Episode 4: When Parents and Grandparents Collide

Having a grandchild is often one of those peak moments in a grandparent’s life.

There is typically a lot of excitement surrounding welcoming a new baby into the family. Some grandparents are anxious to jump in and get their hands dirty, and others prefer to give their support from afar.

When grandparents are present and participate in the lives of their grandbabies, there are often points at which the grandparents and their own children will disagree on how a baby should be raised. This is a power dynamic that many growing families may not have experienced before.

So how do you handle those disagreements or differences of opinions with your parents as a parent?

As a parent, it’s important to understand where the grandparent comes from. For many, they are relying on the practices that they used to raise you. You turned out ok, right?

Many grandparents haven’t kept pace with the changes in research and recommendations surrounding infant care. Changes that have likely changed since they raised you. The use of car seats, sleep safety, when to start solids, and outdated breastfeeding practices. These topics present points at which conflict and disagreement can happen between parents and grandparents.

The personality style of your parents will also influence how differences of opinion on these topics go. Overbearing parents often become overbearing grandparents. Parents who followed their doctor’s rules to the letter often become grandparents excited to learn the right way to care for their grandchild in today’s world.

There are many complexities in navigating how involved grandparents will be in the lives of their grandchildren. Come join us as we discuss how to handle those expectations and navigate those hard conversations with your parents!