Modern Parenting Trends That Baffle Older Generations

Buzz Feed

25-05-2025

Every generation tries to parent differently to the one before. But how different is too different? We recently asked older people in the BuzzFeed Community to share the modern parenting trends that completely confuse them. Here's what they had to say...
Throwing over-the-top birthday parties.
"I am shocked how elaborate children's birthday parties have become. Also that schools want people to invite the whole class." —greenphone66
Being overprotective.
"Shielding your kid from any and everything to 'protect' them. Family can't hold the baby because she might get sick. Don't let her fall asleep on you because we don't want her to get used to 'contact sleep.' Never getting a sitter because we don't trust anyone to be with her. Homeschooling because we know better. Get over yourselves. Raising your kid in a bubble doesn't help them in the long run, it makes them incompetent and entitled. Kids need to experience life to learn to navigate it, be happy, and find purpose. "—Anonymous, Pennsylvania
But not protective enough with social media.
"Creating social media accounts for your babies. Why aren't you protecting their right to anonymity?"—Anonymous, UK
Permissive parenting.
"Kids can learn about their feelings and how to handle them without driving the rest of the world mad with their tantrums and complete meltdowns while their parents just coddle them and tell them it's OK. Drives me NUTS...teach your kids to be respectful of others." —stylishchair815
Gender reveals.
"Not sure if it counts as a parenting trend, but pre-birth gender reveals." —Tez
Allowing devices.
"I cannot stress this enough; an iPad is not a babysitter. I will never get over the fact that parents use devices with addictive app games that rot their children's brains as pacifiers. This needs to stop. We don't need another ruined generation. "—Anonymous
Doing double duty working from home.
"Working from home as a way to keep your kid out of daycare. It was a necessity during Covid, but has turned into a 'mom hack' that leaves both your child and job neglected."—Anonymous, Charleston, SC
Co-sleeping.
"Co-sleeping! Then, when they want the child to sleep in their own bed, they get upset and sometimes even angry with the child when they refuse to sleep in their own bed and cry!"—Anonymous
Tracking everything.
"Obsessively tracking baby stuff on apps and baby monitors (when you live in a small apartment)." —Hannah
Not letting kids "lose."
"Not letting your kid learn what it means to lose. Participation trophies."—Anonymous, SC
Overly "unique" names.
"Ridiculous names. Poor kids will have a lifetime of explaining where their names come from — and how to spell them."
Swearing.
"Swearing at/with your kids. I'm not a prude or anything, but I've noticed that people are so nonchalant with their swearing that 1) the kids use it without understanding the meaning or context, and 2) the words have lost their bite in general."—surprisedlegend852
Fighting their battles for them.
"Over-parenting. You need to let them make mistakes. Do your best to make the hardest lessons hit less hard, but in the end, they don't learn unless they experience it themselves." —Trent
Over-scheduling.
"Let them be bored! Kids need time for independent and creative thinking. The times I was bored was when I learned how much I loved art and reading. Kids don't get a chance to learn how to self-regulate when you pack every moment of their day, or give them a tablet because you don't want to engage."—magicalshield808
Anti-sunscreen parents.
—Kay
Sad beige aesthetics.
"The sad beige mom trend. If you want to make the rest of your home sad and beige, that's up to you. But my god! Please let your child's nursery have some colour for their own development and well-being."—Ok_Procedure4993
What modern parenting trends truly baffle you? Share in the comments.