Everthing you need to know about popular parenting trends

For most parents, ensuring their children's health and well-being so that they can grow up physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually strong is a top priority. To assist in this regard, healthcare professionals and researchers continually strive to discover new ways to ensure healthy development from infancy to adulthood. Additionally, many parents and social media influencers add their experiences to the mix and drive trends online, but not all are endorsed by professionals.

Here, we examine some of the top emerging trends in this area and what to be aware of when considering them.

Co-Sleeping and Side Cribs

A recent social media trend has seen a surge of influencers producing content on how to safely co-sleep with newborns. While this practice is common in many cultures and not considered unsafe, low incidences of adverse events may be due to underreporting or differences in bedroom setups when it comes to mattresses and bedding. In Western culture, however, most healthcare professionals advise against this.

The reasons for this are multi-fold, including increased risk of entrapment and suffocation. According to the Sleep Foundation, bed-sharing may increase the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Instead, it is recommended that parents should consider using side cribs to teach a baby healthy sleep habits. Placing an infant in their own bed or crib teaches them to sleep independently. Another benefit is that it allows parents easier access to an infant for feeds.

Side cribs are a safer and more convenient way to be closer to one’s baby while taking a nap or sleeping at night.

Infant Probiotics and Gut Health

Probiotics are microorganisms found in various foods, such as yoghurt or supplements. These microorganisms are referred to as "good bacteria". They gut by lowering the "bad bacteria" levels that affect it.

The market for children's and baby probiotics is experiencing significant growth. This boom is primarily attributed to parents' awareness of how probiotics may ease constipation and diarrhoea and boost the immune system.

However, parents are advised to proceed cautiously as medical research shows little evidence that supplementing infants provides any health benefits. It may even be associated with adverse events such as an increased risk of infection later in life.

Breastmilk is naturally rich in nutrients, beneficial bacteria, and prebiotics—the "food" beneficial bacteria require to thrive. As babies grow, foods naturally rich in beneficial bacteria may be introduced to ensure continued gut health.

Sensory-Focused Toys 

Sensory-focused toys stimulate one or more of a baby's senses, including touch, sight, taste, smell, and sound. These toys may have bright neon or contrasting colours and various textures.

Although sensory toys have been popular for quite some time, certain types are extremely popular for babies. These toys can include different types of putty, teddy bears that light up, or objects that make animal noises.

The benefit of sensory-focused toys is that they can help a baby develop motor skills, movement, spatial awareness, and even language. These types of toys are also ideal for children who have ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or autism because it teaches them to stay focused.

Parents can introduce sensory toys to infants to help them develop their senses from birth and incorporate sensory exercises and activities as children grow.

STEM Toys for Toddlers

STEM toys focus on science, technology, engineering, and math development. They are designed to encourage learning, focus, and curiosity. STEM toys are becoming increasingly popular as they are both fun and educational.

Many interesting STEM toys that will keep toddlers engaged for hours are available online and in stores. These include control-operated robots, optical science kits, and even Lego. Children can learn to operate robotics or build towers using STEM Lego sets.

Holistic Parenting Techniques

Another baby health trend that doesn't seem to be going anywhere is holistic parenting. This approach incorporates techniques like mindfulness practices and alternative therapies. Parents are becoming emotional coaches to their children to teach them how to manage their feelings.

Parent-child yoga and Pilates classes are also becoming popular as adults seek to bond with their children while improving their physical health and balance and learning self-discipline. Lastly, some parents are starting to use negotiation techniques with their children, which can teach them problem-solving skills and thinking on their feet.

These are just a few of the trends enjoying popularity in parenting circles. When exploring these subjects, it is obvious that some are helpful, but others can do more harm than good. It is always a good idea to thoroughly research the pros and cons of each, and if you're still unsure, discuss this with your regular healthcare provider or a qualified expert in the field.

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Main image by charlesdeluvio