8 “unpopular” parenting opinions that parents proudly hold

When a redditor asked new parents to share their “unpopular” parenting opinions, they kicked things off with a hot take about not allowing babies to be “clingy.”

People who actively encourage their child to be super clingy towards them, for example: Being super weird about anyone else in your life being close with your child. Exclusively contact napping from the get go without any attempt to try and get them used to a crib, bassinet etc. Actively not introducing your child to other children so they can gain social skills with people their own age when you absolutely could do so (if you have easily available playgroups in your area). And just actively having your child glued to you 24/7.

But the parents who responded didn’t just debate attachment styles — they dismantled the entire industry of parenting advice. In a thread on r/NewParents, redditors are getting candid about the stress of “enrichment,” the realities of sleep training, and why it’s OK to admit that “the village” it takes to raise kids is not always that helpful.

1. Most parenting advice is junk

In an era of social media gurus and conflicting guidebooks, many parents have come to a liberating conclusion: none of it matters as much as the baby’s built-in personality.

2. Children need to be bored

While modern parenting often feels like a race to provide constant enrichment and entertainment, some argue that endless stimulation is doing kids a disservice.

3. The sleep training industry is predatory

A vocal contingent of parents believes the aggressive push for independent sleep strategies has more to do with commerce than actual child development.

4. Contact napping is perfectly fine

Despite the pressure to foster independence from birth, many parents argue that holding a sleeping baby isn’t a bad habit — it’s just nature.

5. The village isn’t always helpful

“It takes a village” is a nice sentiment, but redditors point out that accepting help is complicated when that help is ineffectual or comes with too many strings attached.

6. Zero screen time is achievable

The debate over tablets and TV is eternal, but some parents insist that restricting screen time isn’t really that difficult — even in this age of digital dependence.

7. We are all too busy to judge each other

One of the most popular “unpopular” opinions is simply that having the mental energy to critique other parents is a luxury most don’t have.

8. Baby temperament is simply the luck of the draw

When strategies work, parents love to take credit, but veteran moms and dads know that having an “easy” baby is largely a game of genetic chance.

The intensity of the debate over something as simple as nap strategies proves one thing: There is no single “right” way to parent. Most redditors seem to agree that whether you enlist a village or go it alone, contact nap or sleep train, the only thing that really matters is surviving the day with a healthy kid (and maybe a little bit of sanity left).

Want more parenting discussions this? Read the full opinions in r/NewParents, and find more conversations like this in r/Parenting, r/toddlers, and r/Mommit.

This story highlights the perspectives of Reddit users, not Reddit, Inc. Some posts or comments may be lightly edited for clarity. Questions or concerns? Contact us at upvoted@reddit.com.