Letters to the Editor (June 29): Parenting practices
Parenting practices
In his article, “You’re doing it wrong! Mommy shaming common, poll finds” (June 21), Stan Finger uses the phrase “mommy shaming” which suggests that it’s inappropriate for health care professionals and family members to educate parents about positive parenting practices.
Parents don’t make child rearing decisions in a vacuum but rather within the context of social norms. One way to improve public health outcomes is to educate professionals and families in best practices that will help children and their families live the longest, healthiest lives possible. Those who work in public health have been intentionally trying to influence social norms and impact parental behavior for the better, not to shame parents.
The truth is that children who breastfeed have measurably better long-term health outcomes than those who do not. Safe sleep practices with infants measurably lower the risk of infant death. Physical punishment measurably increases the risk of children’s negative developmental outcomes. With so much at stake, health care professionals and family members have a duty to provide guidance.
We also have an obligation to protect the dignity of parents and to educate with compassion. No parent should feel shame. But, a lot of work has been done to embolden friends and family members to support positive parenting — work which is undone when guidance is simply dismissed as “mommy shaming.”
Anne Maack, Wichita
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This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 4:58 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (June 29): Parenting practices."