What Would Parents Do Without Google?
Do you ever stop and wonder what parents would do without Google? It’s astonishing to think we have unlimited access to countless answers for even our most wild parenting questions. I f there was a limit as to how many questions I could ask Alexa in a day, I’d exceed the limit by 11am. But that’s neither here nor there — as you may have actually stumbled on this post from an internet search. The point of this post is to ponder how parents’ limitless access to the internet actually makes parenting harder.
I began clinging to the internet for all things motherhood when I saw my first positive pregnancy test eleven years ago. Don’t get me wrong — I loved reading my pregnancy books. But the internet is a faster resource than flipping through a thick book. Once Annabelle was born, the intensity at which I searched for parenting advice online accelerated quickly.
Could Access to the Internet Make Parenting Harder?
According to a 2020 survey, many parents think that technology is making parenting harder than it was 20 years ago. In total, roughly half of parents (52%) who believe that parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago cited technology in some way as a reason. From parental internet dependence to the effects of technology on children to social media’s portrayal of motherhood — there are a lot of factors affecting a parents’ ability to parent.
While the survey results somewhat support my theory — it argues the benefits of the internet for parenting as well. One must consider our privilege to a broad range of sources — there are rarely firewalls protecting the answers to our questions. The web contains a multitude of free resources to guide parents and easy to find professional advice on child psychology and medical information.
So how does the wonderful gift of the world wide web making parenting harder?
Just Google It…
The internet is a scary place with so much information I often feel more lost before I find the right path to answers. Let’s take a look at three of my personal questions about parenting on Google:
- Why doesn’t my baby sleep? Dr. X notes that if you notice your newborn won’t sleep for more than 30 minutes at a time at night, then there could be another reason at play, including the following: hunger, teething, illness, reflux. Keep in mind, none of them may apply to your baby.
- Why does my child stutter? Is stuttering related to ADHD? Doctors don’t know the exact cause of stuttering.However, researchers have identified an association between ADHD and stuttering.
- Why does my 6 year old daughter have breast buds? Early breast development before age 8 can be caused by estrogens in the environment. Estrogen is a type of hormone. Parents should consider these potential exposures: Estrogen in cosmetics, such as hair creams.
After almost eleven years in motherhood, I can confirm Google does not always provide me with the correct answers to my questions. For example, why doesn’t my baby sleep? This topic is so convoluted that there is no one right answer. Three babies with three different sleep complications prove my point — especially since Google did not suggest a dairy allergy.
Another misdiagnosis by the internet is the reason for my six year old’s breast buds. Come to find out, her early development was a sign of precocious puberty — and it was not caused by the environment, but rather unknown factors. The endocrinologist says it can be near impossible to pinpoint the cause of precocious puberty if is not due to an adrenal tumor or genetics.
I’m not the only parent asking questions in the search bar.
I stumbled across a fascinating article featuring the most popular parenting questions in America. To better understand the concerns that parents face today, VocoVision analyzed Google search data to uncover the most common parenting questions each state searches more frequently than any other state.
Apparently, it’s very common for Connecticut parents to ask when kids start walking. I know as a Connecticut resident I have Googled it. In Florida, parents wonder how to help a child lose weight without making them feel bad. Oklahoma parents want to know why kids lie and Washington moms and dads want to know why kids eat boogers.
What Would Parents Do Without Google?
I still ask questions despite my proclaimed awareness of the misinformation we may encounter on Google for parenting advice. Sometimes I can’t help it. Who has time to consult a book when we have free, fast, and private information at our fingertips?
With that being said, the topics I choose to Google are rarely serious. Also, my search is often not complete after reading just one answer. It’s easy to get sucked into a black hole of uncertainty while looking for advice online. Oftentimes I ask myself: is the time I waste deep diving into topics online better spent consulting real life professionals? The truth is, I’m torn. There are many times in motherhood when the internet is helpful and convenient.
Moms and Dads — what are your thoughts?
Originally published at https://caitlinhoustonblog.com on September 5, 2024.
