A funny thing happens when you become a parent. Suddenly all those things that your mum and dad did that you never questioned become a bit, well, questionable.
Not ALL of them, that's a bit unfair, after all they did a good job of bringing you up, but there are some modern parenting developments that you want to embrace and they're very different to 30 years ago.
A recent poll of 2000 parents with children under 18 from baby brand Colief shows just how much parenting has shifted in a generation.
While our parents were doing their best with what they knew (and what they had), many of today’s mums and dads are choosing a very different approach.
One of the biggest changes is in awareness of health and safety.
Nearly half of parents (45%) said their own parents smoked around them as babies, something they would never dream of doing themselves.
40% know they were left in their buggy outside a shop, which today feels more anxiety-inducing than convenient!
Then there are the old-school 'remedies' that make modern parents wince a little.
Rubbing whisky on babies gums to soothe teething pain (39%) sounds like something from the 1950s not the '90s!
Many parents today wouldn't dream of letting young children babysit, or feeding babies sweets or chocolate, with a third saying that made the list of things that definitely won’t be making a comeback.
Yes, becoming a parent has a funny way of holding up a mirror to your own childhood.
Habits that were completely normal when you were small now make you pause and quietly think, "I don’t think I’ll be doing it like that."
And yet, at the same time, there’s often a deep appreciation for everything your parents did manage, usually with far less information than we have today.
I remember when Lara first started teething, someone at work (well-meaning, of course) suggested a "tiny bit of something stronger" on her gums.
I smiled politely and reached straight for a chilled teething ring and a cuddle instead!
Not because I think I know better but because I have different information and, quite honestly, different instincts.
Following your instincts, even when they look different, is an important part of parenting and that’s probably the biggest shift: not just what we do, but why we do it.
There’s a much stronger focus now on responding to babies, rather than 'training' them.
It's about valuing connection over convenience, and on tuning into your baby - even when it goes against what someone else thinks you 'should' be doing.
I remember being told, kindly but firmly, not to pick my baby up every time she cried.
But for me, responding quickly by holding, feeding and comforting her was about building trust and knowing you are your baby’s safe place, however tired you feel.
Some of the differences between generations are small on paper, but when you’re actually in the thick of those early days, they can feel surprisingly big.
Take nappy rash, for example.
According to the research, 14% of parents today say they would never try to solve it by simply 'airing it out', even though that’s exactly what their own parents did.
I remember being told to just "give them some time without a nappy on" if the girls' skin looked sore.
And while there’s definitely some logic to fresh air, I found myself instinctively reaching for gentle, more consistent solutions instead such as barrier creams, keeping the area clean and dry, and being a bit more mindful about changes throughout the day.
Ana Halla, Brand Manager from Colief, who commissioned the research to mark the launch of its new Nappy Care Spray, summed this shift up perfectly:
“Parents definitely had more of a relaxed approach back in the day, but previous generations were just doing their best.
We know that the parenting journey can be stressful, but with simple solutions and advice, you can make easy and safe habits to help little ones.”
And I think that really gets to the heart of it.
It’s not that one generation cared more than another, it’s just that we now have access to different advice, different products, and a different level of awareness around things like skincare and teething.
At the end of the day, it’s not about doing something dramatically different or 'rebelling' against the past, it’s about those quiet, everyday choices that help you feel like you’re doing the best you can for your baby.
Of course, it’s not just our mindset that’s changed, it's our tools too. All hail the rise of modern parenting gadgets!
From white noise machines to self-rocking cots, there’s no shortage of products designed to make parenting a little easier (or at least feel that way at 3am).
Today’s baby essentials would likely leave many great-grandparents scratching their heads!
But one thing that hasn’t changed is that everyone has an opinion.
More than half of Gen Z parents say they receive unsolicited advice and, while some of it is helpful, "trust your instincts" and "sleep when the babby sleeps" in particular, a lot of it just isn’t.
In fact, many younger parents say they feel criticised when they don’t follow advice, especially from family members.
At the same time, today’s parents are casting a wider net.
Healthcare professionals, friends, family, and even AI, are all part of the mix when it comes to figuring things out.
In fact, 62% of Gen Z parents now turn to AI for tips and reassurance, compared to just 15% of Gen X.
But many younger parents say they are still listening to their own mums and dads, although they admit they often feel judged by their parents for their parenting style, which can make those conversations feel a little more loaded than they need to be.
Ana Halla from Colief Nappy Care Spray adds an important perspective here:
“Despite being confident to go their own way and sometimes feeling criticised, younger parents are also listening to their own mums and dads and picking up habits to make life with their children less stressful.
It’s clear to see most parents are trying to make big changes in how we raise the younger generations and using new products and technologies to move away from these old school parenting techniques.”
And I think that balance is something many of us are still figuring out.
Taking what feels right and letting go of what doesn’t helps new parents to become more confident in their choices.
After all, parenting has never been about getting everything 'right'.
It’s about finding your own way through the noise, doing your best, and doing what feels right for your baby.
Colief’s new Nappy Care Spray is designed as a mess-free alternative to traditional creams and an innovative way to make a regular parenting task easier.
The touch-free spray aims to clean, protect, and help prevent nappy rash from day one, offering clinically proven protection while making nappy changes quicker and easier.
Ana Halla adds, “We know that the parenting journey can be stressful, but with simple solutions and advice, you can make easy and safe habits to help little ones.”
Colief Nappy Care Spray is available from Amazon for £11.99.
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