I have a darling 1 year old niece and although her parents love her and take care of her, some things they do have me worried. For example, the baby will get a fever and her mom will refuse to give her tylenol and just says, "Babies get fevers." Or she'll let her play with things like pill bottles ("Oh she can't get the top off") or she won't really watch her. I can't tell you how many times my niece has climbed on things and fallen and hurt herself because her mom won't watch her. Her parents are educated and upper class, so I can't understand why they are so stupid when it comes to their child. Sometimes I worry about my niece's safety, but at the same time how they raise her is not my business. At what point would you, as a loving relative, intervene, or would you?
2007-01-05 10:15:18 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
By the way, I had a son who passed away at age two from a heart condition, so I know how hard it is to raise children. I'm not just an onlooker who doesn't know about kids.
2007-01-05 10:16:29 · update #1
Wow...I really understand where you're coming from. You're in an extremelly tough situation. I guess your best bet would to be explain why what you feel is not a good idea (for instance, explain the consequences of a baby playing with a pill bottle), but do NOT criticize the parents. If you do, they will most likely disregard any other of your advice. You're right, it's tough being a parent, so maybe they've just overlooked some things, or just aren't aware of the many dangers their child could get into. Other than that, there's really not much you can do but hope and pray that they realize that there's more to parenting than what they're doing. Good luck.
2007-01-05 10:24:49 · answer #1 · answered by Suse 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
when you feel it is necessary. You said yourself you know from experience and not just the trauma of losing a child. It's more than common sense to not let a kid play with a pill bottle (what happened to rattles?!). If you feel their parent's are passing the line of stupidity, you should tell someone or just let them know in a serious sit down (like an intervention) and remind them of previous situations that could have been worse. You have not only the privilege but the right as a family member to be concerned.
2007-01-05 10:23:50 · answer #2 · answered by l_onious 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If there's a threat to their health, safety, or general well-being, then you intervene. Otherwise, you have to bite your tongue.
BTW - I work for a pediatrician, and they say that unless the fever is over 102 degrees or the child is uncomfortable, it's not necessary to supress the fever just for the sake of supressing the fever. "Fever is our friend" - it's the body's first line of defense against germs - sometimes it's all it takes for a virus to go away. If the child was crying or in pain, then I'd worry about the fever.
2007-01-05 11:42:00 · answer #3 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless they are beating there kids than i wouldnt step in. There are a lot of things my mom and grandparents did as parents that i would't agree with but they raised healthy well adjusted kids anyway. In fact my aunt gives her kids pill bottles to play with too they also use the excuse that there child proof although i think its stupid and dangerous but its not my business to tell them that they are raising theyre kids wrong. I wouldnt say anything unless it was something very important. People just have different ways of raising there kids. You can tell them what you think but if they think diferently than there is not much you can do.
2007-01-05 15:40:48 · answer #4 · answered by nobody 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, my deepest condolences on your loss. I can understand why you do not want your niece to be in any danger, and her parents sounds too cavalier about her safety. The fastest way to get into childproofed objects is to give them to a child. Pill bottles can look closed but not be closed. You should intervene, but carefully. You don't want to alienate her parents, but they need a wake up call, before something bad happens.
2007-01-05 11:26:48 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know that you need to intervene as there is no serious abuse or neglect, but you might, very nicely & cautiously, express your concern to the parents and emphasize that you care about your neice greatly. Besides that there is not much else you can do unless there is abuse or neglect.
2007-01-05 10:26:37 · answer #6 · answered by angelgurl7_2004 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First off, I take offence in the sentence which says that they are "educated and upper class" which makes them "so stupid when it comes to their child".
Second, pill bottles cannot be opened by a one year old.
Third, there may be a slight problem if she does not give the child medicine, you should ask her why she chooses not to.
2007-01-05 10:48:32 · answer #7 · answered by Random G 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
i no what you mean i have the same problems with my nephew and their parents...
2007-01-05 16:44:18 · answer #8 · answered by frogger 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have no right to intervene unless there is abuse or neglect!
2007-01-05 10:18:46 · answer #9 · answered by AnnieD 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