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Just a few decades ago, the "do as I say, not as I do" approach was pretty big with parents when it came to discipline. Many parents believed that when a child went through a biting phase, the best way to end it was to bite them back. Luckily, this is no longer a thing.
Back in the day, some parents and medical professionals were against hugging and kissing their children. Thankfully, this mentality has changed.
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A few decades ago, it wasn't uncommon to see young children riding public transportation on their own. However, many parents today would be horrified by the idea of it.
Soap and water? No, back in the day it was recommended that parents give babies their first bath in oil, directly after birth.
Parks and playgrounds were once full of equipment that would terrify your average parent today. But thanks to today's safety measures, you won't find splintery seesaws and furnace-hot metal slides anymore.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies having only breastmilk or formula for the first six months, that wasn't always the case. In the 1960s, it was recommended that children consume specially-prepared food before they even hit the one-month mark.
Remember when you ate sugary cereals for breakfast? It was literally like having dessert in the morning, something you wouldn't allow your own kids to do.
In a text from 1920, psychiatrist Esther Harding wrote, "Hot toddy as a sleeping draught is good for infants and for the aged."
Today, a little water, some additional fiber, or a drugstore remedy treat a child's constipation. However, years ago, dark corn syrup was the go-to remedy, which isn't recommended these days.
The idea of letting babies cry endlessly would horrify most modern moms and dads. However, in the early part of the 20th century, it wasn't seen as either cruel or unusual.
Sleeping over at a neighbor's house, even if your parents didn't know them well, used to be pretty common. But today, most parents wisely check out the family before letting their child sleep over.
Today, even kitchen appliances can be bought childproofed. But a few decades ago, kids were even encouraged to use the stove. According to the 1957 edition of 'Betty Crocker's Cook Book for Boys and Girls,' every child should "start learning to do a few things."
Parents would regularly let kids roam around the neighborhood and in nearby forests. Today, that would be unimaginable for many parents.
While we might have sipped on water from the hose as kids, today we know that it contains many different toxic chemicals, including lead, bromine, and BPA.
For many years, kids rode unrestrained in cars. But by 1985 in the US, for instance, all states had adopted one or more laws aimed at "reducing harm to infants and child passengers by requiring the use of some sort of child restraint device."
Going out for the evening? Just a few decades ago, instead of getting a babysitter, parents would frequently leave their kids alone with the TV on.
While this was a norm for many decades, the idea is horrifying to many safe sleep conscious parents today. In fact, since the introduction of the Back-to-Sleep campaign in the US in 1994, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has been reduced by more than 50% nationally.
Today's recommendations include a crib or other safe sleep environment, with a flat mattress and no pillows or covers. But back in 1916, the ideal bed was made out of a clothes' basket.
You likely grew up eating McDonald's or other fast food on a weekly basis. But we all know today that we shouldn't do that to our kids.
Today's parents are more concerned about safety compared to the previous generation. So you won't see today's kids skipping on helmets like you did as a child.
If you grew up in the '80s and '90s, then you probably watched TV from the moment you got home from school until bedtime. And we all know that doesn't happen with today's kids.
"If you don't do x, you'll go to bed hungry!" was a common form of parental blackmail. However, many parents today would be horrified by this approach, especially as it can lead to eating disorders later on.
A few decades ago, shoving a mouthful of soap after hearing your kid utter a few curse words was standard practice. In today's world, this would be seen as abusive.
Only a few decades ago, even parents who never laid a hand on their kids would threaten to do so. Today's parents find this inhumane, and rightfully so.
If you got a computer when the internet was just starting out, then you were probably free to surf that thing without any restrictions. But most parents today know that unrestricted web access and children aren't a great combination.
While most parents today stick to organic baby food, in the 1950s, believe it or not, 7Up was advertised as a healthy supplement to a baby's diet.
While there are still some parents who might smoke in front of their kids, it's pretty much frowned upon these days. But just half a century ago, parents were happily puffing away in front of their kids, often indoors.
When it comes to parenting, the reality of it has changed drastically. Things might have seemed more laid-back when you were growing up, but that doesn't mean it was a good thing! Even if it's just from one generation to the next, the vast majority of contemporary parents are no longer following questionable, and even dangerous, advice parents were following just a few decades ago.
Curious? Click on to discover some once standard parenting choices that we would never make today.
Things your parents did that you'll never do to your kids
It's amazing that we survived...
LIFESTYLE Parenting
When it comes to parenting, the reality of it has changed drastically. Things might have seemed more laid-back when you were growing up, but that doesn't mean it was a good thing! Even if it's just from one generation to the next, the vast majority of contemporary parents are no longer following questionable, and even dangerous, advice parents were following just a few decades ago.
Curious? Click on to discover some once standard parenting choices that we would never make today.