http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/257661
Posted Jul 20, 2008 by KJ Mullins

The New Parenting Trends


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More parents are opting for greener products to raise their young. From bamboo crib sheets to plain wooden toys parents are starting Junior out to be eco conscious.

Daddy is no longer the guy who hangs out for an hour and then disappears. Canadian fathers are taking longer parental leaves to take care of baby. More fathers work from work or are stay at home dads then ever before.

Moms are blogging their children's early life. Yesterday it was making detailed scrapbooks, today mom's write it all out.

Birthing baby is more likely to take place at home, that is if mom doesn't opt for an elective C-section.

Parents are monitoring their kids with techno gadgets. Drug testing is as easy as using a piece of hair. Cellphones and jackets are being equipped with GPS. Parents are checking the online travels of their surfing kids.

More and more parents with the means are hiring people to replace extended families. Those with the green are paying for baby planners, lactation consultants, night nurses and parenting coaches.

Children's birthday parties are getting simpler. No longer is it cool to outdo the Jones. Re-gifting is becoming a bigger trend. Some parents are asking for donations to charity in their child's name instead of a present.

Multiple births are becoming more common thanks to fertility treatments and mothers being older. It's not uncommon to see double and triple strollers coming down the street.

What's old becomes what's new again with family dinners becoming more popular. Sitting down as a family instead of rushing around is helping to teach good manners and install some family values.

So what's on the way out?

There is no longer a normal family. Dad, mom, 2.5 kids and the family dog is last generation. Today families come in all sizes, single moms by choice, same-sex couples, kids before marriage and open adoptions are common.

Those crazy creative names are thankfully out of style. Back to old fashioned names that are spelled in the old school.

Children aren't being over-booked for classes at the toddler stage. good old playtime is back in vague.

In Toronto at least homework is being reduced. Until Grade 2 most kids aren't being sent home with hours more of book work.

Chicken fingers and fries are out, giving way to little gourmets. Children's paletes are being treated like adults as food culture is growing up.

The Mommy Wars are over! Finally moms can feel secure in whatever role they fit into. Stay-at-home moms are just as valued as working moms and visa versa.