6 Hot-Topic Parenting Issues
Updated: Aug. 06, 2019
Breast milk or formula? Calm the baby down or let them cry? We weigh the pros and cons of today’s controversial parenting topics to help you decide for yourself.
1. Pacifying
Thumb
PRO: Natural and intuitive.
CON: Risk of crooked teeth.
Soother
PRO: May reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
CON: May interfere with breast-feeding and backtrack infections to baby’s ears.
(Photo: HannamariaH/iStockphoto)
2. Feeding
Breast Milk
PRO: Free and easy to digest. Boosts immunity and protects against ear infections, meningitis, obesity.
CON: Mom may not produce enough milk, it’s a major time commitment, stretch marks and weaning.
Formula
PRO: Convenience, feeding duties can be shared between parents, plus it’s nutrient-enriched.
CON: The cost (formula, bottles, nipples, sterilizer).
(Photo: DoxaDigital/istockphoto)
3. Diapers
Disposable
PRO: Reduces the hard labour and ick factor of mothering.
CON: Creates lots of waste-six diapers a day, 2,200 a year.
Cloth
PRO: No waste, cost saver, has snaps, fitted leg gussets and waterproof covers.
CON: Between the hot-water laundry and high-heat dryer, who can say cloth is the greener option?
(Photo: Istockphoto)
4. Sleeping
Co-Sleeping
PRO: Instills lifelong sense of security and self-esteem.
CON: Habit inducing and risky-child can be smothered or crushed.
Cry it Out
PRO: Teaches self-soothing skills.
CON: Risk of negative emotional and psychological impact.
(Photo: Fertnig/iStockphoto)
5. Covers
Swaddling
PRO: Calming, mimics womb, and infants kept from startling themselves awake.
CON: Risk of hip abnormalities, overheating and loss of circulation.
Sleep Sacks
PRO: Less tight than swaddling, prevents infants from uncovering themselves and catching cold.
CON: Too large a size will lead to loose material around face and risk of suffocation.
(Photo: ArtisticCaptures/iStockphoto)
6. Transit
Wrap
PRO: Affordable, creates additional bonding and allows hands-free manoeuvring.
CON: Awkward in rain, heat; cumbersome when shopping.
Stroller
PRO: A safer and more secure environment for baby.
CON: Expensive and difficult to manoeuvre through crowds and busy streets.
Canada’s top 10 cities to raise a family, how pregnancy rewires your brain, and the professional dangers of extended parental leave for mothers – check out the September issue of Reader’s Digest Canada, on sale August 13, for our in-depth looks at modern parenthood.
