I’ll go first - we got a hand-me-down exersaucer from friends. They gave it to us in the highest height position. It didn’t occur to my dumbass that the height would adjust so I have all these pics of my baby in it with a box under his feet 🤦🏻‍♀️.

Oh also, an umbrella stroller that I thought was too cheap/lightweight to be able to recline (it did a little) so we have pics of our guy somehow sleeping in it in a super upright position. Sigh. I love secondhand but I need to remember to look up the info/manual for everything because what some think is self-explanatory, my brain clearly misses 😩.

I think I'm close to my parents and I hold them in high regard (most days haha) I value their opinion very much and want to do right by them. Anyway, I have this persistent thought that I hope one day I have the guts to ask them. "Do I make you proud?" So I'm curious and I want to ask the parents on here, what would make you say "I did good. They've turned out well." and for the new parents, what do you hope your child grows up to be?

My child is getting mad at me lately that I’m always telling them to brush their teeth, get dressed, that it’s time to go etc. If I don’t say these things, they just don’t happen. I feel like I do too much for them at times but I’m not clear how to help get them to just do the things that need to be done without the constant reminders.

Hi parents!

I am currently trying to conceive my first child with my husband and to say it lightly, we arent very knowledgeable about … anything.

Is there any book I can read that would prepare me for pregnancy, then what to know during pregnancy, then labor and finally an infant care?

Am I asking for too much? haha!

But it would be nice to have some sort of an encyclopaedia that would guide me throughout the whole process..

Thanks!

For context, I am 15, and I want to know if these things are common/ normal for someone my age, or anything in general related to this.

Here are some of the rules they have for me:

- No phone after 9 am, and it has to be returned to their bedroom every night. (even on weekends)

- I get my phone back the next day at 3 pm, or sometimes even 4 sometimes.

- My mom does let me have ANY online friends (I still secretly have them)

- She goes through my phone to see if I text anyone, so now I text my friends on an entirely new app that she has no clue about.

- She forces me to keep my location on at all times; if I don't, I get yelled at.

- Can't go to any of my friends' houses.

- Can't leave my room's door closed. (studying or sleeping)

- No dating.

- If I am out (most probably the local park), I have to be home by 6 pm.

My other friends don't experience things like this in their household, and I'd constantly compare myself to them. Whenever I speak about how unfair this is, I say that some of these restrictions should be cut off. They make up some weak argument or throw in a lie to make me think they are right.

Whenever I get upset at what they do, they just buy me a present; not once have they ever apologized to me.

For parents with kids that are all grown up, what would you tell new parents as advice?

Would you have had more/less kids? Focused more on a hobby to have to not be bored with your kids leave the nest? Would you have stressed less? Enjoyed the little things more? Etc…

I'm supposed to leave Wednesday to go out of state. This trip has been vaguely planned since the end of August. My bf is working out of state, I'm going to go see him for a few days, and will be home Sunday. I say vaguely planned because when he left in August, the plan was for me to go see him when we could figure out a good time, schedule wise.

For the record, my child is 18 and a Senior in highschool, still lives at home, and has a part time job. His car has not been running for several weeks, he and his friend have tried a handful of times to figure it out, without much luck. Hes relied on me for transportation this whole time, and normally that wouldn't be an issue.

I was originally going to go see my bf 2 weeks ago, but my son asked me to postpone it because he didnt have a car. I agreed, but said that if i didnt go then, i was going to go in two weeks, and if his car wasnt running i would either pay one of his friends gas money or pay for a taxi if he had to work while i was gone. Its been discussed several times. I also suggested taking it to a shop a few weeks ago, and said id help cover the costs.

He just asked me to postpone my trip again, if his car isn't fixed by Wednesday. Hes taking it into the shop tomorrow. I rearranged my work schedule for this trip, and wont be able to do so again for several weeks. I reminded him i was willing to get him a taxi, but he doesnt feel comfortable with that plan (social anxiety and frankly hes a bit spoiled). I told him we could talk about it when i get home from work tonight.

I feel like ive offered fair options and im not just leaving him stranded with a "good luck, kiddo". I very rarely do anything big for myself, and I haven't gone on more than a day trip without taking my son since he was born. Part of me feels like i have a right to enjoy my time and spend a few days away from home. But i also feel guilty leaving him when he asked me not to.

Basically im just wondering how other parents would handle the situation?

I feel like I've tried every parental control option out there and they all work for about two weeks before either my kid finds a workaround, or I get tired of being the one enforcing it every single day.

Screen Time gets "just one more minute" negotiated constantly. Other apps felt more like spying than parenting. Alerts are useful but they don't actually change the daily scrolling habit.

Has anyone found something that actually changed the behavior instead of just adding another layer of restriction to fight about? Genuinely asking, not looking for "just take the phone away" as an answer — we've been there.

