Worst Parenting trends of 2012

[FrancesMumsnet]

Hello

Justine has been asked what she thinks is the worst parenting idea/fad/trend of 2012. We're not really looking for the worst parenting products- you can stick that in Mumsnet reviews, but rather trends- for example we're not too keen on this belly painting thing although you may be!

Anyway we're keen to hear your thoughts what do you think is the daftest parenting fad this year?

Thank you!

FrancesMumsnet

Baby hairbands - vile tack

Baby shoes - I've never seen a baby stand/walk unaided

Little prince/princess products

Babymoon... bleaurgh.
When I was pregnant I just had to go to work and get on with it, I didn't get a special holiday or anything. Or any fucking presents.

Also babymoon traditionally referred to the time you spend with the baby once they are born, at home, snuggling etc not expensive trips to New York and spa days with presents.

Child beauty pageants. Enough said.

I second McPhee's headbands - why would you want your dd to look like Humpty Dumpty?

We had a 'babymoon' although I had no bloody idea that's what it was called or that there was something special about it. We just wanted to go away for a 3-day road trip and stay in a nice hotel with a big bath - I had a full bubblebath all to myself every night (can't at home) with mp3 and sudoku while dh watched the football. BLISS.

Those Pint and Half Pint matching t-shirts, or the latest version which is a fuel/energy gauge with Dads on empty and kids on full.

Basically any matchy clothing - yuck

That baby swinging is fucking sick. Who the actual fuck thought it was a good idea to do that? At risk of sounding hystrrical it looks like a form of abuse, if you can shake a baby to death wtf is that going to do?

That baby cake smash thing has made me come over all dowager duchess.

The need to give everything a name or slogan.
BLW = finger food
Baby wearing = use a sling
Unconditional parenting = batshit crazy

baby showers

push presents

(and now you mention it, 50 shades babywear)

Another vote for parenting blogs. They even have their own awards ceremonies. So boring!

Love bombing

Bejewelled & with added choke hazard anticipation - those awful genmed up dummies & chains. Grim. Dangerous. What's not to love?!

Cake smash is popular here (US) & I quite like it .

But gender reveal parties are just a big no for me. Someone told me about the one they had with 100 of their closest friends & family.

i agree with lowlevelwhinging

adding swinging babies.should be illegal!

Well, my pearls are all over the floor after watching that video! my mouth was doing this and I'm generally unshockable! definitely abuse!

I hate those that say 'We're pregnant' totally vomit inducing imo.

Probably around before 2012, but bump photo sessions, especially those ones where you put your thumbs and forefingers together around the navel, to make a heart. They're just vomitous in my opinion.

My cousin (married to an American) just had a baby and we had lots of head propped up on arms and headband pictures on FB. The baby did look sweet (because it's a baby) - but why all the frippery? When my DSis and partner had their beautiful DS (biased, moi?) they took lots of pictures of things like the hair tuft on the top of his ear... much more cute.

That's a lovely idea Eugene, wish I'd got a photo of ds's hairy shoulders, he's all grown up at 12 weeks now!

Probably pre 2012, but proper gushing onfacebook about being complete etc, yuck.

Definitely baby showers, so grabby!

Not a 2012 thing, but the Bounty witch who stalks the hospital. HOW is she still allowed to be there?

It is - they are both so talented. BIL (OK - so not officially but to all intents) is an amateur photographer but he could be a pro - so yes he got his macro lens out and did all these close ups of the quirky bits of DN's newborn body!

specific to this year: fifty shades

all else has been with us much longer!

Agree with Edgar, most of this stuff's been around much longer than just this year, although I hadn't heard of Team Yellow (wtf), cake smash and the swinging the baby around thing (again, wtf)

50 shades is very 2012 though, and any reference to it in terms of babies is just so very wrong. Ick ick ick.

snort at beige baby. If anyone else says that other than your friend kelle, that is definitely one for the worst parenting trends!