I hate these parenting terms. Hate! Crunchy makes you sound like you have granola hanging from your hairy armpits, and creamy makes you sound like you have a serious vaginal problem.
There have been lots of debates on my birth board at Baby Center regarding these two parenting philosophies. Moms are choosing sides and often trying to "prove" why their way is best. It drives me NUTS! For those who aren't familiar with the terms, crunchy mamas are all about breastfeeding, cloth diapering, organic food, co-sleeping, baby wearing, etc. Creamy mamas prefer formula feeding, disposable diapering, having their babies sleep in their cribs, etc. It seems to me that most moms fall somewhere in the middle. I'm pretty much a creamy mama, at least I was with Isla. This time around I'm planning on breastfeeding and baby wearing. Baby wearing seems almost essential with a crazy toddler running around! I can't imagine myself ever cloth diapering or co-sleeping, but I certainly have nothing against people who do!
Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I feel like the people doing the most judging on the baby boards are often the crunchy mamas who imply that formula is evil, and letting kids cry it out will make them insecure, and that disposable diapers are the devil. Blah. I stay away from the debates, but I really just want to punch some of these women in the face for being so disrespectful to other moms! My way is just as good as your way! My formula fed child is incredibly smart and rarely gets sick. She sleeps (at night) like a rockstar, and has since she was 6 months old or so. She has not grown a beard or an extra leg from eating NON organic foods.
It will be interesting to see how baby #2 influences my parenting style. Knowing this will be my last baby might make me want to try co-sleeping for a tiny bit so I can savor the yummy baby smell for as long as possible. Or maybe I'll hate the inconvenience of breastfeeding and I'll start formula sooner than I planned. Maybe I'll stop shaving my armpits, start playing the bongos and only wear hemp clothing? You just never know.
7 years ago
6 comments:
Ugg - I just had a long comment typed out and then the internet timed out and I lost it! Oh well... I will sum it up. I have never heard either one of those terms for parenting styles - probably becuase I don't read anything regarding parenting styles beucase I really don't care what anyone else thinks is right. I am going to do what I think is right or my child. Don't let anyone else try to tell you what is right for you and your family. Everyone has what works for them. I will say I absolutely loved breastfeeding this time around, it did not work with Colton but with Mason it has been awesome. I looked forward to his feeding time becuase it knew it was Mommy and Mason time. It is such a bonding time but you can get that same bonding from a bottle and formula. As for co-sleeping, it scares the hell out of me. I feel like it would be so hard to break the habit and move the child back to his own room (not only hard for the kid but hard for parents). Now after saying that I can't say that Mason hs spent every night in his own bed... he has spent several early mornings in our bed just becuase I am so exhausted and he just needs to be close to someone. Anyways, no one is judging you on whatever parenting style you chooose!
I hate the labels too. God, I've never heard Creamy at all, what a gross-sounding term, I don't even get it.
I realize I fall pretty far on the crunchy mama side, with my parenting choices, but I think there are a lot of people out there who are so passionate about their choices, that rather than support other mothers who make different choices, they bring them down. To be honest, I think more of that happens on the internet than in real life. Yeah, you and I may do things differently, but that's because we aren't the same people. And neither are our children!
Also, as far as breast vs. formula, I really do hate that people get such hurt feelings, on either side, feeling judged. (I have TOTALLY felt judged for breastfeeding a toddler, even though the WHO says that if you can do it to age 2, it's beneficial) I do think it's really important to get out there all that research and the science behind how great breastfeeding is for babies, and I am passionate about that. Unfortunately sometimes I think "Lactavists" take things too far with their "breast is best" stuff, to the point where it becomes judgement, and not education, and sometimes formula-feeders get overly defensive.
I guess it's like anything with women right, we really can be catty bitches. ;)
Alicia, if you had a profile on Baby Center, you could add "Diamond Boobies" to your signature :) Lots of mommies have their breastfeeding "awards" along with their title of crunch or creamy!
OMG what is wrong with these women?!! That is absolutely ridiculous. I think I will stay away from the message boards the second time around, lol. I did lurk on the Bump boards when I was pregnant with Gus and there was just so much ridiculous and mean-spirited drama. High school all over again!
Wow. This is pretty funny stuff! I agree w/ Mandy - it doesn't matter what other people think about your parenting style...as long as you have your child's best interest at heart, that's all that matters! I'm glad I didn't do the baby blog stuff when I was pregnant, because I'm sure I would've been obsessed, and someone's comment would've pissed me off, and then I would've gone and commented on her wall, and then I would've obsessed over that, and it would've just continued to cycle until I went bat sh!t crazy! When I found out Kellen was breech, I found some blogs about other moms who had breech babies, and that was kind of reassuring, but made me paranoid at the same time. Anyways: creamy, crunchy, supercrunchy, or just a big bag of peanuts...big whoop! These ladies just need to chill the EF out!
LOL Suzi. Big whoop is right!
I'd have to agree, you have to do what's best for you and pay no attetion to the labels and judgement that people seem to write about these days. I had no idea there was even a crunchy vs creamy!
It sounds like online message boards and blogs can be dangerous territory...which is too bad, because they could be great resources and places to share (without judgement).
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