17 Boomer Parenting Practices That Would Raise Eyebrows Today
In the boomer era, parenting was very different, and much of it is totally unthinkable today. What felt normal in the ’60s through the ’80s now sparks gasps or side-eyes from younger generations. Rules around safety, discipline, and even affection have evolved dramatically. Here’s a look at parenting practices boomers embraced that definitely wouldn’t fly in 2025.
Mocking Kids for Their Interests
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For some boomer parents, teasing was their default response to anything their kid liked. Hobbies, favorite shows, or fashion choices were open season. Many kids learned to keep their interests quiet to avoid being ridiculed. It wasn’t framed as bullying, but the impact stuck, sometimes well into adulthood.
Sending Kids to Buy Products Alone
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A handwritten note and a few crumpled dollars were all it took to send a kid to the store for grocery staples or cleaning supplies. Parents trusted the neighborhood, clerks wouldn’t ask questions, and kids just hoped they wouldn’t mess up the list.
Locking Kids Outside to Play
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Once kids were old enough to walk and talk, many boomer parents shoved them outside and shut the door. It wasn’t about being mean, though. It was about getting peace and quiet. You’d figure out your fun, get scraped up, and be back for dinner.
Caffeinating Babies for Better Sleep
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One Redditor shared that they were given Pepsi in a baby bottle because their parents believed the caffeine would help them sleep better at night. Medical advice has clearly shifted. Giving infants soda—and with it, caffeine, sugar, and acidity—would set off alarms today.
Letting Kids Watch Horror Movies
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Scary movies weren’t off-limits for young kids. In fact, some parents thought it was funny to watch terrifying films with their little ones, then reenact the creepiest parts later. Watching The Shining at age five was just another night at home in some households.
Putting Babies to Sleep Facedown on the Couch
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Safe sleep guidelines weren’t really a thing yet. Parents often lay babies on soft couches, face down, surrounded by blankets and pillows. It looked cozy, but it was a serious risk. Today’s sleep setup is all about firm surfaces and nothing loose in the crib.
Offering Honey to Infants
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Giving honey to babies under one year old is now known to risk botulism. But boomer parents regularly coated pacifiers with honey to soothe infants. Many dismissed the risk, especially if it “worked” for their older kids. The logic was simple: “You turned out fine.”
Using Beverages for Teething
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It sounds like an old wives’ tale, but this trick was very real: rubbing a little beverage on a teething baby’s gums. It numbed the pain, sure, but also introduced liquids to a developing body. Medical experts today are horrified, but many parents at the time swore by it.
Putting the Sun in Baby’s Eyes
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One piece of questionable advice passed down was, “If the baby won’t sleep, put the sun in their eyes.” The goal was to make them too uncomfortable to stay awake. Modern parents avoid direct sun exposure altogether, especially for babies.
Dog Beds in Cribs
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In some households, repurposed dog beds were used under crib sheets to make them “extra soft.” That squishy surface is exactly what today’s pediatricians warn against. Suffocation hazards aside, it was just another example of comfort being the top priority, often at the expense of safety.
Sleeping in Laundry Baskets
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Crib not in the budget? No problem—just grab a laundry basket, toss in a few towels, and boom: instant baby bed. It wasn’t unusual to find infants snoozing in makeshift setups like this. When in a pinch, boomers got creative.
Never Attending Kids’ Games
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If your parents didn’t attend your soccer game in 1978, that was normal. Watching youth sports wasn’t seen as a big deal. Kids played, and parents stayed busy elsewhere. These days, missing a Little League game is cause for guilt.
Doing Everything for the Kids
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Many boomer households had a clear division: kids focused on school, and parents did the rest. That meant no cooking, cleaning, or laundry. While it may have felt like pampering, the flip side was that many kids reached adulthood with zero life skills.
Shaming Kids for Expressing Emotion
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For many boomer parents, emotional expression was treated as weakness. Crying, showing anxiety, or even being too excited could earn a cold stare or a blunt “toughen up.” Kids learned to bottle everything inside, worried they’d be scolded or humiliated for simply feeling things too deeply or too often.
Giving Babies Tea or Food at 11 Weeks
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Offering tea to an 11-week-old raises red flags! But some boomers considered it helpful. A little tea, a taste of solid food—whatever might settle the baby. The current advice recommends no solids or beverages beyond milk or formula until at least 6 months.