus I figure as females they have the rest of their lives cleaning and tidying so let them enjoy the lazy days while they can

I don't make my dc do chores, and i don't nag if their room is messy, i just close the door. I don't limit screen time either. Somehow they are all turning out just fine, respectful, independant, hard working and kind. 🤷‍♀️

I never read a book at bedtime to my kid! Instead he had a whole pile of audio books and would chose one to listen to every night. CD on, lights off. Kiss goodnight and not another peep until morning.

Also learned that as he got older, for him out of sight = out of mind. So taking away electronics was pointless. Instead we started taking away power and leaving him with all of the devices. He’s 16 and this still works a treat. Watching him fight internally, between making his last 5% of battery power last as long as possible or apologising/doing whatever he was supposed to do to start with is also a good source of amusement for us!

@Lickmylegs0 it was only shoes not Half dressed. And she never did it again. I wouldn’t have been angry with the teacher if she had refused at school and sent her out of school not wearing her shoes. I mean it was a bit more than a refusal she left me with a massive bruise under my eye from kicking me. And she isn’t my only child. Should I have just not taken any of my children to school because one of them was being a drama queen that morning?

@OuzoWoozo you are awsome

Every parent at playgroup lies about their child's behaviour and no they aren't going to be your friend. Save yourself angst with either of those misconceptions.
If you treat it as something they want and you value they will want it. I do use taking away bedtime stories and salad as punishments and they all are hugely into books and salad.

Don’t put them on their back to sleep.

So many reasons why this is the most stupid and dangerous advice you can give.

If I wanted needed to go shopping I gave mine a Chuppa Chup lolly whilst they were in their pushchair. Worked a treat and gave me about half an hour peace to shop for clothes essentials.

I did cc with all my 3dc when they each turned about 1.
A few hard nights each time.
And then done. Other than teething/illness I have never been woken in the night ever since. I’ve never sat with them next to their cots while they fell asleep, they were put in their cots, kissed and left to fall asleep by themselves.
They don’t have any kind of hideous attachment issues that some people tell you this will cause; they are very well adjusted teens now.
And we all slept well.

@Lickmylegs0 I wouldn't, it would save my youngest some time. He has ASD and the second he gets in from school, everything except the pants comes off!