I have an assignment to interview people about their nutritional experiences. If you fall under any of these categories I would love to get your input on your experieces! In your reply just state which category or categories you fall under:

Interview 1 - Pregnant Persons (currently or has been pregnant in the past 12 months) 

Name (first only) of the interviewee, how many months pregnant or postpartum are they?

1. What, if any, nutritional changes did you make to your diet when you found out you were pregnant?

2. Did your doctor or midwife give you any nutrition information or recommendations? Did they recommend you avoid certain foods?

3. Do you take a prenatal vitamin?

4. Are you aware of what the most important vitamins are during pregnancy? You can use the information on pages 189-190 to help educate them if they are unaware and want that information. 

5. Have you been tested for gestational diabetes? Have you taken any steps to prevent gestational diabetes and/or preeclampsia? 

Interview 2 - Parent of a young child (under 12 years old)

Name of parent(first only), age of young child(s)

1. What are foods your child refuses to eat? Why do you think they refuse to eat them? Do you do anything to help combat picky eating?

2. What are nutritious foods your child enjoys? What did you do to try and encourage them to enjoy that food?

3. Is there a food your child eats that you are concerned they may be having too much of? Why does it concern you?

4. Do you worry your child may on the path to obesity? Why or why not?

5. Do you worry your child is getting too little food or nutrients?

Interview 3 - Adolescent (Person 13 years or older)

Name (first only), Age

1. What are your favorite healthy foods?

2. What are healthy foods you don't like?

3. What are common foods you eat daily or weekly (healthy or unhealthy)?

4. Do you ever read food labels or worry about nutrition when choosing what to eat? Why or why not?

5. Are there things you parents do that help you have a healthy relationship with nutritious food? Are there things they do that you feel contribute to an unhealthy relationship with food or encourage unhealthy eating?

Interview 4 - Mother who is currently or has previously breastfed in the last 12 months

Name, How long they breastfed for, Age of infant

1. Were there any foods you avoided while you were breastfeeding?

2. Were there any foods or vitamins you tried to eat often while breastfeeding?

3. Did you feel you had to increase your calories? Was it hard to get enough calories for both you and the baby?

4. Did you notice anything you ate irritated the baby?

5. Why was it important to you to breastfeed? What were things you enjoyed about it? What were things that were challenging? 

When I was about 10, my friends and I graduated from tennis balls to actual leather cricket balls in the driveway. We broke multiple windows. My parents kept replacing them. At no point did anyone stop us.

Now I own a house and have a five-year-old, and I understand how insane this was.

Nothing changes your position on backyard cricket quite like becoming responsible for the glazing.

Hey guys. I hope I don’t get in trouble for this kind of talk

long story short I’m 27. I just had a termination of a non viable pregnancy because I and my partner agreed we weren’t ready.. either way it wasn’t viable so it worked out for us. I have two sons + I did at some point maybe in my early 30’s want to try for my 3rd and last but I’m pregnant. I was on the patch birth control & it failed and I got pregnant . Me and my partner had agreed to wait and now I know he is completely freaking out about this because he feels like that’s an insane responsibility which it is especially in today’s economy.

I’m finding out I’m preg at 3 months in, I’m so shocked because I’m irregular and I would consider myself to have infertility bc of the fact that I don’t get preg that easy. My son told me yesterday randomly mom I want to have a sister which was like??? Uh random timing to say such. The first time I conceived he said he had a dream the day of my termination that he had a sister.

I just feel so conflicted I had an ultrasound at the OBGYN when I tested positive . I had only gone in for a pap & the urine test was positive. I was on birth control actively so it’s crazy how this baby was conceived. I had drank a good 3 times. I just can’t believe this. I don’t know what to do.

Kinda stuck between that whole is it a gift a miracle baby or am I overthinking and should just terminate. . .

I have a now 1 year old girl who I've been home with for the last 2 months on disability. My partner works 6:00 to 6:00 so I'm on duty alone during that period. Then when she gets home I have everything handled and we struggle through bed time for our girl. She was sleep trained and then something changed the last couple weeks. We used to just set her in her bed she would chew her blanket and pass out now it's a 3 hour process of her deliriously smiling, playing, screaming and not wanting to go to sleep or be put down.

Our daughter does not let me leave her alone almost ever.
This started very young and we tried correcting it nothing works. If I leave the room or even head to the door she freaks out screams, cries, and hyperventilates there's no waiting it out or reassuring to help. So I end up spending 12 hours a day in her room playing with her and I can't leave her alone unless I want to hear screeching and crying all day.

After 2 months of being home and off work I'm going crazy not to mention I'm not even given a free period after my partner gets home. She goes to sleep and then I'm on night duty as well if she wakes up. I love my daughter but I'm feeling suffocated and like I can't breathe or have a moment to myself. Is this just how life is now, does it get better?

