Do you think parents today worry more than parents used to??

Question

I read a lot on here parents worrying about whether their kids are reaching the proper milestones at the proper time. When I talk to parents whose kids are now in their twenties and thirties and I ask about if they were worried when Jimmy walked late or Annick spoke later or whatever else, they always said "No, I figured they would eventually". Are there any parents out there still like this? Are parents too paranoid today?

Answer 1

I think that parents are more worried today. But they also do have more to worry about now than they did twenty or thirty years ago.

Parents back then assumed their kids would start doing all that eventually, where as now the parents are worried that theres some sort of mental retardation, or condition, that is keeping their child from being 'caught up' to the rest of the kids their age.

I know my fiance and I were worrying a lot when our baby wasn't doing anything that most other babies would do. (He is 6 months old now-but he was 2 months premature.) He wouldn't track any objects, and he wouldn't look at anyone even when they said his name and were trying to play with him. And he never cried-and I mean never-maybe only once a week. For a long while, we were worried. But, eventually they do start doing things.

It's just normal nowadays for people to be so worried, at least I think so. We probably shouldn't be so worried, but we are.

Answer 2

I'm not sure that parents are more worried today then they were twenty or thirty years ago. I think that parents read more into what "professionals" say are normal milestones today then they did back in the day. Back in the day most moms would stay home with their babies and would talk to other moms about what was going on with their child's development and get their sources from other people's experiences more than moms today do. Today more moms are working and get their source from some artical published online or in a magazine and then freak out because some pediatric specialist says that your kid should be this developed by this month or they are behind. Yet when you look at the facts kids develop different things at different rates. My daughter is very small for her age, and yet she's more advanced in speech and mobility then where she should be at the 6 mos mark according to these specialists. I'm not worried though because I know like the moms of yesteryear she will develop at her own speed and I will just watch and enjoy her as she develops no matter how fast or slow it is!

Answer 3

We know a lot better today, than we use to about appropriate milestones and when they should be accomplished. Back in the days, people didn't know the affects of lead, or asbestos so everywhere you turned every building had this type of product. Now we are more cautious with our children, it's doesn't make people paranoid necessarily just caring. For instance, when I think back to how my mom raised me I think about the things that she did wrong and how I could of been hurt. Now she talks about how careful she is raising her grand daugther (she is a parent raising her grand child, my brothers) and I know that girl is in good hands. She won't even let her ride the bus, you think I was ever driven to school, no. So I think parents are starting to realize that our children are the future and be more protective I mean they have to be. The only way they would be more paranoid is by watching the media violence all the time. As far as delays, it's better to catch them early that way something can be done sooner to help the child. Let me give you a quick story, my husband had been excessively concerned when we lived in an apartment that was built in the 70's because of the lead exposure our son could be obtaining he was not walking only crawling at the time. Well, we moved into a new building after a while for several good reasons, and found out one of his friends noticed that his son wasn't acting quite right (the friends son, not ours) and took him to the doctor come to find out the lead levels in this boy's body was a at 15, 20 being the highest. They were living in a house that was over 100 years old. The reason they discovered something wasn't right was because he was delayed at talking, and crawling, and even walking. This child will forever be affected but at least they knew now and knew enough to get out of that house, it could of eventually killed him.

Answer 4

Oh gawd, I wish my parents didn't worry as much as they are right now. Seriously, they do not let me have any fun at all! They never really have. My parents are sooo strict, but I guess it's because they care way too much. Still though, that's not good because I am starting to get a feeling to hate them because I feel they have kinda ruined my life by not letting me explore the world -_-. I want to move out ASAP but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

Answer 5

Are you kidding? Parents worry about EVERYTHING these days. When I was a kid, we had playground equipment secured into concrete, and no one saw a problem with that. Now days, kids wear helmets for everything. Then you have these moms scared to death of their kids getting germs...chasing after them with Lysol all day. When we were kids they'd give us all a can of Coke and tell us to share. I'm not saying that SOME of the precautions people take now aren't important, but sometimes parents need to lighten up!

Answer 6

I don't worry about my kids achieving different things at the "right" time. As long as they are healthy they're okay. I watched my siblings grow as children and they did fine that way. Today there are too many set milestones for children that are so precise and every child learns so differently.

Answer 7

i would say those who DO worry anymore do worry then parents of previous generations but then again, they have more to worry about. I mean, where I live in Baltimore, in previous generations, being in the wrong place at the wrong time meant you would get pushed around or hit a few times and that would be it. Now, being in the wrong place at the wrong time usually means you're going to get murdered or raped. So to answer your question, yes parents worry more now, but they aren't paranoid, they have good reason to worry more.

Answer 8

Yes, I think we worry more, but a lot of that has to do with the media blowing things out of proportion. I mean really, if we tried to follow every new health study, our children would starve, become ACD, and who knows what.

Answer 9

hi razi, i don't think parents are at all paranoid today. but yes, they are worrying about their children because there is much more to worry about now, when kids aren't even safe in their schools, people shot in Churches as they worship... we have so much senseless crime, it's enough to scare a parent to death, knowing their children are out there in the fray.

Answer 10

I think parents tend to over react now then they used to. I really dont' think theres more to worry about now then there was then, its just broadcasted on tv/radio more often and in your face. Some parents should just let kids be kids.