Airy fairy parents

[Justamum28]

Is it just me or do others find the perfect parent airy fairy earth mother brigade SO irritating. Always trying to make people feel like not good enough parents because you don’t co-sleep or didn’t breastfeed or heaven forbid you used controlled crying!! Your child doesn’t eat healthy enough, are your nappies eco friendly, has your child been out 7 days a week. Just seems to be happening a lot more often these days

I did read your post .
You are criticising them by describing perfectly normal baby raising as "airy fairy"
Where are all these judgemental women ?

Ah yes -in your head ! 😉

Read "quit pointing your avocado at me"

Other people making different choices is not an attack on your or anyone else.
Its all so wearing .
No one is judging they are just trying to get by .

I sort of get what you mean OP because these things are so unimportant it’s amazing how people make a lifestyle out of them. Tbh I’ve always found it tends to be women who don’t have much else going on in their lives who can make a lifestyle out of carrying their baby in a sling etc.

These things are related to early babyhood, they’re a fleeting moment. They aren’t that important. It’s just a movement to “belong” to.

(Incidentally I did all the things you mention. I massively regret the co sleeping as they don’t learn to sleep alone/ self settle but it was survival at the time I guess. BF was wonderful until I returned to work/ normality)

@Passthecherrycoke Breastfeeding your baby is not ‘unimportant’ like it or not it is the best way to feed your child and has far more health benefits for them than formula feeding.

It’s not really important enough to make it your lifestyle, no. It’s just feeding your baby. I breastfed for 2 years and just, you know, got on with it.

I've never met anyone who has made breastfeeding or carrying their child in a sling their lifestyle, rather than just a way to feed their child and get from a to b without the constraints of a buggy.

People just need to "live and let live".

I have had other parents make judgments about me, probably that I'm a bit "airy fairy". I do have a very clear picture of the parent I am and will be.

I am by no means perfect but I am confident I can look myself in the mirror and say I am doing things 100% the best way, I believe my child should be raised to give him the healthiest start. If people ask my opinion, yes I am happy to give it, but I don't force my views on others. But definitely don't ask the question if you don't want the answer.

I do find though some parents completely get the hump when you give an opinion that is different to the way they did things, for me, this is their insecurities, as if they need everyone to agree with how they do things is right.

Why are your u so judgemental op?
Let other people parent how they want. You also don’t need to think up vaguely insulting names for them.

iWouldPreferNotTo

Yes, apologies, I misread your intention. Thought you were citing drinking during pregnancy as one of those harmless things we get in a state about unnecessarily. Sorry

Each to their own, I believe. Would only offer my opinion if asked. One of my closest mum friends is ‘airy fairy’ using this definition, and we respect each other’s parenting styles.

However, as a FF mum, I do find myself at the receiving end of a lot of judgemental looks/eye rolls/comments at baby groups etc, when I get a bottle out. Makes me sad that these people don’t know me or my reasoning.

I'm an 'airy fairy' mum. I felt very judged and cross-questioned by other mothers because I was parenting differently from them. I think sometimes it's selective hearing and we are oversensitive (we hear criticism when it's not there) and other times the criticism is real but others don't pick up on it as they are oblivious to it.

I don't think I should have to justify my parenting choices to anyone but if someone asks for advice then I will try to help.

Airy fairy mum here apparently....it actually irks me the comments i get.

I dont post about my parenting methods on fb etc. Nor bring it up, i just do what i do.

Yet, people will ask, "oh are you still bfeeding / cosleeping / rear facing" and get all funny with me when i say yes. Often telling me i dont need to do that.

Im pretty sure if someone said they bottle fed and my response was "you dont have to do that, just breastfeed its so much easier" theyd be fucked iff with me

I co-sleep because I can’t be bothered getting out of bed every 2-3 hours to feed the baby. I breastfeed because I can’t be bothered making and cleaning bottles plus formula is extortionate. I use reusable nappies because I try to reduce my carbon footprint as much as I can and also it saves money. I don’t always use the baby carrier but I do when I want to pop out without the inconvenience of a huge burdensome pram.

I don’t do anything I do with an air of judgement or arrogance, I purely do it because it works for me and my family. Sorry if that makes you feel defensive in some way .

#outpinked sorry if this makes you feel defensive in some way .... At no point have I said that and had you bothered to go back through comments I have done all of the above my post is clearly about the parents commenting on what others do and how they inferior if they do not do the same. Just like the comment from someone saying they are a BETTER parent for breastfeeding and co sleeping. Which is my point. But I hope your comment makes you feel better :)

@Justamum stop being disingenuous. You knew exactly what you were doing when you started a thread entitled "Airy-Fairy Parents". Not "Judgemental Parents".

Given this exact thread is done on an almost weekly basis I think we get the idea that there are some judgemental wankers out there. Threads like this just fan the flames.

I was wondering what my new name should be...

You're mixing with the wrong people. I've had nothing but support from all my fellow new Mums. Didn't realise that really existed

@JustAnotherMillennia I'd like to support you. It sounds like you're doing a great job feeding your baby and being a terrific mother. I haven't as any children yet (pregnant with my first) but formula feeding actually looks complicated and difficult! Good job managing all of it. :)

It depends if people are actually judging you or you assume they are just becuse they do things you don't. Dd is one I still Co sleep, breastfeed and use cloth nappies, have done since day one.
Now I don't think this makes me better than you but for someone reason people assume I do because of the way I parent. How is that fair?

I met my baby's needs through breastfeeding and co-sleeping but now that my son is 4, I have a lot of trouble meeting his emotional needs, his need for novelty, and his need for Constant Effing Interaction... I spend almost every day at the end of my tether. I don't think breastfeeding or co-sleeping necessarily made me some kind of amazing parent - far from it. It just felt right at the time.