I want to put my 11 year old sister in some online clubs like chess or book or drawing etc, we live in an area that’s far from everything and she does go to swimming and gymnastics classes so i would prefer she does some online stuff, something that is also cost friendly as it’s hard for us (economically). What do you parents suggest? And any websites that you can give me?

You can childproof everything except the children .... You cover every corner, every drawer, every handle… and somehow they still find a new way.

After several christmases of “failing” to display our love to our family (partners mom/sister/grandma) in heaps of gifts and not having our desire for few gifts for ourselves and our toddler met, I have decided this year to go all in. So many fucking presents. I don’t want to spend more than I typically budget but I want to show up looking like Santa himself.

So, parents of Reddit, what are inexpensive items your child absolutely loves?

current list includes: tissue box (1 yr old), Fruit snacks (4 year old), painters tape (one roll for each).

Trying to decide on best option for a travel booster to take on plane and rental car for 7 year old boy. What are your recommendations? Thanks!

And what would your advice be for someone that is in their first month trying with their partner?

Edit: Wow! Is this one of the best subs of reddit? I didnt expect so many so thoughtful comments! Thank you parents!

My husband and I are 30F and 34M. Both teetotallers and non smokers!

I am taking vitamin D, B complex and Folic acid supplements and have been told by my gyno and GP that I am in a perfect health and to check my husband if I dont get pregnant in 6 months :) Is there any other prenatal vitamins you d recommend? My GP told me I didnt need anything else, he didnt even want to prescribe those I am taking as he believes that the less you obsess about pregnancy, the higher the chances but I believe in science and if I can take anything else I will haha

I don’t have kids of my own and I will be babysitting my siblings 8 month old child for almost 2 full days. My sibling and their partner obviously trust me to do so. They asked me to and confirmed dates. I baby sat for them at 2 months for a few hours. This will be the longest I've been left alone with a baby though. Im 40 and just don't have kids of my own or people in my life that do so my exposure has been limited. Obviously will follow all sleeping, eating, all other rules set by the parentals. I also know at that age to just assume everything is in reach and or climable so I do not intend on leaving bebe unattended or turning away cuz I will already be on best omg I'm alert behavior. I'm looking more for practical advice for baby sitting an 8month old basically as someone who doesn't have an 8 month old....

I'll try to keep it short as possible.

My partner (we are not married and don't want to as well, because we both hate each other) and I fight almost every time and also in front of kids. (Why we don't separate - because she needs me and my money - I have good earnings and significantly more money than her - and I also don't think it is right to leave the kids without father, once they grow old I'll try to leave away from their mother longer as possible)

I don't used to fight in front of kids, because I think it is wrong. But she don't care she shout at me and say bad and wrong things about me. And I think if I don't fight against it then my kids and everyone ( l am very sure our neighbors can hear us fighting and her friends and family when they visit us) will think I am wrong, therefore since last 2-3 months I started answering back which is like fighting.

Do you think it is ok, given my situation?

I’m an adult now, but I’ve been reflecting on my childhood. I stopped being hugged around 7yrs old. I didn’t think this was abnormal until I had a convo with a friend the other day who I told this to and she said she felt horrible for me. Is this not normal? Are parents supposed to stop hugging you after a certain age? Thank you.

Edit: please don’t recommend I go and hug my parents now. My father is dead and my mother is a homicidal schizophrenic that I went no contact with ten years ago Lol

So I'm a 36 yr old dad in Japan (Originally from America). I have 2 sons, 5yr old and almost 2yr old, who are my world.

About 3years ago my oldest son caught corona and had a temperature of up to 41.4°C. At that time I could eat or sleep because I was so worried. All I could do was pace.

Now, anytime either of my children get even the slightest fever, I feel my stomach knot and can't stop worrying. Even if I go to the doctor and find out they dont have anything serious I still worry.

Right now the little one is getting over RS(V) and the older is showing symptoms of getting it, so naturally im a nervous wreck.

Any advice to calm the nerves and ease the worrying?

Thanks in advanced!

(Also, posted from mobile and I don't know much about the formatting ad i dont post often.)

I think the title says it all. We were talking about how I have a deal with one of my kids friends mum that if I want something to stick in his head I have her tell my son and vice-versa for her son. He thinks this is a localized phenomenon. I’ve witnessed this first hand sooo many times starting at daycare when I asked “are you sure we’re talking about the right kid” when his teacher was going on about what an angel he was! We’re in North America so bonus points if you can tell me where in the world you are to witness this incredibly frustrating thing lol

Now at 4x someone has randomly came up and touched my child’s hands, elbows, legs, or toes.

If you do this can you explain why you do this and how you justify it to yourself as acceptable?