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There is no rulebook that one can follow while raising babies. Sure, there are a set of dos and don’ts that every parent could follow once they’ve welcomed an infant into their lives, but each parenting style is different, and every kid is different. Therefore, it is difficult to say that one size fits all. You’ve got to find your style, method, and way of raising your kids. The values you teach them, the behaviors they establish, and the kind of mannerisms they pick up all depend on what you inculcate in them. However, when you are a parent, you try to do what’s best for your kid, and even then, you’ll have everyone around you judging you for different things you do. You cannot escape the countless opinions, unsolicited advice, and constant judgment you receive from everyone around you regarding matters related to your baby. Here are 5 things that parents of babies do and get judged for (but don’t worry, because science has got your back):
1. Sucking On Your Baby’s Pacifier
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What do you do when your infant drops their pacifier on the floor? You might not always have access to clean water or a provision for sterilization. So you suck on it to ward off the harmful germs before giving it to your baby to pop back in their mouth. While this might seem absurd, research revealed that babies exposed to the bacteria in their parents’ saliva had strengthened immune systems and decreased the risk of allergic developments (1).
2. Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy
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Some might deem breastfeeding beyond infancy as unnecessary, strange, or even creepy. Mothers who choose to breastfeed their kids beyond the “normal” years are judged for it, but you don’t have to care anymore, because science has your back. Extended breastfeeding has several benefits for you and your baby, including boosting your child’s immune system and maintaining balanced nutrition for your baby. It also reduces the risk of certain illnesses in mothers, such as breast cancer, high blood pressure, ovarian cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease (2).
3. Infant Ear Piercing
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It might seem brutal to some parents to get an infant’s ear pierced, but there is no reason to judge someone else for making that choice for their kids. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that there is minimal risk in any age if the procedure is performed by a professional with hygiene and safety protocols in place. However, the AAP does recommend that the procedure be done when the child is mature enough to take care of the piercing themselves (3).
4. Speaking In “Parentese”
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Parentese or baby talk, as it is commonly known as, is beneficial to your baby. Many parents get judged for using baby talk while speaking to their babies, but studies show that it boosts babies’ language development. However, it is slightly different from “baby talk”. While baby talk uses silly sounds and words, parentese is a communication style where proper grammar and elongated sentences are used to interact with your baby. The use of exaggerated sounds, high-pitched voices, and a slower tempo in parentese acts as an invitation for babies to respond, developing their language skills (4).
5. Holding Them – A Lot!
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Babies are meant to be held, and they like it. When they are not in physical contact with their caregivers, pain responses are activated in them. Babies learn to relax in their caregivers’ hands, and if they don’t experience that often as infants, they may never learn to relax and let go. Your mother, friends, and neighbors might tell you that you’re holding your baby too much but you don’t have to listen to them anymore. Studies show that human babies are quite needy and limited touch in their early lives leads to underdeveloped serotonin and oxytocin receptors, which are chemicals responsible for happiness (5).
The next time someone judges you for how you take care of your baby, just smile, wave, and continue doing what you’re doing. Your maternal instincts tell you to take care of your baby a certain way, and you’re not wrong for listening to it. Pay no heed to others’ because the world is always going to have opinions. If you found this article informative, don’t forget to share it with fellow parents as well.
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