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I think they weren't as familiar with medical issues like reflux. When I told my MIL that I was taking my LO to the doctor because something is wrong with her and I feel like it might be reflux (she had crazy screaming fits where nothing would soothe her, especially if I put her on her back, and she spit up a lot) she insisted that she's just a fussy baby and it's just her personality combined with some gas. She was over for 5 hours that day and she literally told me every single time my LO tooted or burped. I know she has gas, but that wouldn't produce screaming fits like these! So I took her to the doctor and right away she said reflux, gave us meds, and things were better right away. No more screaming fits!

I really think they didn't know what reflux was back then or it was harder to diagnose, so people just dealt with their "fussy" babies.

I've noticed a lot more fear in parents now from when I was young. There are so many "you can't do that's" now that didn't exist 20-30 years ago, and it makes my mothers head shake. Was it good that MIL's OB said "don't quit smoking, just cut back, it's less stress for the baby than quitting", obviously not and he's had asthma for life. But stuff like putting the baby to sleep on it's back vs. it's stomach, and sleep positioners. Or how about drop sided cribs?

My mom used to put a wet washcloth on my face or flick me in the feet to keep me awake if I would fall asleep while eating as a baby, now people call that abuse. I'm alive and well, and I have a good relationship with my parents, so it couldn't have been that bad!

@artbee: I've actually read that beer can help with milk production, you just have to time it properly (like with any drinking). I have a friend who was nursing her daughter while drinking a glass of wine, and had to explain to her famile "it's not a direct line from my mouth to hers!" lol!

@prettylizy: Hahaha. my dad used to sprinkle water on our faces to wake us up. I definitely think parents were a lot tougher/braver/fiercer back then.

This thread is making me feel a bit old school.

Baby sleeps in our room, neither of our parents did this. I don't mind waking her from naps or at least picking her up if it's time to go somewhere, my mom looked like she was going to have a heart attack the first time I did that. For some reason both mothers want me to put on crib bumpers, they think it's very necessary. MIL truly believes that crying helps develop the lungs and if baby doesn't cry enough she won't be a good athlete. And I do have a beer or wine irrespective of when I'm going to breastfeed but breastfeeding seems pretty typical in both of our families as does drinking a glass.

I think our generation is way more paranoid than our parents' generation. We worry more about the health, well-being, happiness, psychological development, etc. of our kids than our parents did... and I think it's a waste. I hope to be less paranoid than my friends as a parent.

@Rosie Girl: Oh, good one - sleeping on stomach. My parents keep telling me to put LO on her stomach so that she doesn't get a flat head. Sheesh. I keep talking about SIDS and my parents are like, "ALL babies slept on their stomachs back in the day."

My Mom finds it amazing what is on the 'do not eat' list. She also is amazed that some women would choose cloth diapering over disposable since she didn't have a choice with us until I was a little older.

My Mom shook her head and sighed when I showed her the list of things pregnant women aren't supposed to eat or do. Things have definitely changed, and I don't think that it's all for the better.....

@mrbee: The glow means you're allergic to alcohol?! So is that why a non-Asian would turn red, too?

Our parents needed to wing it more because the information wasn't available to them. Now we google everything and that can turn us into crazy people.

The whole breastfeeding thing mystified my mom.

I also don't think my mom understands why we do so many activities with my LO at such a young age. I think our parents' generation was much better at not feeling the need to entertain their kids all the time. But truthfully, I think I am the one who needs to be entertained, too, hence all the activities.

I think someone needs to come up with a class for our generation "How not to over-parent".

I agree with the PPs who have said that our parents' generation was less paranoid and over-worrying about everything. Honestly, I hope to parent more like our parents' generation than most people in today's generation.