And pretty much every time I read one, I wonder about the pluses and minuses of a world in which many parents now head to their social networks to make parenting decisions.
Sure, getting advice on how to get a toddler to sleep through the night or how to deal with a fussy eater makes sense and seems relatively harmless. But is there something creepy about picking a baby name based on Internet responses or deciding on a punishment based on the opinions of followers?
Last year, an expectant father created a website, NameMyDaughter.com, allowing anyone on the Internet to suggest and vote on a baby name for his daughter.
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Thankfully for his child, who was born in April, he and his wife reportedly did not go with the winning name of “Cthulhu.” Instead, they chose the second place name, Amelia.
My question: How is Amelia or any other child named by strangers online going to feel when they learn the origin of their name?
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“That’s when parents really need to be seeking out professional help.”
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Hoefle, the author of “Duct Tape Parenting,” encourages parents to see themselves as “the true experts in their children’s lives,” not their thousands of friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter.
“By answering just a few questions, they can begin to see clearly the strategy that will work best for their children and one that they can actually implement to get the kind of long term sustainable change they are looking for.”
When do you think crowd sourced parenting is a bad way to go? Share your thoughts with Kelly Wallace on Twitter or CNN Living on Facebook.
