https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:40:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208522 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 09:05:49 +0000 blackbird 2208522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: this is how I think of it. No hitting, try not to yell (it happens, though I try not to), treat your kid with respect, no put downs..... I will reward and punish good and bad behavior accordingly, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208515 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 09:01:39 +0000 yoursilverlining 2208515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d like to personally think of it as less/no yelling, no physical punishments and generally being respectful of your child (with limits, as parents and children are not direct equals). Those are things I actively try to do in my home/parenting. </p> <p>I have an acquaintance who is really, really into gentle parenting and a lot of what she posts is not stuff I subscribe to, or think is especially healthy parenting. I don’t know if what she promotes is normal “gentle parenting” or just new-age feel goodery stuff, but it’s things like: never asking your child to hug a friend or relative (i.e., never suggesting “go hug grandma goodbye!”) as all contact should be voluntary and started by the child/toddler, never asking your child to say “sorry” (because apparently unless a toddler comes up with saying sorry on their own, it reinforces some negative message), not telling your child to share or promoting sharing, no overly structured play groups, no gendered toys, no plastic toys, and she’s also pretty against formula and traditional daycare and school. </p> <p>I think most of that stuff is just nuts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208494 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:52:18 +0000 catomd00 2208494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are still new parents but are committed to practicing gentle parenting with our 16 month old. We are still learning everyday and it's not easy, but it feels the most natural and instinctual to us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208481 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:44:56 +0000 Maysprout 2208481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to a LA Leche meeting when lo1 was little and they had a library to borrow books. I like to read a bunch of different ideas in parenting so I borrowed one that was positive discipline or gentle parenting. It was interesting, they had a bunch of different parents describing how they approach different problems. Some of it seemed a little wooooo but some of it was really nice ideas to approach issues in a less combative and more cooperative relationship with your child. I use some of the ideas but I also use rewards and time outs. </p> <p>I do think one of our friends practice this and they've had problems dealing with pool rules with their 3 year old. I tell her no regularly because there's things she's doing that aren't safe and when she tries to use my 1 year old as a flotation device saying NO and unhooking her is about the most gentle idea I have any will to do in the moment. I do wish her parents would take a harder line with pool safety rules because the problems are repeated everyday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208472 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:42:28 +0000 avivoca 2208472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never heard of it. I will need to look into it though, as I find myself yelling more than I like these days when I'm solo parenting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208453 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:31:38 +0000 Bubbles 2208453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have heard it used plenty of times but I don't really know what it means. I think of it as more of a catchall term. I read Mr Bee's link and the style described is very much the way I choose to parent my son (I am very much into neither punishing nor over-praising) - but I certainly wouldn't ever go around saying I practiced 'gentle parenting'. I think it sounds a tad offensive to those who parent differently, as to me the opposite of gentle is cruel/unpleasant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208449 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:27:27 +0000 winniebee 2208449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ive never heard of it. I try to practice "respectful parenting" ie Janet Lansbury which is basically listening to your kid and trying to validate their feelings, no yelling, spankings or time outs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208448 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:27:27 +0000 mrsjyw 2208448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never heard of it and I don't really practice one way of parenting, so if I came across it in real life, I'd probably be more confused than anything! :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208447 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:26:07 +0000 mrbee 2208447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: Never heard of it until this thread! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208444 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:23:32 +0000 mediagirl 2208444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: right. That's sort of why I thought I'd ask what people thought about it after an experience this past week that we had. I don't want to go in depth about it because it's not my situation to talk about but I was curious about what others thought. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208439 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:19:01 +0000 mrbee 2208439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I just read the top Google result, and still am not sure what it is!</p> <p><a href="http://sarahockwell-smith.com/2013/09/22/what-is-gentle-parenting-and-how-is-it-different-to-mainstream-parenting/" rel="nofollow">http://sarahockwell-smith.com/2013/09/22/what-is-gentle-parenting-and-how-is-it-different-to-mainstream-parenting/</a></p> <p>There's a lot of mention of respecting your child... and observing them, and building off of their natural rhythms. That makes sense to me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208434 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 08:16:44 +0000 mediagirl 2208434@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>103 views and no responses? :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/gentle-parenting#post-2208339 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 05:34:34 +0000 mediagirl 2208339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When you hear this term, what does it mean to you? Do you practice it? </p>