We might think flashcards, apps, and enrichment programs will launch our babies toward brilliance. Actually, babies don’t need a syllabus in the crib — they need play, curiosity, and connection.

Protecting your baby is instinctive. But when “baby-proofing” turns into a home redesign that resembles an NFL training camp, it’s worth asking: are we keeping our child safe, or keeping them from learning? Striking a balance — so your baby gets to explore safely, and you get to live in a house that still feels like a home — is a key to retain sanity.

Parenting in the 2020s comes with a new pressure: being “natural.” It’s no longer enough to raise a child — you must raise them organically, sustainably, toxin-free, screen-free, sugar-free, and ideally while baking your own bread. While there’s nothing wrong with healthy ideals, when they turn into shame (for yourself or others), they stop helping and start hurting.

We might think faster crawling means brighter futures. Actually, when we treat milestones like races, we stress ourselves, our babies — and start a cycle of comparison that never ends.

Every aisle, website, and Instagram ad insists we must have the newest swing, bassinet, or stroller designed by NASA engineers. The irony? Our baby usually prefers our arms.

Every aisle, website, and Instagram ad insists we must have the newest swing, bassinet, or stroller designed by NASA engineers. The irony? Our baby usually prefers our arms.