Millennials Share Why Boomer Parenting Felt 'Easier

When one exhausted Millennial mom asked why Boomer grandparents insist babies "just slept" back in their day, she sparked a conversation that thousands of parents needed to have.

The Reddit thread quickly filled with responses from fellow Millennials sharing stories about their own parents' selective memories. Some recalled grandparents who simply ignored crying babies with earplugs or left infants alone while they went out for coffee.

One commenter discovered her older brother had been the one waking up for midnight feedings, not her mother. Another learned her mom gave liberal doses of Dimetapp, a sedating cold medicine no longer recommended for babies.

The conversation revealed a truth many Millennials suspected. Parenting wasn't necessarily easier in the 1980s and 90s. It was just different, with lower expectations and less awareness about child development.

Safety standards have changed dramatically too. Boomers put babies to sleep on their stomachs, which helped some infants sleep longer but increased SIDS risk. Modern parents follow back-sleeping guidelines that are safer but sometimes mean less sleep for everyone.

Not every response blamed Boomer amnesia, though. Several Millennials pointed out that forgetting difficult details might be evolutionary, helping parents survive the newborn stage and consider having more children.

Others noted that without social media and constant connectivity, previous generations simply worried less. They parented without comparing themselves to others online or reading endless advice articles at 3 a.m.

Why This Inspires

This conversation matters because it relieves pressure on today's parents. Recognizing that you're choosing to be highly engaged and informed doesn't mean you're doing it wrong. It means you're doing it thoughtfully.

One grandmother told her struggling granddaughter that she thinks Millennials "put more into it" than her generation did. That acknowledgment validates the extra effort modern parents invest in understanding child development, emotional needs, and safe practices.

The thread also builds empathy across generations. Boomers genuinely may not remember the hard parts, and that's okay. Millennials can honor what their parents did right while choosing different approaches based on new information.

Understanding these differences helps families communicate better and grandparents support rather than judge their adult children's parenting choices.

This honest conversation reminds exhausted parents everywhere that they're not alone in finding this stage hard because it genuinely is hard, regardless of what anyone claims to remember.